How Do You Clean Your Tub?

Updated on December 14, 2011
A.H. asks from Seattle, WA
19 answers

What's the best way to clean the tub? I have tried chemicals (scrubbing bubbles, 405 etc.) and don't think they are so great. Lately I've been using magic erasers, which are better but not perfect. What do you do? Thanks!

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I have a toilet bowl brush I bought just for cleaning the tub, it hangs in there all the time. I use regular old comet. It cleans just fine and then I rinse really well.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Redding on

I hand my son a can of cleanser and a scrubby sponge.
Presto!
Clean tub.

Seriously, since tearing up my shoulder and breaking my arm on one side and nerve damage from shingles on the other, I can't really scrub on the bottom of the tub.
I spray things down and wipe the wall, etc, when I'm in the shower, but the scrubbing....
My son does it for me.

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B.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I like the (spray) Comet bathroom cleaner and a Dobi sponge.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.K.

answers from Boston on

I use good old Comet and a scrubbing sponge with some gloves. Works everytime.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi A.,

I use a product called Tub and Tile. It works soooo much better than anything I have ever tried before. It's more powerful than LimeAway but is gentler to the surface and doesn't leave a toxic residue. It also removes the residues that other cleaners leave behind.

God bless,
M.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.F.

answers from Houston on

My husband was a mechanic. When he would shower, all the grease, brake fluid, used oil, etc. would splatter on the walls of the shower along with the normal soap scum and hard water deposits.

The best one-time use product (meaning, cleaning day product) is Scrub Free. It's usually lemon scented, but you will want to open a window or turn on your fan when you use it. It truly is scrub free.

I also decided that to keep the stuff to a minimum that was sticking to the walls I would use a daily shower spray. But the store bought ones were so expensive when we were going through a bottle every week and a half to two weeks. So I googled and found a recipe to make my own (vinegar, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, dishwashing liquid, jet dry, and water).

Using the daily shower spray really helps with the upkeep, making cleaning day much easier.

I also have started to use Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds for ALL my cleaning needs. I just last night used it to rid the tub of the ring from my daughter's baths. Easy peasy. (I know, I can sound like a commercial for this stuff, but I really just have found this to be the best all-around cleaner. Check out the reviews on Amazon.)

1 mom found this helpful

E.S.

answers from Dayton on

I use BioKleen's All Purpose Cleaner diluted in water and a scrub brush.
The products you mentioned would cause me to start having asthma problems if I used them.
http://biokleenhome.com/products/household/general
HTH!
I love Magic Erasers! ;)

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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I have a hard plastic tub, which is extremely difficult to clean! The only thing I have found that will clean it is Ajax with bleach and a scrub brush. For the surround and glass shower doors, I use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

White Vinegar. Kills mold and mildew and it's good for removing soap scum. You do need to add a little elbow grease to wash away the soap though. It also works great on toilets, it's perfect for eliminating urine smell.
Cheers!

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D.A.

answers from Portland on

Tub-n-Tile from Melalueca is fantastic at cleaning a tub/shower. Spray it on, leave it for a bit and wipe with just a little elbow grease (but you hardly work up a sweat).

For the tub, I used to use Comet, Ajax, or Bon Ami (the latter is less harsh on the surface if you have a fiberglass tub). This always worked well without a ton of scrubbing.

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M.M.

answers from Milwaukee on

honestly the thing I have been using now a days is regular dishsoap and then I like to use one of those exfoliating gloves (I have just for cleaning) and scrub it down.. seem to get things good and clean.. without choking on harsh chemicals.. As long as you keep up with on a regular basis you shouldnt really need anything too harsh..

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J.M.

answers from Denver on

I just saw a recipe on Pinterest for a tub cleaner. Don't know if it works, but it is cheap to make and worth the try. 12 oz. white vinegar and 12 oz. Dawn dish soap. Bring the vinegar to a boil, remove from heat and add the Dawn. Place in a spray bottle and spray the tub letting it sit for a while. Then whip down.

I personally use an old nylon puff bath scrubbie with shampoo and scrub my shower down weekly. It does a good job. I also spray the shower down daily with a homemade mixture. Take an empty spray bottle and fill about half way with white vinegar. Add water to fill. Then add a few drops of Dawn dish soap, 1 T. peroxide and a few drops of Jet Dry. I have cultured granite sinks and tub surrounds and this works really well.

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J.K.

answers from Dallas on

If you're trying to get rid of soap scum and discoloration on your grout between the tiles, I use something with bleach and I let it sit for a while before cleaning. So when you clean your bathrooms, spray it on the tub/shower and then clean the rest of the bathroom first while the cleaner has a chance to work...then hit the tub last. It may not come clean right away, but after several cleaning, you should see some sort of improvement.

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K.P.

answers from Seattle on

Scrub free. Leave it on for a minute or two and then I take an old cloth and wipe it down. Works every time.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

scrubbing bubbles, a sponge and a little muscle.

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H.G.

answers from Portland on

White Vinegar & Baking Soda mixed into a paste scrub tub rinse with water let air dry or dry with towel & spray with Hydrogen peroxide & let air dry. Non toxic "GREEN", cheap & easy. If you have a greace/oil problem & the above doesn't do it Simple Green works great. Safe on porcelain too.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

We have an old porcelain tub. We pour cheap shampoo over the surface and let it sit overnight before scrubbing with a sponge. It really brightens the tub and gets rid of stains.

You do not want to use Chlorox on porcelain nor comet on fiberglass. Actually comet will wear off the finish. Chlorox also eats away the finish. If you want to use a scrubbing cleaner use Bar Keepers or a soft scrub made for fixtures. I think that's the name. It's softer than Comet. It's in the same location as Comet.

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L.R.

answers from Portland on

I second the baking soda and vinegar suggestion. We're trying to use fewer toxic chemicals in our house, so I've switched to baking soda for all my scrubbing needs. It works just as well as any chemical cleanser I've ever used, it's almost free (we get big bags in bulk at Winco for pennies), and I don't have to worry about poisoning myself or my family. I usually don't even have to use vinegar.

I also use baking soda and vinegar to unclog stopped or slow drains. Just pack the drain with baking soda, and pour in some white vinegar. It will start to bubble and froth, so cap it off quickly to force the explosion to go down the drain to the clog. Let sit for several minutes (you can add a little more vinegar once or twice), then pour a big pot of boiling water down the drain. Presto! Clean drain!

A.G.

answers from Dallas on

I use generic Scrubbing Bubbles every time right after I get out. Immediately after I get out of the tub, I spray Scrubbing Bubbles, let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse it out. The tub never gets nasty that way.

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