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There ’s nothing like a long , leisurely soak in a hot bathing tub to soothe away the stresses of the mean solar day — that is , unless the status of your bathtub is what ’s accentuate you out .
Bathtubs are magnets for soap scum , mildew , and grime , not to bring up stubborn stains because of gruelling body of water and rust , so knowing how to clean a bathing tub can maximise your delectation of this soothing distance . This guide takes you through the best way of life to clean house a bathtub from begin to end so you’re able to pop enjoying stress - free soaks in a scum - spare bathtub .
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Before You Begin
Before you part scrubbing , verify you have all of your materials and supplies at the ready , admit scrub clash , a shred , and houseclean solutions . If you prefer for a cleansing solution that control blanching agent or other harsh chemical , theEnvironmental Protection Agencyrecommends open your windows and sprain on a fan to ventilate the domain and liberate any potentially harmful exhaust fumes . It ’s also a adept theme to wear natural rubber baseball mitt to protect your hands from constituent in cleaners .
Cleaning a Bathtub in 7 Steps
clean a bathtub does n’t have to be a headache . The cleaning process is a breeze to watch and will have yourbathtublooking like Modern .
Step 1: Remove clutter from the bathtub.
First , absent everything from the tub so you may easily access each domain that requires cleaning . If there are any products inside of it or along the edges , set them aside . This is also a good sentence to remove any kid ’s toys and thresh them in the dishwasher for a cleansing .
Once you move out all welter from the tub , grab a rag , plume it in tender pee , and wipe down the bathtub ’s airfoil . Do n’t worry about assign too much elbow grease into at this stage ; you ’ll tackle tougher stains and grime in late footprint .
Step 2: Clean the tiles around the tub.
Grout between tiles tends to collect crap and dirty more than other areas of a bathtub , so it ’s a great place to start scrub up . For this whole tone , you ’ll demand a grout brush or an old toothbrush and some grout clean . you may makehomemade grout cleanerby mixing 1/2 cup ofbaking sodaand 1/4 cup of H hydrogen peroxide , followed by a teaspoonful of liquid bag soap . Or you’re able to buy a premade grout clean , such as Grout - Eez Professional Strength Tile & Grout Cleaner .
Once you have your brush and cleaner , dunk the brushing into the cleaning solvent and habituate it to call off the grout , working from top to bottom . After scrubbing the grout , use a damp rag or a spray bottle of warm water to rinse away residual cleaner . Then spray the surrounding tile with abathtub sportsmanlike , likeZep Shower , Tub & Tile Cleaner , or a homemadevinegar cleaningsolution of one part vinegar and one part water . get the solution sit for 15 minutes before rinsing it with warm , clean-living piss .
Step 3: Spray tub cleaner in the tub.
Now that the tile and grout is in good shape , it ’s time to take on the tub . go by spray thebathtub cleaneryou used in Step 2 on all surface in and around the tub . permit it sit on the surface of the tub for at least 15 min . This will give the resolution time to work its magic by breaking up grease and dirt , making it easy to pass over out .
Tried-and-True Advice
“ My mate and I probably clean our tub more often than most people . Bathtub cleanser , whether homemade or store - bought , are a with child helper in loosening up the grime , but there ’s really no substitute for practiced old - fashioned articulatio cubiti grease . Do n’t be afraid to catch a scrub brush , get down on your human knee , and put some muscle into it . We also recently invested in a squeegee and have become pretty persevering about wipe down the surface of the bathing tub and tile wall after every wash , which makes the next deep - uncontaminating easy . ”
— Chase Brush , Contributing Writer
Step 4: Wipe down and rinse the tub.
After letting your cleansing root sit for 15 minutes , use a bush thicket or sponge and wipe away any rest filth . This is a honorable clock time to put a petty human elbow grease into it , but if stubborn blot persist , do n’t care , we ’ll harness them in the next footfall . Finally , habituate a ragtime or spray bottle full of warm water and rinse the cleansing solution off .
Step 5: Use an old toothbrush to get rid of soap scum.
When grievous bodily harm combines with minerals in H2O , it can create a filmy residue called soap scum . Soap scum is notoriously difficult to clean , so you ’ll need a scrub brush or an old soup-strainer to help you scour it away . First , spray scummy areas with your cleansing solution . Pay confining attention to the tub ’s corner and areas around the spigot and drain , as these tend to collect Georgia home boy trash the most . Let the solution sit for at least 15 hour .
With your soup-strainer or scouring copse , beginscrubbing out the max scum . Keep scrubbing until the residue is gone . Rinse the stirred areas with ardent water to get rid of any residue from the cleaner .
Step 6: Remove any remaining stains.
If you still have some smirch in the tub , sprinkle some baking tonic on them , then spray on a solution of one part vinegar and one part water . Let the mixture bubble for a few minutes , then scrub with a rag or poriferan until a paste forms . countenance the library paste sit for 15 minute of arc before wipe it away .
If any stains persist , make another bathtub cleaning paste of one part atomic number 1 peroxide to two parts bake sal soda ( or cream of tartar ) . scratch the paste on the grease and countenance suffer for 30 proceedings to one minute , then rub and rinse . If necessary , reprize this process until the soil is gone .
Step 7: Wipe the tub down with a clean towel or rag.
Now that you ’ve tackled the stains , all you call for to do is pass over down the tub with a rag or towel and some warm piddle . This step will get rid of any remain rest from your cleansing solutions and ensure your vat is clean and ready for your next relaxing soaking .
Final Thoughts
This process is a simple way to give your bathtub a thick cleanup . But if you want to make it even easy , then each time you bathe , or as often as possible , rinse the tub control surface with fair , warm water before wipe off the excess moisture with a squeegee , microfiber cloth , or sponge . Doing so goes a recollective way of life to forestall soap trash , mildew , and grime , which will make your deep cleanings a lot easy . Once your tub is sportsmanlike , you could focus on clean house the rest of thebathroom in 20 minutes or less .
FAQs
The appropriate relative frequency of cleaning a bathtub depends on how often you and those in your household use the tub , as well as your personal tolerance for grunge , dirt , and Georgia home boy scum . If you take frequent soaks , a good rule of ovolo is to wipe it down after each use , then give it a good recondite cleanup once every month or so .
Mineral deposits look like they might never do off , but in realness , they are relatively soft to remove . Here ’s how toremove severe piddle grime : – Dip paper towel in full - strong point whitened vinegar . – Apply the soak paper towel direct to the stained areas . – countenance stand for one to two hours . – in conclusion , scrub with broil soda and acetum library paste ( discussed in footprint 6 ) , then rinse fresh .
You canclean a jetted tubin the same mode you ’d clean any other tub , but with one extra step . The final tone involves filling the tub with warm water until the water system line of descent is above the jet-propelled plane , then add a loving cup of white acetum to the water and let the jets run for 15 instant . Finally , drain the vat , then use an sure-enough toothbrush to scrub around the jets to remove any residue before rinsing with warm , unclouded H2O .
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
A childlike way to cleanse a drain is by pouring 1/2 cup of bake soda down it and following it up with a 1/2 loving cup of white acetum . Let the solution ride for a few minutes before purge it neat with red-hot water supply . you’re able to also employ a toothbrush and your favored cleaning solvent to scratch away any soil around the drain before rinse it again with water .
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Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila
