How to Clean a Bathtub

Before you begin cleaning your bathtub, you'll need to remove shampoo and conditioner bottles, soap bars and all other items from your tub. If your tub is cluttered, you won't be able to clean it very well. Set items off to the side so you can put them back when you're finished cleaning.

You won't be able to rinse soapy water down a clogged drain. To unclog the drain, remove the drain stopper. If you can visibly see the source of the clog (such as hair or a small toy), place a gloved finger into the drain and try to pull out the blockage. You can use a drain snake or a small tool like a screwdriver or small wrench to remove the blockage from the drain — just don't drop it in, or you'll need a plumber. Tying a string to the end of the tool will help.

If the source of the blockage isn't clearly visible, pour some drain cleaner down the drain. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to make sure you're applying the drain cleaner properly. Once the drain is clean and unclogged, you can proceed with cleaning your bathtub.

It's common to forget to clean the walls and tiles around your tub, but these areas can get just as dirty as the tub itself. Use a sponge and clean, warm water to gently wipe down tiles and walls. If your tiles have a stubborn buildup of grime, use a tile cleaner and a scrubbing brush to get rid of it.

Now that the walls and tiles around your tub are clean, it's time to clean the tub itself. Spray a bathtub cleaner directly into the tub or dilute it with water first if the manufacturer's instructions state that you should.

For best results, allow the cleaner to sit undisturbed in your tub for five minutes. This will allow the formula to break down the dirt and grime so you can scrub or wipe it away more easily. While wearing cleaning gloves to protect your skin, use a sponge or scouring pad to thoroughly clean the inside of the tub.

Use a scrubbing brush for hard-to-clean areas such as the area where the faucet attaches to the wall or the drain attaches to the tub. Use the brush to scrub around the faucet opening where water comes through. This is an especially important step if you have hard water because minerals from the water tend to build up around the faucet's edge.

After cleaning the tub, rinse it thoroughly with water. The chemicals in bathtub cleaners can be irritating to the skin, so you don't want to take a bath unless you've thoroughly washed the cleaner down the drain.

Mix the cleaning solution by adding one part water and one part vinegar to a spray bottle.

Sprinkle baking soda on the areas that have stubborn stains, followed by a spritz of the vinegar/water solution. The solution will begin to bubble up. After a few minutes, scrub the area until a paste is formed. Let the paste sit for 15 minutes while it works to remove the stain.

Scrub the paste on the stain in a circular motion. You may need to use a bit of elbow grease to ensure the stain is gone.

After all of the stains are removed, rinse the bathtub with warm water. Make sure you rinse the tub well to remove any residue.

This cleaner will be a one-to-one mixture. Fill a spray bottle halfway with vinegar, then place in a microwave. Heat the vinegar until it’s hot, then remove from microwave.

Mix the vinegar with an equal amount of dishwashing liquid. Gently shake to mix the two ingredients.

Spray the cleaner all over the tub, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse well with warm water.

For tough, stubborn stains, spray the area and let it set in for a few hours (or overnight). Scrub and rinse.

Do a quick pre-clean of the tub to remove any organic matter. Use a sponge to wipe down the tub.

Fill a bucket with one gallon of cool or cold water. Cold water is better to use as warm or hot water decomposes bleach’s active ingredient which then makes it ineffective. Mix in 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup of bleach.

Using a damp sponge, apply the mixed cleaner to the tub, scrubbing where necessary, and let it sit for 5-6 minutes.

After 5-6 minutes have passed, use the sponge to scrub the surface. Be sure to get the areas where stains exist.

A bathtub whitener can help you get rid of unsightly stains. Bathtub whitening products contain bleach, which is an effective cleaning ingredient for bathtub rings and other stains.

Apply the bathtub whitener according to the manufacturer's instructions for the best results. For safety purposes, make sure any other cleaning products you previously used in the tub are thoroughly rinsed away before applying the bathtub whitener.

Use a scrubbing brush and scouring pads to scrub away stubborn stains until they fade. Make sure you're wearing cleaning gloves throughout this process so the bleach in the bathtub whitener doesn't irritate your skin.