What are Blue-Green Stains on Sinks and Bathtubs

If your plumbing system utilizes copper or brass pipes, you may notice bluish-green stains in your sink or bathtub. Blue-green staining is a result of corroding copper pipes or fixtures. When copper tainted water evaporates, it leaves behind copper oxide – the green/blue stain you see. There are a few reasons why pipes corrode, including: stagnant water, high water pressure, unbalanced water pH, and installation errors. 

It’s important to seek professional advice to diagnose any problems with your pipes. Assessing the condition of your plumbing system can prevent major damage. A water treatment specialist, like Kinetico Advanced, can assist if the quality of your water is the root of the problem.

How to Prevent Blue-Green Stains

To avoid stains caused by a low pH, testing your water will help you to find the appropriate treatment. Speciality systems, like our Neutralizer or Calcite Backwashing Filter, will assist in raising the pH level of your water. 

Contacting a Kinetico water expert and scheduling a water test gives you full control of your water treatment plan that fulfills all your water system needs.

How to Remove Blue-Green Stains

Homebrew Methods

There are a few methods for removing blue-green stains with everyday household items. White vinegar is an effective cleaning solution, especially when combined with an abrasive material like table salt. For stubborn stains, sprinkling baking soda or borax onto the vinegar mixture will help. Lemon juice is another ingredient that dissolves blue-green stains and will also leave a fresh scent behind. 

Call a Professional / or use store-bought products (?) 

If your diy cleaning method isn’t working, consider calling a professional cleaning service. Cleaning experts will have the necessary expertise and resources to remove any blue-green stains from your plumbing fixtures. There are also plenty of stain removal products available for purchase at your local home improvement store. 

Different Surfaces and Materials

Non-porous or glazed bathroom materials are easy to maintain and clean. Ceramic, porcelain, and glazed cast iron are all commonly used in bathrooms for sinks, tile and bathtubs. However, most of these are usually found in white or other light colors, so blue-green staining will likely be noticeable. Maintaining your plumbing systems and water treatment will be the best at preventing blue-green stains, but choosing materials that are easy to maintain and durable is important when thinking about your bathroom

Don’t Wait, Get Those Stains Out!

Blue-green staining from water can be prevented with pH-balancing treatments. Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive collection of water treatment systems that treat, correct and enhance the quality of your water.