Citric Acid - Taps

kerri_gt

We recently moved into a new home and I've just given the bathroom a good clean round. The sink taps had limescale on them and I sprayed over a citric acid solution.

The limescale has gone but part of the chrome fittings seems to have now lost the chrome plating and looks damaged - as if its been eaten away or like someone has had the teeth of a wrench round it, but its the wrong angle for that.

I have used citric acid before and never had issues like this, plus used it on other taps / chrome fittings and they are fine.

Could I have ruined the taps with the citric acid solution or is it possible they were already damaged and we hadn't noticed under the limescale?

There are a set of 'tap refreshers' that I found in the shed so I wonder if the sellers were going to replace the tap heads and then didn't before they sold?

Just worried I've done the damage but I thought citric acid was natural and should be ok? (heard some horror stories about people using toilet cleaner on chrome) :(

-taff

Depends on how long the limescale was on the taps.
M old ones had been limescalled up for a long time, when I removed it, the taps were discoloured, the chrome has come off, and they were pitted.

teddysmum

When you mentioned 'new' I assumed new build, so thought they may be faulty, but as they have been used, they could well be worn , the wear being disguised by limescale.


Products warn not to use on worn surfaces (especially enamelled baths) as they are prone to losing coating when the cleaner gets under the outer layer.

kerri_gt

Thanks both - I suspect that the wear had been disguised by the limescale - they are like you describe -taff with chrome come off and pitted in parts where the limescale was.

I've managed to upload a pic - sorry about the size



teddysmum - not a new build house, the bathroom isn't old (fitted by the prev owners) but isn't brand spanking new either. I did check the box but it has no details / warnings about use on chrome / damaged surfaces and I didn't even think it would be an issue as I've used it before on things. Just had a total freak out that I'd knackered our taps.

Will just have to keep the shiny bits shiny and ignore the others (also just polished out a scuff in the bath panel where I bashed it with the hoover - I swear i'm a walking disaster atm) and add 'tap reviver' to the list of jobs to be done.