Purple shampoo, popular amongst individuals with blonde, silver, bleached or brassy hair, contains violet pigments designed to neutralize brassy and yellow tones. Mostly used for toning purposes, it brings out the best of these shades. One major downside is that it can easily stain surfaces, particularly bathroom tubs. The frequent culprit of these stains is the Joico Color Balance shampoo.
The main ingredient responsible for these stubborn stains is the ammonium salt in purple shampoo. This active ingredient is water soluble and can easily cause a mess when the shampoo is spilled or splashed.
The tub at the center of the issue is made of acrylic, a plastic material known for its versatility and durability. Unfortunately, as reviewed by a tenant who has had to pay for refinishing, these tubs aren't resistant to purple shampoo stains.
A variety of cleaning methods, including acetone, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, bleach pen, hair spray, and magic eraser have been deployed unsuccessfully. Here’s a closer look at some of the methods:
Washing soda, borax, or baking soda are cleaners with high pH values. They have been identified as potential solutions for such stubborn stains. To clarify, the pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is - the neutral point is 7. Vinegar, with a pH of 2, is an example of an acidic substance, indicating that a cleaner with a higher pH may be more successful at removal.
For a more holistic approach, rubbing alcohol, a paste made from baking soda and vinegar, or washing soda can be used. However, this approach didn't generate the desired result in previous attempts.
Despite the use of either chemical or natural methods, it’s essential to always wear protective gloves to safeguard your skin.
Although not the same, hair dye stains offer a valid comparison with purple shampoo stains. Cleansers and techniques used for hair dye stains include nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, vinegar mixed with baking soda, regular bathroom cleaner with bleach, bleach mixed with water, and dish soap. But much like the other methods attempted, bear in mind that they are not guaranteed for effective stain removal and could potentially cause other damage.
