How to Effectively Clean Your Bathtub in 3 Simple Steps

If you’ve noticed reduced water pressure from your shower head, don’t assume the problem is your plumbing. Over time, water flow can become inhibited as sediment builds up in the shower head’s nozzles. This can cause inconsistent water pressure even though your plumbing system is still in good condition.

Fortunately, you don’t have to replace a shower head that’s become clogged with sediment. Instead, simply follow this step-by-step guide to learn how you can clean the fixture using a simple process and restore it to like-new condition.

Tools

• Plunger
• Auger (if needed)

Materials 

• Baby shampoo
• Bathtub drain cleaner (DIY mixture of vinegar and baking soda)
• Boiling hot water 
• Car wax
• Damp rag or cloth 
• Microfiber cloth 
• Warm water

Before You Begin

Let's start with the generic rules and guidelines you can apply to cleaning all bathtubs. The most important thing to note if you want to maintain a clean bathtub, is that it's essential to clean it regularly. Regular maintenance means a consistently clean and beautiful bathroom, not to mention less time scrubbing away stains and grime on the weekends.

Each cleaning method is specific to the materials the tub is made of. This is because to keep each kind of tub looking its best, you'll want to clean it in the gentlest way possible. It would help if you also used non-toxic cleaners whenever possible to help remove stains to help preserve the tub's finish.

Finally, before you start cleaning, remember to clear any clutter that could get in your way. You'll thank yourself later when you aren't constantly knocking over shampoo bottles or accidentally getting a cleaner with bleach on your bathmat.

Warning: Always be safe when using or combining bathroom cleaning products. Make sure you're using them as intended, and aren't mixing cleaners that have bleach with acidic bathroom solutions, like hard water removers or vinegar.

Blending these cleaners could produce dangerous toxic fumes. Double-check your labels and research if you aren't sure you can mix things. Always properly ventilate your bathroom when you clean.

How Do I Clean an Acrylic Bathtub?

If you're searching for how to clean an acrylic tub, here's a step-by-step walkthrough on how to do the most thorough cleaning for this kind of material.

Tools

You'll only really need one particular tool for cleaning an acrylic bathtub — a plunger (or possibly an auger, if needed).

Materials

Here's the rest of your shopping list for this cleaning task:

• Baby shampoo
• Bathtub drain cleaner (DIY mixture of vinegar and baking soda)
• Boiling hot water
• Car wax
• Damp rag or cloth
• Microfiber cloth
• Warm water

Once you have everything together, it's time to start cleaning!

Step 1

Apply your choice of cleaning supply throughout the tub and let it sit for up to ten minutes. Use boiling water and vinegar for tougher stains. Use baby shampoo for a gentler clean.

Step 2

Scrub the mixture into the tub and faucets with your damp rag or cloth. Use the plunger or auger to ensure you're getting rid of any potential clogs in the drain.

Step 3

Rinse off excess cleaner with clean water and dry with a microfiber cloth. You can also wax your acrylic tub with your car wax for an impeccable shine!

How Do I Clean a Fiberglass Bathtub?

Those scrolling down to find out how to clean a fiberglass bathtub can put your scrolling finger aside; here's the best way to clean these tubs.

Tools

Before you're ready to clean, you'll need a soft sponge and an old toothbrush handy.

Materials

Here's your list of cleaning materials:

• Baking soda
• Cold water
• Dish soap
• Hot water
• Spray bottle
• White vinegar
• Microfiber cloth

Everything checked off? Great — let's dive in!

Step 1

Combine white vinegar and cold water in a spray bottle in a 2:1 ratio. You can also use baking soda if you have to knock out some tough stains.

Step 2

Spray down or apply the paste to the bathtub and let it sit for up to an hour. Scrub everything down with your soft sponge. You can also use the old toothbrush to get into hard-to-reach spots.

Step 3

Rinse your tub with hot water and wipe dry with your microfiber cloth.

How Do I Clean a Porcelain Bathtub?

Want to know how to clean a porcelain bathtub? You're in luck — it’s next on this list! Discover how to avoid hard water stains and a dull finish, even with simple, regular cleaning!

Tools

You'll only need a gentle cleaning rag for your porcelain bathtub.

Materials

The cleaning list is slightly different for porcelain bathtubs:

• Ammonia
• Baking soda
• Dish soap
• Hot water
• Warm water
• Soft sponge or cloth

Have everything handy before you start, and remember to have a clear workspace.

Step 1

Combine the ammonia, warm water, and baking soda in a bucket for a deep clean. Remember to be careful mixing your chemicals here; don't use this method if you plan to use other cleansers. You can also use dish soap for a more surface clean, yielding an impressive shine.

Step 2

Take your cloth or sponge and dip it into the ammonia mixture. Scrub the tub thoroughly.

Step 3

Rinse the tub with clean hot water and wipe it down with a clean cloth.

How Do I Clean a Natural Stone Bathtub?

We haven't forgotten about those of you with natural stone bathtubs. Here's how to clean a natural stone bathtub most efficiently.

Tools

You'll want a non-scratch sponge to clean a natural stone bathtub carefully. When you clean this material, you must be very careful with your tub's surface.

Materials

Thankfully, your list of cleaning supplies is nice and short:

• Dish soap
• Warm water
• A separate cloth for drying

All set? Let's walk through the cleaning process.

Step 1

Natural stone is the most straightforward to clean. With these types of bathtubs, avoid using harsh cleansers at all costs, including bleach or ammonia.

Step 2

Mix the dish soap and warm water directly in your bathtub or a bucket. Use a cloth or sponge to clean the tub after dipping it into the dish soap solution.

Step 3

Rinse the tub thoroughly and wipe down with a fresh cloth to prevent streaking.

How Can Bathtub Jets Be Effectively Cleaned?

When cleaning, bathtub jets are an oft-forgotten piece of the whirlpool tub, but they need just as much attention as any other part of your bathtub. If you aren't sure what to scrub these parts with, here's a quick guide to cleaning and clearing your jets. And thankfully, it's delightfully hands-off, so you can clean other parts of your bathroom while you wait.

Fill your bathtub with hot water up to an inch above your jets. Add some dish detergent and white vinegar to the water and close the valves (if you have that option). Run your jets for ten to fifteen minutes. Drain your tub, refill it with cold water, and run the jets for another ten or fifteen minutes. Drain the tub for a final time and wipe it down with a soft cloth.

Doing this often enough will break up and destroy any bacteria or gunk stuck in your lines. Cleaning this way specifically for your jets can make an enormous difference and make your bathing more hygienic.

What's the Most Effective Method for Removing Soap Scum?

Are you sick of succumbing to stubborn soap scum? There are a few ways to remove it for good that are straightforward and fast. Commercial bathtub cleaners that target soap scum could work, but for a deep clean, you don't need to look much further than the faithful duo of baking soda and white vinegar.

Combine a cup of baking soda with 1/3 cup of vinegar. Mix until you've made a foamy paste. Take a sponge and apply the paste to your tub, giving extra special attention to areas with thick grime. Let the paste sit for a half hour, then scrub it off with a brush in circular motions. Rinse off the paste, and you should see a much more beautiful tub!

If the buildup is still there, you can repeat this process. Or you could opt for something more heavy-duty and mix two parts baking soda with one part hydrogen peroxide. The idea is similar — apply the paste, let it sit for at least an hour, brush the tub in circular motions, and rinse away any remnants of soap scum or mildew for good!

What's the Optimal Approach for Tackling Stubborn Stains?

Bathtub stains come from mineral deposits in hard water. They can turn even the most gorgeous tub into a complete eyesore. Fortunately, like with the soap scum, there's a relatively easy way to eliminate these stains. However, the optimal approach will depend on the cause of your stain, which you can determine by its color.

Yellow stains don't need much — just follow the soap scum cleaning tips above to get rid of these.

Red or black stains are usually from iron or sulfur bacteria and need a heavier hand, so use the two-part baking soda and two-part hydrogen peroxide mixture if these are the color of your stains.

For blue-green stains, you can use the vinegar cleaning method if you own an acrylic tub or an abrasive cleanser and a melamine sponge (magic eraser) if your tub is a different material. Don't use abrasive cleansers on acrylic tubs since they can permanently scratch the surface.

What's the Recommended Way to Clean Grout Effectively?

Having a clean tub and dirty grout is not a great look, but do you need to clean grout differently than you clean your bathtub? There is some overlap, but cleaning tough stains off grout will require some extra cleaners and equipment.

You can use commercial tile cleaners and have decent success. But your best bet is to avoid harsh chemicals and use a more natural cleaning solution instead.

Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, a tried and true combo mentioned above for cleaning bathtub stains, make an excellent DIY grout cleaner. This time, however, you'll want to apply the paste with a toothbrush to the grout lines. The toothbrush gives you precise control over where you apply the paste and focus on the details.

Let it sit, rinse the grout with warm water, and wipe the surface dry with a microfiber cloth to prevent any more mold or mildew growth.

Tips for Maintaining a Sparkling Shine

Here are some simple cleaning hacks from the pros that will cause you to keep confusing the surface of your bathtub with a mirror:

• Use natural, gentle cleansers whenever possible, like white vinegar-based solutions
• Keep your tub dry to avoid soap scum from building up
• Use the best types of cleansers for your bathtub's material
• Try using dishwashing soap in hot water when you clean and rinse thoroughly
• Depending on your tub, you can use wax once a year to preserve its shine

But above all else, the best way to keep your tub nice and shiny is to keep it clean using the tips in this guide! You won't have to put in much more effort if you keep up with your bathtub cleaning.

Purchase a Durable, Easy-to-Clean Bathtub From Vintage Tub

What's easier to clean than a high-quality tub you're too proud of to let get dirty? If you're interested in buying a new bathtub for your upcoming DIY bathroom remodel, we'd love to help you find the right fit! Contact Vintage Tub to learn more about our tub selection and other bathroom products!

Are you looking for help with cleaning the rest of your bathroom? We've put together even more expert guides with pro cleaning tips to help you clean every fixture you can think of, including glass shower doors, shower heads, refinished tubs, and even cast-iron tubs.