How to Clean a Bathtub
Whether you shower in it or use it for long, luxurious baths, there's nothing clean—or relaxing—about a tub full of grime, mold, or mildew.
Instructions
- Step 1: Ventilate room Ventilate the room by turning on any fans and opening any doors or windows.
- Step 2: Put on gloves Put on rubber gloves.
- Step 3: Clean drain Remove any hair from the drain.
- Step 4: Apply cleaner If your tub is porcelain or coated with enamel, apply a mildly abrasive bathtub or all-purpose cleaner to the tub and let it sit for a period of time, according to product directions. Scrub the tub with your brush, then rinse well.
- TIP: For a natural cleaning product, mix a teaspoon of liquid soap, a few drops of an antibacterial essential oil (such as eucalyptus, rosemary, tea tree, or peppermint), a cup of baking soda, and enough water to make a paste.
- Step 5: Scrub & rinse If your tub is fiberglass or acrylic, use a sponge to apply a nonabrasive cleaning product or one designed for fiberglass. Scrub gently, being careful not to scratch the tub, then rinse well.
- TIP: If you damage the caulking along the tub while you are scrubbing, repair it as soon as you're done cleaning -- and before using the tub -- to prevent water damage.
- Step 6: Remove grime Use your cleaning product and an old toothbrush to remove any hard-to-reach grime.
- Step 7: Scrub stains For stubborn stains or rings on porcelain or enamel tubs, try scrubbing with baking soda on a damp sponge or a mildly abrasive cleaner.
- Step 8: Clean fixtures Using a sponge or rag, clean the fixtures with an all-purpose cleaner.
- Step 9: Rinse & dry Rinse off all remaining cleaner and dry the whole tub with a clean cloth. Now, after all that work, you can indulge yourself with a nice, hot bath.
- FACT: At over 300 pounds, U.S. President William Howard Taft required his own oversized tub installed in the White House.
You Will Need
- A pair of rubber gloves
- A mildly abrasive or non-abrasive bathtub cleaner
- depending on your tub
- A scrub brush or sponge
- depending on your tub
- Water
- An old toothbrush
- A sponge or rag
- Clean
- dry cloths
- Liquid soap
- Antibacterial essential oil
- Baking soda