The act of taking a bath for many is a ritualistic act that removes all the stress of the day, quite literally as the dirt and grime of the day are washed away. Incorporating this into your daily routine is said to be meditational and has also been said to calm your brain muscles.
Studies show that bathing can:
- Improve heart functioning
- Help blood flow
- Help your lungs pump air smoothly
- Reduce Stress
The bathtub is meant to be a place of complete relaxation, but if the bath is filled with excess mold, dirt, and other less than appealing factors it can dampen your experience. A bathtub is a place that requires cleaning every so often with the recommended time being every two weeks.
The longer you go without cleaning the bathtub, the harder it would be to remove all the years’ worth of grime. Not only that, but an unclean bathtub can be dangerous as there can be a lot of micro-organisms living in the dirt or mold that accumulates over time.
That can lead to various ailments that need professional care. It is critical to keep this area clean for better quality living and to promote healthier surroundings for your children or loved ones.
At this point, you may be thinking about how to clean a bathtub? For new homeowners, it can lead to extreme research. For others, they simply call home cleaning services and they take care of things right away.
Not to worry, your search is over. There are many ways you can clean the bathtub and remove even the hardest to scrub stains. Whether you’re looking for the best way to clean a bathtub or generally looking to find ways to clean your bathtub with minimal effort, we have the guide for you.
1. Tools And Equipment – Best Tub Cleaner
What are some tools needed? And what is the best tub cleaner for a bathtub?
The first step is knowing exactly what you are trying to rid the bathroom of. Whether they are persistent stains or overall grime that has accumulated. Once you have reviewed your bathtub and know what you would like to tackle, it’s time to take a trip to your local grocery store or home equipment store.
Now, many dread the idea of having to invest in a plethora of tools only for some to no longer be used more than once. That is why we believe less is more, to best clean your bathtub it is optimal to get more bang for your buck.
Some of these items are already featured in your household as cooking items so it is guaranteed to save you money. The following tools are recommended:
- Sponges
- A Bucket
- Bleach
- A Spray Bottle
- Bristle Brush (if not a toothbrush will do)
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Microfiber cloth
These tools will be helpful along the way, but the last four items are critical in the necessary fight against the dirt and grime encrusted onto your bathtub. When you review your bathtub, it is also necessary to take into consideration the material that your bathtub is made of. For example, some metal areas should be handled carefully and not scrubbed too hard for minimal damage.
We also recommend wearing protective gear like latex gloves and a face mask. When you scrub the bathtub with chemicals without ventilation, it can prove to be dangerous to your airways. Now for the main course, we will begin the tasks needed to prep the bathtub before beginning the cleaning process.
2. Removal Of Objects And Prepping Tools
How to prep tools for cleaning the bathtub? Why should you remove objects?
Before cleaning the bathtub, it is necessary to remove any objects in the surrounding area. This will ultimately help reduce any spillage or damaging to these objects and also efficiently clean the hard to reach places.
This will also help you condense some of the items that are in the bathtub that has been taking up space, such as empty tubes and bottles. Some objects like sponges and other washing tools can also be dirty, it would be beneficial to clean these objects separately in the dishwasher or kitchen area.
After the removal of objects, next comes prepping the tools. You will need to fill the spray bottle with half vinegar and half warm water solution. Then you will need to fill a bucket with hot water.
Make sure that you have the proper tools required, we would recommend making a checklist so you don’t have to go back to the store for a second trip if you had forgotten something during the process. With all this done, you are ready to begin the cleaning process.
3. Cleaning The Bathtub – Easy And Best Way
How to clean your bathtub the best way?
There are many ways to clean a bathtub, but one way that reduces time as well as makes for an effortlessly cleaning process is spraying a vinegar and water solution. By spraying this in the bathtub and letting the solution soak for 15 minutes, you will be able to rinse away with hot water the accumulated dirt from the bathtub.
The reason for this is the acidity of the vinegar. This helps remove years of buildup, soap residue, and other sticky factors that are hard to wash off. If any areas are difficult to combat, it is helpful to use a brush to manually remove.
Again, be mindful of the material that your bathtub is made from when scrubbing with a brush. We would recommend delicately maneuvering around these sensitive areas for the best results.
Once you have waited 15 minutes, it is optimal to use the microfiber cloth or sponge to wipe the excess dirt. When you are done, you can rinse with warm water or throw over the bucket of water around the bathtub.
If you need to do this a second or third time, depending on the excess dirt or how long it has been without cleaning, you may do so. This is an effortless way to clean the bathtub and won’t take too much of your day.
4. Minimal Stains And Stubborn Stains
How do you remove small and stubborn stains from your bathtub?
Whether you have just dyed your hair or noticed a small yellowish stain on your bathtub or bathroom tiles, they can be hard to deal with. Water and soap seldom make a difference when it comes to removing stains.
In this case scenario, we would recommend bringing out the baking soda to mix with the vinegar and water solution. Baking soda is a well-known cleaning agent and works to dissolve any built-up dirt or grease.
Made up of alkali, baking soda also reduces odor molecules. Not only will it work to remove stains, but take down any uncomfortable smell that they could emit over time. Much like the prior step, you will leave this solution on the stained area for several minutes until it starts bubbling.
Afterward, you will scrub with the microfiber cloth or until it forms a paste. Then after fifteen minutes, you can wash away the grime.
For more stubborn stains, we recommend the following solution:
- Mix one-part hydrogen peroxide with two parts baking soda
- Rub in this paste with a sponge or cloth onto the stain
- Wait 30 minutes to one hour
- Wipe away and rinse
A couple of things to note when using these products with a brush, make sure that you don’t use steel wool or any brush that could be aggressive as it can leave scratches on the surface.
These products are an eco-friendly option, but you can always use your best bathtub cleaner if desired. This method will help subdue even the toughest of stains that your bathtub has, making for a shiny finish that will get the bathtub back to its original state. This is the best way to clean the bathtub and erase stains.
5. Drain Cleaning
How to clear out the drain?
The drain is easily the dirtiest part of your bathtub. After rinsing off the dirt and grime of your body as well as washing your hair, this area can become clogged. Everything from loose hairs, too small objects that have lost their way down the hole of no return.
To remove the excess dirt, you can refer to the vinegar and baking soda solution once again. Except for this time, you will pour half a cup of baking soda and then half a cup of vinegar down the drain for the best results.
After letting the solution sit for about a couple of minutes to start dissolving the mess, it is time to let the water run. Hot water is preferable as it breaks down the properties faster. This option is efficient and eco-friendly with fewer chemicals involved.
However, if you decide to use another best bathtub cleaner for the drain, that could work as well. We suggest if using chemicals at any point in this process, to have some sort of ventilation as it can easily become emit an odor that can be dangerous to inhale.
For maintaining a clear drain, we suggest using a stopper or mesh drain catcher. This will prevent any objects to go down the drain easily, making the next cleaning session effortless.
6. Mold And Mildew
How to get rid of pesky mold or mildew?
Mold can easily form around your bathroom area due to the excess moisture in the air. Without ventilation, if this moisture accumulates and the bathtub continues to go without washing then mold or mildew will easily appear.
Mold and Mildew can be harmful to exhale if you continue to use the bathtub every day without tackling these issues. Mold releases toxic air pathogens that can cause respiratory problems typically for elders or young children.
Mold can also lead to irritation of your eyes, skin, nose, and lungs if not resolved. In this case, the following steps can assure the best way to clean bathtub molds and mildew:
- Fill the spray bottle with hot water and four tbs of bleach
- Spray this solution throughout the moldy areas
- Let it soak for a couple of minutes while you take care of the other areas with baking soda
- Remove with a sponge or water
Due to bleach being a chemical, we suggest you use gloves or a facemask to keep from inhaling the odor that bleach emits. The efficiency of bleach is beyond compare, although you can also use a breakdown solvent, this will help you save some dollars.
7. Wipe Down Thoroughly
How to clean the bathtub after using these solvents?
The final process is to efficiently wipe down the bathtub and surrounding area. While using water can aid the process of washing away the chemicals, we recommend using a clean towel or cloth to make sure all the residual bacteria, dirt, and grime is gone.
If this process is not done, there could be small bacteria leftover having improperly cleaned the bathtub. Doing this will assure that the bathtub is completely cleansed and you can follow up with cleaning much later.
While we believe the bathtub should be washed twice a week, some factors could keep you from having to do this process often. Here are some measures you can take that will assist you in keeping your bathtub clean without having to call home cleaning services:
- After a shower or bath, it is critical to rinse away any excess shampoo, conditioner, or soap from the surface.
- A slight wash with dish soap can help prevent accumulating mold or mildew in certain areas
- When looking at the bathtub, if you are already witnessing mildew form it is best to use a bleach-based spray to hinder growth.
Now that you’ve cleaned up the bathtub, lather up and enjoy a nice warm soothing bath at the end of your workday!