How to Get Water Stains off Bathroom Walls

Your bathroom walls have a serious occupational hazard – water damage, damp and stains! From water stains on painted walls to hard water damage on your tiles, your bathroom is likely to bear the scars of your family’s daily baths and showers. But how can you remove these stubborn stains from your bathroom walls?

In this blog post, we’ll explain how to get rid of these unsightly stains in just a few simple steps.

What causes water stains on bathroom walls?

Water stains normally occur on painted walls, as opposed to tiles or our 100% waterproof PVC panels. After you have a shower or bath, the steam hangs around in your bathroom if the area isn’t well ventilated. This steam is attracted to cool surfaces such as your walls and ceiling, where it will quickly become condensation. As the condensation drips down your walls, it can leave unpleasant stains that make your bathroom look poorly painted (and even a bit mouldy).

How to remove water stains

1. Create your cleanser

Cleaning painted walls can be tricky. If you use a cleanser that’s too abrasive, it can strip away the outer layers of paint and make your wall look even worse. That means it’s important to start with a gentle cleanser that will remove water stains but not damage your wall.

If your water stains aren’t too serious, try starting with a solution of soap or washing up liquid and warm water (at a ratio of about 1:2). If your bathroom walls are badly stained, you might need something a little stronger. We recommend filling a spray bottle with a solution of vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda.

2. Apply your cleanser

Once you’ve made your solution, it’s time to start removing your water stains. If you’re using the soap solution, soak a soft cloth in your detergent and gently rub at the stains. Always work from the top of your wall down. If you work from the bottom up, you could end up with drip stains from the cleanser, causing the very problem you’re trying to avoid!

If you’re using vinegar, use the spray bottle to apply your solution to the water stains, covering the marks completely. Leave the vinegar on for about an hour. Then, come back and use a damp cloth to wipe the vinegar away. You should notice that a lot of the stain comes away too.

3. Repeat the process

Depending on the severity of your water stains, you might find that your walls aren’t totally stain-free once they have dried. Don’t worry – it’s normal to have to repeat the cleaning process a couple of times to get rid of your water stains entirely.

Get rid of water stains for good

Water stains blighting your bathroom? There is an alternative to constant cleaning and redecorating. At Igloo Surfaces, our PVC bathroom panels are 100% waterproof, protecting the wall beneath from damp, damage, and stains.

Browse our full range online today and take the first step towards stain-free bathroom walls.