The type of bath can make a difference to how you deal with troublesome stains. For example, porcelain tubs are the most durable, older enamel tubs can be damaged by strong acids or bleach, and acrylic tubs can be damaged by abrasive materials.
The following four household products should make your bathtub sparkling clean, removing all of these stains, but always do a spot check first to ensure that it doesn’t damage the surface of your tub.
1. Baking Soda
This age-old remedy for cleaning stains from bathtubs is still used today, because it works! All you need to do is mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide in a ratio of two to one (two parts baking soda to one part hydrogen peroxide), form a smooth paste and apply it to the stains. Leave if for 30 minutes and then remove the paste with warm water.
More specifically, for an enamel bathtub, you can scrub the stains using a brush, whilst for a porcelain tub you can use a more abrasive tool, such as a pumice stone. However, for an acrylic tub, you shouldn’t use anything more abrasive than a sponge or you risk damaging the surface. A final rinse should give you a glistening tub that’s just begging for a long soak!
2. Oven Cleaner
You might never have considered using oven cleaner on your bathtub, but it does work! It’s not for acrylic tubs however, because it may damage the soft surface or remove its beautiful shine, but for porcelain and enamel baths, it works a treat! A few caveats however – don’t use it on coloured porcelain tubs, because it can fade the colour, and don’t get it on plastic shower curtains or metal.
Oven cleaner is really effective for removing stubborn stains that you have tried to remove time and time again, but to no avail. So spray your tub with a layer of oven cleaner, leave it to sit for a few hours and then rinse the stains away with warm water. Your tub should be beautifully strain free!
3. Vinegar
Suitable for porcelain or acrylic bathtubs, vinegar is a natural and environmentally friendly option for removing stains. You can remove hard water stains and soap scum from porcelain tubs by scrubbing the tub with full strength white vinegar, followed by a rinse with cold water. To remove stains from an acrylic tub, fill it with hot water (covering the stains) and pour in two cups of vinegar, letting it sit for 15 minutes before draining the tub. The acid in the vinegar doesn’t damage the acrylic tub, but does remove the stains.
4. Shampoo
It might seem disingenuous to use shampoo to remove stains from your tub, particularly if they are due to your shampoo, but it does work. Simply squirt the shampoo on the stains and scrub the stains away.
