When one of your littles is going to be bathing in the bathtub (which may or may not include drinking the bathwater before you can stop them), you’re more likely to care about avoiding toxins and chemicals in your cleaning agents. Knowing how to clean a bathtub is important, and this simple, straightforward, and 100% natural method for cleaning the bathtub works well, especially if you do it on a regular basis.
Whether or not your bathtub actually looks dirty, this method is 100% natural and effective for day-to-day grime.
These stains shown in these photos are recent; rings and lines that have been sitting on your tub surface for weeks, months, or even years will take more applications to see a difference.
How to Clean a Bathtub with Baking soda
Step 1. Wet the Bathtub Walls
Begin by wetting down the entire surface of your tub, including the tub walls. (Not necessarily the surrounding walls.) A baking soda and water paste will clean stuck-on gunk in the shower and tub (use vinegar instead of water for really tough stains)
Step 2. Apply a Thin Layer of Baking Soda
Grab a box of baking soda.
Sprinkle baking soda over every wet surface so that a thin film is present.
The water that you used to wet everything down with initially will make the baking soda stick.
However, the vertical surfaces will be harder to get to, no matter how well you initially wetted them down. Also, the tougher stain areas will need a little more oomph in the cleansing power department.
Step 3. Mix Baking Soda and Water into Paste
So mix baking soda and water until you have a paste.
Step 4. Apply Mixture to Stains
Apply this paste to your bathtub walls and/or very strong stains.
In this case, soda-pasting the ring-of-filth on the bathtub walls = two birds with one pasty stone.
Step 5. Make a White Vinegar Spray Bottle
Let the paste hang out there for a few minutes while you gather up some white vinegar in a spray bottle. (Note: If you’re into natural house cleaning, I’d recommend keeping some white vinegar in a spray bottle and having it handy at all times. You’ll use it lots.)
Step 6. Spray White Vinegar on Tub
Spray the tub everywhere, on top of the sprinkled and pasted baking soda alike. You will see a fizzy reaction.
Step 7. Wet an Old Rag
Grab an old, clean white rag. (Cut-up t-shirts work great for this.) Wet it down in the tub spout.
Step 8. Begin Wiping
Start wiping up the baking soda-vinegar everywhere. I’d recommend working from the top of the tub wall down into the tub, for efficiency’s sake.
Rinse your rag out often. Keep wiping and rinsing until the tub is clean. You might want to use a soft-bristled scrub brush or a cleaning toothbrush for some stubborn spots.
Step 9. Keep Repeating
Repeat this process regularly and/or frequently, and you’ll notice a significant difference in the sparkling power of your bathtub.
Even the caulk between the tub and the tub surround gets squeaky clean.
Let’s take a second to remember where we started, and admire where we ended up. That’s quite a difference.
And I love the fact that the cleaning ingredients are completely natural, so my baby can bathe in the bathtub safely, free from chemicals and toxins. Happy bathtub cleaning!
Did you know that one of the dirtiest items in your kitchen is actually your dish sponge? Also, one of the dirtiest spots in your bathroom is the bathtub itself.
Because you don’t want to be near unsanitary things, cleaning your bathtub is crucial. Today, we are going to explore the subject in-depth and provide you with some very interesting facts and products that will help you in this endeavor.
Why You Should Know How to Clean a Bathtub
Assuming that a bathtub is always clean after the dirty water goes down the drain is the same as assuming that a towel will always be clean just because you use it on a clean body every time.
However, a study conducted by the American Society for Microbiology has revealed that there are plenty of microorganisms surrounding your bathtub.
Exposure to these different types of bacteria can lead to multiple health problems, from pneumonia to urinary tract infections. However, cleaning your bathtub can prevent exposure to these microorganisms that can lead to so many different health problems.
Both the bathtub and the shower curtain need to be disinfected once every week.
How to Clean a Disgusting Bathtub
Is your bathroom absolutely disgusting? When this is the case, the normal processes of cleaning your bathroom may not work. You’ll have to pull out these special instructions to be able to clean an especially disgusting bathtub.
Be aware this is a process with several steps that will likely consume most of your day. But at least you will end the day with a clean bathtub.
Materials
- Hot water
- Baking Soda
- Bleach
- Safety Goggles
- Gloves
- Sponge
- 2 Buckets
Steps for How to Clean a Disgusting Bathtub
Step 1: Rinse the Tub
Turn on your shower to high heat, and let it spray on the bathtub for 15 minutes. For those without a shower tub combo, you can achieve the same pre-steaming of the tub by filling it with hot water, letting it sit for 15 minutes, then draining the tub.
Step 2: Protect Yourself
When working with bleach you will always want to wear protective gloves and goggles. Put these on now.
Step 3: Mix Your Cleaning Agents
While the tub is being preheated, mix ½ cup of bleach in a bucket with one gallon of water. In a separate bucket, mix baking soda with bleach to make a paste.
Step 4: Wipe Down the Tub
Wipe down the entire tub by dipping a sponge into your bleach mixture. Let it dry for 30 minutes.
Step 5: Rinse Tub
Rinse your tub out, taking note of any spots that didn’t come out.
Step 6: Apply Paste to Trouble Spots
Apply the bleach/baking soda mixture to any of the tough spots that remain. It should sit for 30 minutes.
Step 7: Rinse with Cold Water
Rinse the tub a second time with cold water. All of the spots should come off and the tub should be clean. If not, repeat steps 3-7 until the tub is clean.
How to Deep Clean a Bathtub
Sometimes, your bathtub may not have visible rings on it, but it still may need a deep clean. Most people choose to do this at least twice a year, once during spring cleaning, and once in the fall around the time the school year begins.
Materials
- Cleaning Gloves
- Baking Soda
- Lemon Juice
- Dish Soap
- Scrub Brush
- Sponge
- Bucket
How to Deep Clean a Bathtub Steps
Step 1: Mix Your Cleaner
In the bucket, mix baking soda and dish soap together in an equal ratio, then add a few drops of lemon juice. The mixture should become a foam.
Step 2: Put on Gloves
Although this cleaning process doesn’t involve bleach, dish soap and baking soda can be hard on the hands so you will want to put on gloves before touching the mixture you have created.
Step 3: Coat the Tub
Cover your entire tub in the mixture using a sponge. If there are any particularly difficult spots, scrub with a brush.
Step 4: Wash with a Wet Sponge
Clean your sponge, then soak in water and rinse the tub using the sponge. Allow dirty water to go into the drain and not in the bucket where you are getting your water from.
Step 5: Rinse the Tub
Rinse your entire tub with cold water. If spots remain, you can repeat all of the above steps a second time.
How to Clean a Bathtub with Vinegar
Cleaning products can have a strong scent and damage your skin if not used properly, therefore many people prefer to use a more natural cleaning product in their bathtub. If this sounds like you, then check out these instructions for cleaning your bathtub with vinegar.
Materials
- White vinegar
- Spray bottle
- Towel
- Baking Soda
Steps for How to Clean a Bathtub with Vinegar
Step 1: Create Your Solution
In a spray bottle, you will want to combine vinegar and water in a 2:1 ratio (two parts vinegar for every part water).
Step 2: Spray the Tub
Spray your entire tub with the vinegar solution and allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes.
Step 3: Rinse the Tub
Rinse your tub with cold water. If there are still stains, proceed to step 4.
Step 4: Address the Tough Stains
Soak a towel in a mixture of vinegar and baking soda, then set it on the tough stains. Leave it there for one hour, then rinse. The stain should come right off.
How to Clean a Bathtub with Bleach
As much as you may wish to clean your bathtub with something more natural like vinegar and lemon juice, there are times when this will not be enough to do the trick. Here are the instructions for cleaning your bathtub using bleach.
Be sure to always use personal protective equipment when working with bleach.
Materials
- Bleach
- Spray bottle
- Gloves
- Eye protection
- Sponge
How to Clean a Bathtub with Bleach Steps
Step 1: Rinse the Tub
Fill the tub with warm water, let it sit for 15 minutes, then drain the tub to rid it of any loose grime.
Step 2: Put on Protection
Put on your gloves and eye protection before pulling out the bleach. Ensure your bathroom is well ventilated.
Step 3: Fill the Tub
Fill the tub once again with water, adding the recommended amount of bleach on the bottle for the depth of your tub. Leave the water to sit for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Spray the Edges
While the water sits in the tub, mix bleach and water in a spray bottle and spray this on the edges of the tub where the water doesn’t quite reach. Scrub with the sponge.
Step 5: Scrub the Tough Spots
Take your sponge and gently scrub any scum or dirty spots, they should come right off. Remember not to dip your hands in the bleach water without gloves.
Step 6: Drain the Tub
Drain the tub completely, then rinse with a fresh round of water. Let the tub dry for a few hours before its next use.
How to Clear a Clogged Bathtub Drain
Maybe your bathtub is dirty because the drain is clogged. When this is the case, you can clean your tub all you want but it will just get dirty again until you clear the clogged drain. Follow the steps below to clear your clogged bathroom drain.
Materials
- Gloves
- Screwdriver
- Drain claw
- Baking Soda
- Bucket
- Stove Safe Pot
- Vinegar
- Plunger
- Drain Cleaning Product
Steps
Step 1: Put on Gloves
Your drain isn’t going to be clogged by something you want to be touching, so start by putting on your gloves, and perhaps protective wear for your clothes if necessary.
Step 2: Remove the Drain Cover
Remove the drain cover from the drain. Sometimes these pop off easily, and other times they will need to be unscrewed using a screw driver.
Step 3: Remove Visible Blockages
Once the cover is off, use your hand to remove any easily visible blockages within the reach of your fingers.
Step 4: Use the Claw
Push the drain claw as far as you can into the drain, then pull it back out again. Repeat this process a few times.
Step 5: Boil Some Water
Boil some water on the stove. While this is boiling, prepare one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar.
Step 6: Pour Contents into Drain
Pour the water in first, followed by the baking soda and vinegar. Wait 20 minutes for this solution to clear the blockage. Rinse the drain with water.
Step 7: Use a Plunger
At this point, it is likely your drain has been cleared. If not, it’s time to pull out that plunger. Fill the bathtub with a few inches of water and plunge away.
Step 8: Remove Clumps
If done properly, your plunger will bring up chunks of gunk from the drain. Use your gloved hand to remove these and toss them in the trash.
Step 9: Rinse the Tub
Rinse the tub again, if a blockage still exists, continue to step 10.
Step 10: Use a Drain Cleaning Product
Pour a drain cleaning product down the drain following the instructions on the bottle. If it is still clogged after this, it’s time to call in a professional to take a look.
Benefits of Vinegar & Baking Soda
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a wide range of chemicals and store-bought products to actually clean the bathtub. You can do so even by using products that you can find around the house, such as vinegar and baking soda.
To better understand why these two products can do wonders, let’s look at the benefits that each of these items can provide.
You want to clean your bathtub with vinegar because:
- Unlike chemical products that you purchase in stores, vinegar doesn’t contain any chemicals that you can potentially inhale. That makes it safer to use to clean the bathtub especially if you have children and a hard time keeping them away from the bathroom while you’re cleaning it.
- Vinegar is very efficient against soap scum build-up.
- It has very high acidity and can be very efficient to clean a bathtub. However, diluting it with water is a much better idea if you have a bathtub with a strong enamel finish.
If you want to buy some vinegar to clean your bathtub, you can opt for this one from the Green Gobbler Store. This is a naturally-derived alternative to chemically-rich products that you currently find in stores.
It comes with one gallon of vinegar that can be used for the bathtub, but also for other surfaces. It is made with corn-distilled alcohol and doesn’t contain any chemicals.
Baking soda is also useful for cleaning your bathtub because:
- Baking soda is another cheap and non-toxic alternative to chemical-based solutions found in stores. It is also safe to use on a wide range of surfaces, making it a very versatile ingredient.
- As a mildly-abrasive ingredient, it is a good idea to mix baking soda with vinegar to make it less damaging to surfaces, which can inevitably occur after intense scrubbing.
If you’re interested in purchasing some baking soda that’s really good for cleaning the bathtub, Arm & Hammer is a brand that doesn’t disappoint. You can purchase a pack of three or six boxes, with each box containing eight ounces of products each.
It is one of the best-selling products in its category and can be used hundreds of times before you need to purchase a new batch.
Best Bathtub Cleaners
Before buying a bathtub cleaner, there are a few things that you need to know about this type of product. This will help you distinguish good products from the bad, so here are the main things to look out for when you’re on the market looking for such a product:
- List of ingredients: This is important for a variety of different reasons. First of all, some chemicals can be really irritating when you inhale them, which is sometimes inevitable when you’re scrubbing the tub. Try to use products that are very rich in bleaching agents and try to focus on naturally-derived products.
- Low-acid content: If you use cleaners that are rich in acid ingredients, they might seriously damage the surface of the bathtub. In general, you want to opt for a product with an acidic content that’s lower than 5 percent.
- Stain-focus: Not all cleaners are good for all types of bathtub stains, which means that you might need to search for very specific products depending on what you’re dealing with. For instance, some products are really efficient against mildew stains, others remove hard-water stains, and others are better for limescale.
- Quantity required: How much product you’ll actually need to clean the bathtub once matters. A solution should be strong enough as to not require too much product when you’re cleaning. If you have to use a lot of products for a single cleaning session, it’s most likely not a very efficient cleaner, to begin with.
Best Bathtub Cleaner Products
Mr. Clean PAG27141 Magic Eraser Bathroom Scrubber 2 per Box
Mr. Clean is a brand that you can rely on when you’re looking to purchase products to help clean your house. This suggestion is a pack of scrubbers that helps fight scum.
They are a really neat option because each foam pad can be used multiple times. You basically get a 2-in-1 product since this is like a sponge that comes imbued with the required cleaning solution to make your bathtub shiny and smelling nice.
Eco-Friendly Hard Water Stain Remover
Hard water is also a problem when you have to clean a bathtub, which is where this Bio-Clean stain remover comes into play and helps you get rid of this problem.
You can purchase a 20 oz. or a 40 oz. bottle of this product that helps you scrub the bathtub clean of tough water stains. Consequently, this product is also efficient in cleaning shower heads, toilers, sinks, tiles, and other bathroom and kitchen appliances.
The Bucko Soap Scum and Grime Cleaner
Here is yet another efficient product that helps clean the bathtub of scum and grime, but note that this is a refill bottler and doesn’t come with the sprayer. What this cleaner does is leave a beautiful shine on your bathtub by removing build-up and nasty stains along the way.
For light to mild stains, this is a product that doesn’t really require a lot of scrubbing. If you’re dealing with difficult stains, you want to spray some product on the stain and leave it to sit for a while before proceeding with the scrubbing part.
Instant Mold and Mildew Stain Remover Spray
Mold and mildew stains are a real thing in the bathroom and they can be a real health threat if they appear on your bathtub and you continue to use it even so. With this cleaning solution, you can remove both the stains and the smell.
And one of the best parts about this solution is that you can use it on more than just the bathtub: it works on wood and lumber surfaces, plastic and PVC, concrete, fiberglass, and others.
It promises to be five times stronger compared to other similar cleaning solutions, doesn’t require any scrubbing, and can remove mold and mildew stains in seconds.
Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser Premixed Formula
This product is described as being a soft cleanser that works on multiple surfaces like ceramic, porcelain, copper alloys, stainless steel, and others. When you want to use this cleanser, you have to first shake the product, apply a little bit of it onto a damp sponge or the wet bathtub and scrub gently to clean the tub.
Make sure that you rinse it thoroughly about one minute after application. The solution is a mixture of citrus fragrance, surfactant, oxalic acid, citric acid, mineral abrasive, and water.
Lime-A-Way Bathroom Cleaner
Calcium and lime are also a danger for your bathtub, and rust is something that can affect your drain and your bathtub hardware, which also requires cleaning just as often as the tub itself.
This is a sprayer bottle that is useful for spot cleaning, for tubs and tiles, sinks, fixtures, showers, and glass. It promises to remove even the toughest limescale stains without the need for too much elbow grease.
Best Bathtub Cleaner Brush
The second thing you’re going to need when cleaning the bathtub is a good brush. As you’re about to see, some brushes will require putting in some scrubbing effort, while others are battery-powered devices that do almost the entire work for you. Ready to shop for a bathtub cleaning brush?
OXO Good Grips All Purpose Scrub Brush
Inexpensive, easy to hold, and with a very long lifespan: this is how we would describe this OXO brush. It comes with a contour handle that protects the knuckles and makes it very easy to maneuver the brush while you’re cleaning your bathtub.
The non-slip feature makes it easy to hold the brush even if your hands get wet. The stiff bristles happen to be very gentle and that makes it easy to remove dirt and grime without scratching the surface of the bathtub.
OXO Good Grips Extendable Tub and Tile Scrubber
What makes this a good product is the fact that you won’t have to lean over the bathtub and put too much strain on your back while you’re trying to clean a specific surface. It comes with a handle that can extend from 26 to 42 inches with a mere twist.
The shape of the product makes it easy to clean even corners of your bathroom when needed, being a great product to use even on other surfaces inside the house. The steel pole is lightweight and easy to hold thanks to the non-slip construction.
Dremel Versa Cleaning Tool- Grout Brush
Dremel is a brand with a reputation, but how many of you did you know that it makes efficient cleaning tools as well? This is a battery-powered product that comes with a li-ion battery which can be used for about 25 minutes before the battery needs recharging.
It comes with multiple cleaning accessories that can be really efficient in cleaning not just the bathtub, but also other surfaces inside the house. It has a waterproof construction and comes with an erased pad, a non-scratch pad, a bristle brush, and a heavy-duty pad.
Drillbrush 4 Piece Nylon Power Brush
The best way to describe this product is like a hand drill equipped with brush heads. You basically get a lot of torque to clean multiple bathroom surfaces, including the dreaded tub which is often filled with microorganisms.
This kit is equipped with medium-stiffness nylon brushes and a cordless drill that work together to efficiently scrub surfaces without too much effort on your behalf. There are four different brush heads in this kit, with every brush being designed to withstand indoor and outdoor use.
Tilswall Electric Spin Scrubber
The last cleaning brush that we wanted to talk to you about is another product focused on minimizing elbow grease to make cleaning less of a chore. It comes with a rechargeable battery system that can provide up to 180 minutes of continuous working power so that you can clean the tub, as well as other surfaces inside the house.
The bristles are designed to be strong enough to actually remove dirt, but soft enough as to avoid scratching any surfaces. With a single press of a button, you can extend the handle from 27.6 inches to 43.3 inches, which means less bending over and less strain on your lower back.
How to Clean a Bathtub FAQ
How to Clean a Jacuzzi Bathtub with Jets?
You can clean a Jacuzzi bathtub with jets using the cleaner of your choice. All you have to do is fill the tub, add the cleaner of your choice, then run the jets for 10-15 minutes. When you drain the tub, it, plus the jets should be clean.
How Do I Get My Bathtub White Again?
The number one way to get your bathtub white again is by cleaning it. You can clean it using white vinegar, bleach, dish soap, or the bathtub cleaning product for the best results.
How to Clean a Bathtub Without Scrubbing?
You can clean a bathtub without scrubbing by filling it with water, adding a cleaning solution, letting it sit, then draining it again. Repeat this a few times until there are no stains remaining in your tub.
Can I Use Oxiclean to Clean a Bathtub?
Oxiclean, while typically used for laundry, is an excellent bathtub cleaner. Apply a liberal amount to your tub, let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with cold water and a paper towel.
What is the Fastest Way to Clean a Bathtub?
The fastest way to clean a bathtub is by using a bleach and water mixture. Although it will smell bad, bleach will quickly remove dirt and grime from your tub, restoring it to its former white glory.
The Clean Bottom Line
Cleaning a bathtub is something that should be part of a weekly ritual because the dangers of continuously bathing in a tub that’s prone to be a home to several microorganisms is a complete no-no.
One of the most important aspects of knowing how to clean a bathtub is making sure that you use the best products when cleaning your bathtub because you don’t want to risk yourself or anyone in the family being exposed to such dangers with more severe health consequences than most people can begin to comprehend. Just make sure that you avoid exposure to chemicals as much as possible, as inhaling them can lead to multiple health problems as well.
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