Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: neilep on 03/10/2007 02:29:24

Title: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: neilep on 03/10/2007 02:29:24: I was just watching an advert for a brand of loo cleaner and the claims are that it gets rid of all stains including rust !!..ewe then see a loo with a rust stain !!

How does rust happen on a ceramic loo ?....I thought rust only happens with metal !!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 03/10/2007 02:33:39: it happened here before we got a water softener. not sure how it happens but it does! the shower too!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: another_someone on 03/10/2007 02:37:35: Don't know if they are talking about metallic rust, or fungal rust (although it seems fungal rust should only appear on plants - so that probably does not make sense either). Ofcourse, it may yet be that some people might can cast iron toilets?
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: another_someone on 03/10/2007 02:38:59: Quote from: kdlynn on 03/10/2007 02:33:39
it happened here before we got a water softener. not sure how it happens but it does! the shower too!

I suppose you can get rust coming up in the water supply (I think Carolyn might have that problem), but I am not aware of any UK water supply having that problem.
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 03/10/2007 02:46:07: we have well water in our apartment building. it was absolutely disgusting before
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: another_someone on 03/10/2007 03:17:52: Quote from: kdlynn on 03/10/2007 02:46:07
we have well water in our apartment building. it was absolutely disgusting before

Carolyn too has well water - very, very, few people in the UK have well water.
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 03/10/2007 03:20:41: lucky you
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Carolyn on 03/10/2007 03:45:28: Quote from: another_someone on 03/10/2007 02:38:59
Quote from: kdlynn on 03/10/2007 02:33:39
it happened here before we got a water softener. not sure how it happens but it does! the shower too!

I suppose you can get rust coming up in the water supply (I think Carolyn might have that problem), but I am not aware of any UK water supply having that problem.

It's from iron in the water. Fortunately, I haven't had that problem since getting a water softner.
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Karen W. on 03/10/2007 03:49:20: It is from Iron in the water and sometimes homes have old iron pipes that add to it and it clings to the bowl and causes rust stains as it is in your water if your water is sometimes too hard!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Karen W. on 03/10/2007 03:50:13: We have well water but do not have a problem with rust in the water since we changed our pipes.
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: lyner on 03/10/2007 10:22:44: I'm glad your water is well. Health is important.
I bought a bottle of still water the other day and it's still water today.
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Karen W. on 03/10/2007 16:31:25: LOL LOL...Thats very good ...very good indeedy! LOL
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: neilep on 03/10/2007 16:46:13: LOL...still water !!...very good !!

So, the rust is made from iron in the water !!

Our loos are no where ever as like those shown on the TV ads.....
..of course...I rarely flush mine...about once a month I suppose....so...rust doesn't stand a chance !!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Karen W. on 03/10/2007 16:53:05: LOL! SOmetimes I wonder about you!!! LOL LOL!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 04/10/2007 02:17:49: i've just cleaned most of the rust off of my bath tub. the water softener was just put in last week and the water took a few days to clear out all the way. i'll take a picture on my phone and email it to someone to post here. just a moment. this way you can see the before and after... or the middle. the cleaner started making me dizzy
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 04/10/2007 02:36:25: ok i must also mention that wednesday is always bath tub cleaning day. so it was just cleaned a week ago today

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb73%2Fkarenw44%2Fkadiestub.jpg&hash=d31110ff82d730cd6365192e9d733d6f)
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 04/10/2007 03:00:24: thanks karen. i should have moved the shampoo bottles. oops. that's my shampoo, everybody!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Karen W. on 04/10/2007 03:04:03: Did you switch shampoos? Thats not sunsilk!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Karen W. on 04/10/2007 03:05:59: what kind of cleaner did you use that makes you dizzy!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 04/10/2007 03:10:08: yes the pantene for brown hair was on sale. i go through a bottle of shampoo every two or three weeks so i have to go with the cheapest
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: paul.fr on 06/10/2007 07:51:48: Quote from: kdlynn on 04/10/2007 02:36:25
ok i must also mention that wednesday is always bath tub cleaning day. so it was just cleaned a week ago today

Just, a week ago! how disgusting. I take a bath every day, and always spray with bleach, and clean after each and every bath...disgusting!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 06/10/2007 17:15:21: it's scrubbed every week. i have a scrubbing bubbles thing that sprays disinfectant after every shower. very handy. you should see if they sell them there
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: chris on 09/10/2007 08:40:03: Why is the rust stain only at one end of the bath and forms a perfect line across the bottom and down the sides? Intriguing...;)

...and are you sure it's not hair dye or something?
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 10/10/2007 02:17:00: because i was in the middle of scrubbing it off when i thought to take a picture. no that's the residue from my water. i don't drink it
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Karen W. on 10/10/2007 04:18:51: It is a before and after shot all in one picture!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Karen W. on 10/10/2007 04:20:57: Quote from: kdlynn on 04/10/2007 02:17:49
i've just cleaned most of the rust off of my bath tub. the water softener was just put in last week and the water took a few days to clear out all the way. i'll take a picture on my phone and email it to someone to post here. just a moment. this way you can see the before and after... or the middle. the cleaner started making me dizzy

I think this is where she said it was before and after! LOL LOL!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: another_someone on 10/10/2007 13:04:36: Looking at the picture, I would still ask are you sure it is rust, and not fungus (mould)?
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 10/10/2007 23:42:03: yes i'm sure. contrary to paul's theory, i'm really not a disgusting person
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Karen W. on 11/10/2007 01:38:21: It is definitely rust and not something she can help!!! I wonder who actually read the topic. She posted it to show us all what the rust does in your water. From experience from not here where I live, but in a place we had in Eureka When the rust is coming out in the water it doesn't show at first but over a couple days it gets darker and then rears its ugly head. Her tub is clean but the rust is something many people have to deal with and as Kadie showed you That is what she has to do every week to maintain the white tub! It is not an easy job and bleach does not do the trick rust has to be scrubbed and it is tedious and hard! Frankly she's doing good to keep after it weekly like that! It is an irritating problem that causes embarrassment when people just make assumptions without knowing! I had someone do that to me with my tub once in Eureka and even offered to help me maintain it! LOL I cleaned all the time like kadie does! Doesn't matter.. rust sucks!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 11/10/2007 03:13:34: ok. world war three is not to start over my bath tub. the marks are rust. the new land lord is working to correct the problem, which is nice. the water has been tested every month and they promise it won't kill us... although i don't drink it for obvious reasons. everybody calm down. i love you all. if you'd like to make a donation to the bath tub cleaner fund, please make checks payable to... lol. just kidding.
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Karen W. on 11/10/2007 03:36:43: LOL LOL Your so funny! LOL! Hugs you!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Bass on 11/10/2007 05:53:37: eons ago, we lived in Wyoming and had terrible iron stains from the water. The best thing I found for rust stains was a weak solution of oxalic acid- but it is toxic, so wear gloves and clean the area thoroughly once you are done. Also had good luck with lemon juice and borax. My wife says vinegar may work as well.
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 11/10/2007 05:55:58: thank you. i'll have to try some of those!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: paul.fr on 11/10/2007 07:29:00: Quote from: Karen W. on 11/10/2007 01:38:21
It is definitely rust and not something she can help!!! I wonder who actually read the topic...........

I don't think anyone said she could help it, oh and i read the whole topic.

What i don't get, is if the bath is cleaned daily, and then one a week some "special" cleaning stuff is used. How does the "rust" build up like that?

Does your sink do the same? do your cups do the same? or is it confined to the bath?
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Karen W. on 11/10/2007 09:34:16: Paul see your PMS..*smiles*

It does build up on your dishes even in the fact that they are washed up daily, because it is in the water you scrub it off with. .. I have had rusty water and it ruins not only dishes but clothing tubs sinks and toilets.. It is awful.. You rinse your water with rusty water they dry and look fine at first but over a couple washings some dishes being more susceptible then others start to take on the rust causing more then merely a dish washing but a good scrubbing!
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Carolyn on 11/10/2007 14:23:03: No, my sink doesn't do it, it's stainless steel. Before we got the water softener our white clothes did it, and our dishes did it. I had to replace my washer because the tub was stained so badly and I couldn't get it off no matter how hard I tried. Our dishwasher is next on my list to replace. It has this awful build up and has turned this horrible orange color too.

Every few months I had to soak all the white clothes and our dishes in this product called iron out. It worked wonders but the smell was toxic and the powder was so fine that you inhaled it. It would make me sick for 2 days.
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: Carolyn on 11/10/2007 14:24:54: ....also we had the little automatic cleaner things in our toilets, but the rust still took over. I had to use special cleaners and very fine grit sand paper ever week to keep it under control.
Title: Re: Why are rust stains sometimes found in toilets despite the absence of metal?
Post by: kdlynn on 11/10/2007 19:15:17: i've had three sets of dishes since i moved in a year ago. but the rent is unbelievably cheap...