What is the Best Way to Clean Your Bathtub?

If you invest in your dream bathroom, you're going to want to keep it clean and in the best shape possible. Many homeowners purchase porcelain bathtubs for their master bath but don't know how to clean a porcelain tub, or how to care for it properly. The same can be said for acrylic tubs and showers. If you're wondering how to clean bathtub stains naturally to minimize damage to your tub's exterior, it's much easier than you think; you can even DIY bathtub cleaner with baking soda to use for your own personal projects. Keep reading to find out how to best clean your tub and what to stay away from.

Best Practices: Cleaning Your Porcelain Tub

Porcelain tubs tend to be heavier and more expensive than acrylic tubs, so you want to make sure that you clean them in a way that doesn't do damage to their outer coating. The best practice when cleaning a porcelain tub is to approach it as naturally as possible and use a mixture of hot water and baking soda or lemon juice on tough stains. Make sure you use a non-abrasive rag or sponge for scrubbing, since a tougher material like steel wool will scratch the tub's surface. A mixture of ammonia, baking soda, and hot water should do the trick for everyday stains, while a little salt and lemon juice should help eliminate those hard to erase splotches.

Worst Practices: What Not to do with Porcelain

Just like there are things to do when cleaning your porcelain tub there are also things you should never try. Among these is using harsh, commercial-based cleaners or detergents on the porcelain surface and using any steel wool or abrasive brushes for scrubbing. Harsh chemicals can chip the outer coating of the tub, causing the porcelain to damage and discolor faster, and caustic cleaning tools can chip the material.

Best Practices: How to Clean Your Acrylic Tub

Like a porcelain bathtub, you're going to want to use a soft terry cloth when you scrub down the exterior of your acrylic tub; using rough materials to scrub out stains will also damage an acrylic coating. Be sure not to use any chemicals that say "not suitable for use on acrylic surfaces" on their label and check all solution warning labels before you get started. White vinegar, borax powder, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda are some of the best materials to use, in combination with hot water, to rinse down an acrylic surface.

How to Clean a Bathtub with Bleach

The biggest thing to keep in mind here is that bleach can be used to clean a white, porcelain bathtub but not an acrylic or colored porcelain tub. If you use chlorine-based bleach on colored or vintage porcelain it will damage the finish. Bleach is also too harsh for any acrylic coating. If you're using bleach and baking soda to clean a bathtub and it's white porcelain, you're good to go. It's recommended that you use a softer, powdered/liquid oxygen bleach or a bleach diluted with water, so that the damage done to the tub is minimal. Also make sure to never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleaner.

Create a protective layer of paper towels on the surface of the tub and spray the bleach on that. After about thirty to sixty minutes, you can remove the paper towels and run warm water over the tub to rinse off the chemicals. Keep in mind that if you're going to use bleach, you should always ventilate your bathroom and wear gloves and protective eyewear. Thumb through the CDC's guidelines to cleaning with bleach to stay safe while using it.

Best Way to Clean Bathtub Mold

Whether you have a porcelain or acrylic tub it will be highly susceptible to mold because mold thrives in high-moisture areas. The most important thing to keep in mind when cleaning mold in your tub is not to scratch or scrub at the mold, since that will release dangerous spores into the air which you may breathe in. Instead, fill a spray bottle with a 100% vinegar solution and spray the affected areas. Let it sit for an hour, then get a bathtub cleaning brush with a long handle and wipe your tub clean. Follow this with a bleach bath to help keep the mold at bay longer.

If you're wanting to keep your newly installed tub clean and pristine, Expo Home Improvement can help educate you on how to maintain your porcelain or acrylic tub over the course of its life. You can schedule a free consultation to find out how you can rejuvenate your bathtub and take one step closer to the bathroom of your dreams.