Cleaning the Bathtub to Ensure a Hygienic Environment
How to Keep the Bathtub Sparkling Clean
Cleaning the bathtub to ensure a hygienic environment can be a tedious and exhausting task, it can be a real pain in the you know what, especially when it’s dirty. Nobody likes to deal with soap scum, hard water spots, or mineral deposits in the tub and shower. It makes your bathroom look dirty, dingy and uninviting; and if left uncleaned for too long, it can be hard to remove.
If only we had magical powers like Samantha, the witch, to make the grime disappear with a simple wiggle of the nose. But, lacking such supernatural abilities, we need to rely on practical tips to keep our bathrooms shining.
If you want to enjoy a relaxing bath, you need to keep the bathtub clean and with the right tools and techniques, you can make the chore of bathtub cleaning less challenging with these bathtub cleaning tips.
Assemble Your Cleaning Tools and Supplies
Before diving into these bathtub cleaning tips and the cleaning process, gather you tools and cleaning supplies.
- A liquid detergent that can cut through grease and grime.
- A spray bottle for mixing ingredients.
- A shaker jar with large holes in the lid.
- A pair of gloves to keep your hands clean.
- A mild abrasive cleaning product that can help remove soap scum and mineral deposits.
Bathtub and Shower Cleaner Recipes
There are a number of simple homemade bathtub and shower cleaning recipes to ensure a hygienic environment that you can make and we’ll list a few below. After cleaning the bathtub and shower surround, rinse thoroughly. Avoid using vinegar on natural stone surfaces, like marble, granite, travertine, etc as it can damage the surface.
Cleaning Recipe 1 – White Vinegar and Dish Soap
Mix a solution of white vinegar and dish soap in a spray bottle; Palmolive or Dawn dish washing liquids are a couple of good ones to try.
Add the dish soap first then the vinegar. Mix together what you will need. This is a 3 to 1 ratio recipe – so 3 cups vinegar to 1 cup dish soap or half that if you don’t need as much.
Spray plenty on the bathtub and shower surfaces. Scrub and rinse. Try to avoid getting this on metal fixtures. For tough to clean buildup, spray and let sit for about 30 minutes then scrub.
Be sure to completely rinse to be sure there is not a slippery surface.
Cleaning Recipe 2 – Baking Soda, Washing Soda and Salt
This scrubbing powder will help clean those dirty bathtub messes. Mix all ingredients together and shake to combine. Some time ago I found a jar with a lid that has large holes (I think it’s a cheese shaker) and that is what I use but if you don’t have a lid with large holes, you can either make your own or use a empty, clean, parmesan cheese container.
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup washing soda
- 1/2 cup sea salt or kosher salt
Wet the surface, sprinkle plenty of the powder, let sit about 10 minutes, scrub with a good scrub brush, then rinse. If the powder has dried, I wet the scrub brush then scrub. If you have a surface that is really dirty, you can use white vinegar in place of the water when wetting the surface.
Cleaning Recipe 3 – Washing Soda and Liquid Castile Soap
Make a paste of washing soda and liquid castile soap, about 3/4 cup washing soda and 2 to 3 tablespoons of the soap. You want the consistency similar to a soft scrub, something that will stick and not flake off.
Use a cleaning rag to apply the paste, let sit 10 to 15 minutes then scrub with a scrub brush. Rinse when finished.
Cleaning Recipe 4 – Hot White Vinegar and Liquid Dish Soap
This can be effective for cleaning a glass shower door as well as the tub surface.
Spraying hot white vinegar on surfaces is effective on scum, sanitizes and removes odor. Do not use vinegar on stone surfaces such as marble, travertine, or granite as it will damage and permanently etch the surface.
Apply a liquid dish soap, like Dawn, over the surface, spray the hot vinegar and scrub again, let sit about 10 minutes then rinse.
Before Cleaning the Bathtub Shower Stall
Before cleaning the bathtub and shower stall, pick up and set aside any bottles of shampoo and conditioner, soap, etc. Your work will be easier and faster if these things are out of the way.
Keeping the Bathtub and Shower Clean Longer
Practice regular maintenance, like wiping down the bathtub after using it, we keep a squeegee in the shower for this or you can use a cloth to wipe down the tub and shower walls and fixtures. Doing this in between regular cleanings helps prevent soap scum and mineral deposit build up.
Soap scum is the result of bar soap, body oils, and minerals in the water. It forms a sticky, greasy film that clings to your tub and shower walls.
You can also switch to a liquid shower soap or shower gel which will help with buildup from forming.
Heavy Duty Bathtub Cleaning to Ensure a Hygienic Environment
For severe mineral deposits, commercial products are available to remove calcium, lime, or rust.
Whatever cleaner you decide to use, be sure to give the product or solution time to dissolve to effectively degrease shower walls and bathtubs. Follow manufactures instructions.
Now that you are armed with some bathtub cleaning tips, you can conquer your bathtub cleaning more efficiently and maintain a sparkling, grime free tub. The key is consistency and a touch of elbow grease.
