When it comes to bathroom cleaning, the bathtub is always considered as the most important chore to address. It takes a central place in the room and likely sees a lot of use. You probably want to take a long soak in the bathroom after a hard day at work, but that is hardly going to feel as pleasurable if the bathtub is dirty.
What you have to keep in mind is that bathtubs made of different materials require a different approach to cleaning. For instance, enamel tubs don’t do well with strong acid and bleach cleaners. Acrylic tubs may be damaged if you are too vigorous with some abrasive tools. Porcelain tubs are the most durable and do well with just about any cleaning solution. As for what you can use to clean the bathtub, read on for a few recommendations:
- Commercial solution – if you are not sure how to make your own cleaning solution, it is a good idea to get a specially formulated product. The market is full of all kinds of cleaning solutions, some of which are meant to tackle specific types of bathtubs. A quick walk to the store will reveal plenty of brands that can help you with watermarks, limescale and soap scum. For tough stains, you may need to use stronger force, such as a bleach-based product. This works wonders on light and white tubs and even old enamel. You should test on a small area first, just to be sure there is no danger.
- Baking soda – baking soda is a universal solution that works great on old enamel bathtubs. The way you use it is by mixing two parts baking soda with one part hydrogen peroxide and apply on any nasty stains. Leave it there for some time and then give it a good rinse and scrub. Porcelain bathtubs can do with a more abrasive tool, such as a pumice stone, but you are better off using a sponge for acrylic and enamel bathtubs to avoid scratching the surface.
- Vinegar – vinegar is a great solution for porcelain tubs. It is naturally acidic, which makes it ideal for cleaning water stains and soap scum. What you can do is fill the bathtub with warm water next to the stains and pour in three cups of vinegar. Let it sit like this for a while, and then drain the water. You will find the stains super easy to remove.
- Shampoo – shampoo may seem like an unusual cleaner, but it works. Simply squirt a little directly on bathroom stains and scrub. The shampoo does the trick well enough against soap scum. You can also use it to shine chrome taps and other components. The best thing about the shampoo is that it is safe and will not harm your bathtub in any way.
As you can see, you have a few cleaning options to tackle the bathtub with. There is little doubt that they will ease a lot this home cleaning routine.
