How to clean a bathtub, according to an expert

Learn from an expert just how to remove those tough tub stains.

We use our bathtubs every day, and yet, sometimes, they are overlooked when it comes to our cleaning routines. However, cleaning your bathtub is crucial to maintaining a good bathing experience. It does not feel good to step into the tub and feel soap scum and hard water buildup under your toes, and unsightly stains that dirt, rust, and mold can leave behind can be embarrassing when guests visit.

Though it may feel like it, cleaning your bathtub doesn't have to be an exhausting task. Ahead, a cleaning expert explains how to clean a bathtub. Plus, some helpful tips on how to get it done fast and effectively, as well as how to avoid having to deep clean it so often. 

How Often To Clean Your Bathtub

According to professional home cleaner Sara San Angelo, founder of Confessions of a Cleaning Lady in Charleston, you should clean your tub at least once a week depending on how often you use it. “If your tub is not used often or in a guest bath, just rinsing it out once a week will suffice,” she explains.

Considerations Before Getting Started

Before getting started, it is important to determine what type of material your tub is made of. According to San Angelo, the most common materials are cast iron (with a porcelain coating), acrylic, and fiberglass. “There are certain chemicals and materials you do not want to use on each of these,” she explains. Bleach, for example, can damage acrylic materials.

Additionally, acrylic and fiberglass are not as durable as cast iron and can scratch more easily. However, all three materials can be scratched and chipped. Using non-abrasive cleaning methods is key to cleaning your tub without damaging it, she says. Here are a few products you can't use on each of the bathtub materials San Angelo mentioned:

What You Can’t Use On Porcelain-Coated Cast Iron Bathtubs

• Bleach 
• Ammonia 
• White vinegar 
• Dyed cleaners 
• Oil-based wax cleaners
• Steel wool
• Abrasive cleaning products

What You Can't Use On Acrylic Bathtubs

• Paint thinners
• Acetone
• Aerosol 
• Bleach
• Ammonia 
• Abrasive cleaning products, including scrubbers 

What You Can't Use On Fiberglass Bathtubs

• Bleach 
• Acetone 
• Pain Thinners
• Abrasive cleaning products, including scrubbers 

What You Need

For cast-iron bathtub:

• Bar Keepers Friend
• Sponge
• Magic Eraser (if there is a lot of soap scum buildup)

For acrylic and fiberglass bathtub:

• White vinegar
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Soft sponge
• Magic Eraser (if there is a lot of soap scum buildup)

How To Clean A Cast Iron Bathtub With Bar Keepers Friend

Step 1

Start by gathering all the materials needed to clean your cast iron bathtub. For this method, this means Bar Keepers Friend and a sponge.

Step 2

Turn the shower on and wet the bathtub. Then, sprinkle the cleaner all over the tub. Use a sponge to wipe all around the bathtub. Continue until the solution makes a paste and coats the entire surface of the tub.  

Step 3

Let the paste solution sit for 15 minutes. Thoroughly scrub the bathtub again. Then, rinse, making sure all remaining cleaner goes down the drain.

How To Clean Cast Iron Bathtub With A Magic Eraser

Step 1

To start, wet your Magic Eraser until you can easily squeeze it. Then, squeeze your Magic Eraser a few times to activate the foaming bubbles.

Step 2

Scrub your bathtub thoroughly using the Magic Eraser. Ensure that all parts of the bathtub get scrubbed. You may need to scrub harder in areas with heavy stains and buildup.

Step 3

Rinse the bathtub to ensure all of the product is removed from the tub.

How To Clean An Acrylic Or Fiberglass Bathtub Using A Vinegar Solution

Step 1

Create a solution of one part vinegar to two parts water in a spray bottle.

Step 2

Spray the tub surface generously with vinegar solution. Vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaner and can cut through soap scum and dirt and fight stains. Allow the vinegar solution to soak in the tub for 15 minutes.

Step 3

Scrub the bathtub thoroughly with a clean sponge. Then, rinse the vinegar solution down the drain.

How To Clean An Acrylic Or Fiberglass Bathtub Using A Magic Eraser

Step 1

Begin by wetting your Magic Eraser until you can squeeze it. Squeeze the Magic Eraser a few times. This will activate the foaming bubbles and prepare your Magic Eraser for use.

Step 2

Use the Magic Eraser to scrub all over your bathtub and rid of soap scum.

Step 3

Rinse the remaining product down the drain.

Tips For Keeping Your Bathtub Clean Longer

• When you are done bathing, drain the tub fully and then rinse it out. “Also, keeping the fan on can help with air circulation and dry the tub faster to help prevent mold and mildew growth,” suggests San Angelo.
• Keep a spray bottle with a vinegar solution (one part vinegar to two parts water) on hand in your bathroom. After bathing, spray your tub down two to three times per week to keep it clean.
• Use a cleaning toothbrush to brush away limescale and hard water residue from the drain area once per week.
• Replace any caulk lines that are damaged.
• Remove any heavy objects from the sides of your tub, as these items can cause chips or cracking that can contribute to staining.

Removing Stains From Bathtubs

Stains in your bathtub can occur due to a variety of reasons, including rusting (if the tub is made of iron or steel), mold, mildew, dirt, residue from hard water and soap scum, or just plain old aging.

To remove stains from your bathtub, first determine what type of material your tub is: cast iron or acrylic/fiberglass. “Cast-iron tubs tend to rust around the drain and fixtures,” explains San Angelo. “Bar Keepers Friend works wonders for rust stains.”

For acrylic tubs, San Angelo suggests making a paste using baking soda and water. “Baking soda has natural bleaching properties,” she explains. “Let it sit on the stain for at least an hour, then scrub and rinse.” Do not use baking soda on fiberglass, as it can scratch the surface.

To get your bathtub pristine white again, avoid using bleach, ammonia, or super abrasive chemicals. If the above solutions utilizing Bar Keepers Friend, vinegar, or a magic eraser aren't working, make a mixture of one part hydrogen peroxide to two parts baking soda until it becomes a paste. Rub the paste into the stains, let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse. You can also mix one part vinegar with one part dish soap, spray that solution on your tub, let it soak in, and rinse.

Read the original article on Southern Living