How to choose an acrylic bathtub?
Acrylic bathtubs are widespread today. The world's leading manufacturers of sanitary ware have long recognized acrylic as extremely reliable and durable. Until recently, such baths in Russia had the status of prestigious and even exotic purchases, primarily due to their high cost. But times are changing, and acrylic baths are rapidly becoming a part of our everyday life. They decorate our homes and significantly improve the quality of life.
Advantages of acrylic bathtubs
- the weight of an acrylic bath, as a rule, does not exceed 20 kilograms, which makes it easy to install and replace;
- the acrylic coating is resistant to the appearance of external defects - chips, scratches and cracks;
- sanitary acrylic is easy to clean and has one hundred percent chemical resistance, it is enough to rinse the product from time to time with warm water;
- due to the properties of thermal insulation in an acrylic bath, water cools down in thirty minutes by only a degree (in a cast iron bath, this happens in five minutes);
- in case of mechanical damage, acrylic can be easily restored, which cannot be said about enameled cast iron.
- acrylic bathtubs are made of any shape, size and color;
- its glossy surface does not fade over time;
- sanitary acrylic prevents the appearance and growth of bacteria;
In recent years, more acrylic bathtubs have been produced in the world than all others combined. They are successfully installed in boarding houses and sanatoriums, because mud or salt procedures are much more pleasant to take in acrylic bathrooms than in those made of steel or cast iron. In addition, sanitary acrylic always keeps room temperature and is tactilely pleasant. Nevertheless, when choosing an acrylic bathtub, the buyer should not forget that the Russian plumbing market is four-fifths overwhelmed with cheap fakes. Sometimes they even try to pass off plastic bathtubs as acrylic ones, supposedly made in Spain, Czech Republic or Italy.
Differences between plastic and acrylic bathtubs
Acrylic bathtubs are molded from PMMA sheet (4-5 mm), then reinforced with polyester resin and glass mat, and the so-called. "Sandwiches" are ordinary plastic (not possessing any of the properties of acrylic) with 1-2 millimeters of acrylic dusting, with reinforcement according to the scheme. Of course, there can be no guarantees of durability in this case.
Recommendations for choosing acrylic bathtubs
We recommend that you first familiarize yourself with the available certificates for the bath you like. Then look at the light (if possible) the side of the bathtub: a high-quality bathtub should not shine through. It is recommended to press the side in the middle of the bath, the product should not "walk" in any case, because, as already mentioned, they are reinforced for rigidity.
How to choose an acrylic bathtubThe most difficult thing is to find out reliable information about which acrylic the bathtub is made of: from PMMA (homogeneous cast acrylic) or from ABS + PMMA (combined plastic). If the bathtub is more than 8 millimeters thick at a cut, and the seller assures you that the acrylic is 6-8 millimeters thick, then he (unwittingly or deliberately) provides you with incorrect information. As such, acrylic here is 1 millimeter, followed by plastic - ABS.
It is necessary to take a closer look at the cut of the side of the product, there should be only two layers (resin and acrylic itself). Otherwise, it will mean a thin acrylic layer, a significant one - ABS plastic, as well as a layer of reinforcement. It is not recommended to purchase such a bathtub, at least at the price of an acrylic one, since the combined plastic is much cheaper and easier to mold. In fact, in the product (for 6-8 millimeters declared by the seller), acrylic is slightly more than 10 percent on top (1 millimeter), moreover, not molded, but extruded (it has a weaker molecular structure). And the remaining 90 percent (i.e. 5-7 millimeters) are ABS. In other words, simply plastic, from which bumpers for cars and all ballpoint pens have been successfully produced for a long time. On this, the sellers who work with combined plastics, try not to emphasize, stating that it is simply acrylic of such a large thickness. Although, if the bathtub were made of cast acrylic more than 5 millimeters thick, the bathtub would simply be "golden", and the material would be spent unreasonably.
Acrylic bathtub care
Cleaning the surface of acrylic bathtubs should be carried out with a dampened sponge with a small amount of detergents. It is strictly forbidden to use detergents that contain abrasive components. To keep the acrylic surface shiny, you can use a wax polish and gentle rubbing with a soft cloth. Acrylic must not be cleaned "dry" or with products containing abrasive components, as this can cause tarnishing of the bath.
Do not use washing powder for cleaning. Always use good quality liquid products that do not contain alcohol or ammonia. Avoid acetone as it can damage acrylic. Do not use products that contain formaldehyde or formic acid. Stubborn stains can also be removed with toothpaste or silver polish (depending on what the stain is) - you need to gently rub the stain with a soft cloth. Common way to use acrylic cleaners:
- Apply the detergent evenly to the acrylic;
- give time (5-10 minutes) to the agent to act, wipe with a sponge, and then rinse with water;
- in case of problematic contamination, repeat the procedure.