Nothing can be more backbreaking than cleaning a bathtub, especially if you have let it go too long and want to bring it back to a semi-clean state. Even if you won’t be able to your tub back to its original look, at the very least you can make drastic improvements.
However it is important to know what material your bathtub is made of, since you can cause damage to it by using the wrong kind of products.
Some of the newer tubs are made of acrylic. This has a plastic feel and look to it. You may even be able to bend portions of it, which is a sure sign you have an acrylic bathtub. It is very important that with this type of material, you don’t use an abrasive product on it. Soft Scrub, Fantastic and Simple Green are some recommended products.
If you have a porcelain tub, then you can get away with using a more abrasive product such as Ajax or Comet. You can also use scrubbers to work away grime, including Mr. Clean’s Magic Erase. If the stains are impossible to get out, you could use a pumice stone but this cannot be used on acrylic or refinished enamel bathtubs. You will wreck the surface of your tub. If anything, test a small area before you decide to go over the entire tub with a pumice stone.
For an enamel bathtub, products that have a mold/mildew remover to them are great. However stay away from bleach of any kind. Bleach will leave unwanted, brownish stains in your tub.
To maintain a clean tub, the best advice is to clean it everyday. You can do this right when you get in to take a shower. Bring along a sponge and some cleaner with you. You kill two birds with one stone.
You can also help maintain a nice bathtub by using a product that removes soap scum, the kind you just spray on and leave.
What tips do you have for cleaning your bathtub?
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Photo by James Walton in Stockvault