Bathroom cleaning is one of those chores that homeowners dread — especially when it comes to cleaning the tub. The good news is, tub cleaning doesn’t have to be a difficult, time-consuming task. If you know the secrets, you can get this job done in less than 30 minutes. No shortcuts, either! Your tub will be sparkling clean like it is newly installed. Read on and learn what supplies you’ll need and how to clean your tub properly.
Supplies You’ll Need
These days, there are tons of bathtub cleaning products on the market and they all purport to achieve the same result: remove grease, lime and rust stains. Despite the proliferation of these types of products, plain dish soap stands out above the rest. Use a degreasing brand for the best results.
You’ll also need something to scrub the tub. You can resort to a scrubbing sponge or a brush, but one of the problems with bathtub cleaning is the inevitable backache that comes with bending over the tub. Make scrubbing easier on yourself and use a sturdy broom, instead.
Last, if your tub has glass doors, put some full-strength vinegar in a spray bottle and have a few cloths on hand to clean them.
Getting Started
If your tub is cleaned regularly, then issues such as lime and rust stains won’t have a chance to build up over time. Most of the grime you’ll find inside a tub is a combination of soap scum and oil from your skin. That’s why degreasing dish soap works best to remove it.
To start, run the water to moisten the bottom and sides of the tub, then let it drain. Once drained, pour a generous amount of dish soap in the bottom of the tub and use your brush or broom to spread it liberally over the entire tub. You’ll want to let this sit a little while, so that the soap has a chance to do its work.
Cleaning Glass Bathtub Doors
If your tub has glass doors, now is a good time to clean them. Simply use the full-strength vinegar to coat the doors. Let this sit a minute or two so that the vinegar dissolves any lime buildup, then use a dampened cloth to wipe the doors. Go back over the doors with a dry cloth to polish them to a streak-free shine.
Scrub the Tub
Now that the dish soap has had a chance to penetrate the layer of grime in the tub, use your brush or broom to start scrubbing. The buildup should come off easily. If you still have a few grimy spots, let the tub soak a bit longer. If the buildup in your tub is particularly tough, you may want to rinse the tub and coat it with fresh dish soap.
Rinse the Soap
Once the scrubbing is done, thoroughly rinse the tub. For this part, you can simply turn the showerhead on and let it run for a few minutes to remove all the dish soap. If you have a handheld sprayer, you can do the rinsing a bit faster and save water while you’re at it. Make sure to use hot water so that the tub dries quickly, without water spots left.
How Often Should You Clean the Tub?
In general, bathrooms should be cleaned weekly — especially fixtures such as the toilet and sink. However, because your tub gets a rinsing each time you use it, it’s safe to do this particular task once per month. If you have hard water, you may want to clean the tub a bit more often to prevent lime and soap scum buildup. Keep in mind that the more often you clean your tub, the less buildup there will be. Regular cleaning means less time and effort spent on this task each time you do it.
With simple supplies and minimal effort, you’ll find it’s easy to keep your tub looking like new. There’s no need to spend lots of money on specialized cleaners when all you really need is a good degreasing soap. Most importantly, schedule bathtub cleaning regularly so that you can avoid a thick buildup of grime.