How To Deep Clean Your Bathtub

Get Your Bathtub Sparkling with These Tips

Of all the chores around the house, the bathtub tends to be one that very few can master. Between the mineral deposits, soap scum, and limescale build-up, cleaning a tub can be a hassle, to say the very least.

It can be tempting to choose caustic or toxic cleaning agents that claim to remove all of the dirt and grime instantly, but you should consider the safer options that you have before choosing to use harsh chemicals that may not be required for the job.

No two bathtubs are the same. The material that your tub is made of will affect how you clean it, as well as how effectively it responds to various types of cleaning. A fibreglass tub will have different recommended cleaning steps than porcelain or painted stainless steel tub, for example.

Fortunately, as long as you know which cleaning tools and products work best for certain surfaces, you’ll have a fairly similar cleaning process across the board. Keep reading to learn more about how to get (and keep) your bathtub sparkling clean.

Choose Your Tools and Cleaners Carefully

There are a variety of different methods and materials that you may find yourself using to clean your tub. This depends on the type of tub, but more importantly the type of stains or build-up that you are trying to remove. It's helpful to have the right tools for the job, otherwise, it doesn’t matter what steps you take because you’ll never get the best results.

Figure out if your tub is made of a material that will scratch easily. If so, avoid scrub brushes and scouring pads, as they could damage the surface. If you have a non-porous tub, you’ll be fine to use any material necessary to get the job done. You may choose to use sponges, cloths, or tile brushes to clean the tub, depending on how severe the cleaning needs.

As mentioned previously, it’s best to try non-toxic cleaning solutions first, such as DIY cleaners and household ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide. These may not be able to remove all stains and build-up in the bathtub, but they can typically take care of a fair amount of cleaning so that you don’t have to use harsh chemicals. Here are some DIY remedies to give a go before you invest in expensive or harsh cleaners:

• Mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda or cream of tartar (better for stain removal) to make a paste. Apply the paste to the tub and allow it to dry and set, which usually takes about 30 minutes. If you use baking soda, scrub the area and rinse the paste away. If you use cream of tartar, just peel the dried paste from the surface and you’ll see that the stain goes with it.
• Vinegar is a great cleaning agent for general purpose cleaning. You can mix it with baking soda to help clean the drain, or even to use on stubborn stains on the tub itself. Used alone, you can apply vinegar at full strength for stubborn stains and diluted with water for everyday cleaning.

If You Do Use Chemical Cleaners

Sometimes, there’s just nothing better than a good bathtub cleaner from the household aisle. In the event that you are going to use a store-bought chemical cleaner that is designed to clean your bathtub, make sure that you open windows and turn on exhaust fans to ventilate the space as much as possible. Bathrooms are very small already, and when you start using bathroom cleaners that contain bleach and other chemicals, the smell can be overwhelming. Not only that, but it can be harmful to your health.

Another important rule is to use rubber gloves whenever you’re cleaning with chemicals so that you don’t cause any damage to your hands. Be careful about splashing, as well, because these cleaners are not something that you want to end up in your eyes. Generally speaking, of course, you should be safe to use these cleaners as long as you are mindful of what you are doing.

The Best Tips for a Tub That’s Always Sparkling

The only thing better than getting a great outcome after deep cleaning your bathtub is not having to do a deep clean in the first place. If you take proper care of your tub from the start and rinse and clean it regularly, you may never have to scrub and scour and try to come up with the best remedy for stains and soap scum build-up. Here are some tips.

• Rinse the tub after every bath or shower. Even if you think the running water rinsed everything down, there’s still residue left behind. An extra rinse can go a long way in saving you the time and effort of scrubbing.
• Consider investing in a daily shower cleaner that automatically sprays down the entire shower so that you can just rinse it away. Again, this regular cleaning can save a lot of build-up, which means less scrubbing for you in the long run.
• DRY the tub after you’re done. Although rinsing removes a lot of residue, the excess moisture can lead to mildew and mould build-up. If you take a minute to towel off the water from the shower walls and sides, you’ll spend a lot less time scrubbing things clean and have fewer issues with mould and mildew.
• Try regular dish detergent to wash the tub on a regular basis. It's great for cleaning soap build-up and it’s already on hand, so you don’t have to buy another cleaning product.

The Bottom Line

Although there are a lot of great ways to deep clean your bathtub, the best option is to keep it clean proactively so that you don’t have to deal with the deep cleaning in the first place. Keep these tips in mind, no matter what state your bathtub is in so that you can enjoy more baths and spend less time cleaning up after them. Speaking of bathrooms, we've got an extensive guide on removing limescale from showers, and how to clean a jetted tub or spa bath check it out today.

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