Cleaning a grimy bathtub is probably last on your list of things to do. But, alas, it must be done! Because it’s important to keep the tub clean. You should disinfect your bathtub and shower curtain every week and deep clean once per month.
According to a study conducted by the American Society for Microbiology, after a week of use, shower curtains have a huge amount of microorganisms on them. “These bacteria can be especially hazardous for immune-compromised patients and could be the cause of numerous issues, including urinary tract infections, pneumonia, skin ulcers, and much more,” according to Family Handyman.
To make cleaning the tub and shower less annoying and faster, we’ve gathered 40 clever hacks, including how to make DIY cleaning solutions to tackle tough stains, grime, and rust; how to minimize mildew on bath tiles; the best way to clean shower glass; how to easily unclog a drain; the most effective way to clean a tub; and many more hacks.
1) Unclog the bathtub drain
It’s almost impossible to prevent nasty hair clogs in the bathtub or shower. But it can be unclogged using a quick DIY solution. Get a screwdriver, skinny pliers, baking soda, vinegar, some paper towels. Check out the rest of
the hack here.
2) All-purpose tub cleaner hack
You can make a very simple all-purpose cleaner for your tub, tile, and grout. You’ll need baking soda, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide. Check out the
full hack here.
For the times when you don’t need to do an intensive cleaning, use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for touchups. All you need to do is wet a Magic Eraser and scrub. It’s amazing how well these little sponges work!
4) Jacuzzi tub Cascade hack
While Cascade Complete is usually used for the dishwasher, it has other cleaning purposes it seems. Some people say it works perfectly as a Jacuzzi tub cleaner. Fill the Jacuzzi with hot water and add in 2 cups of Cascade Complete. Finally, run it for around 10 minutes for a totally clean hottub.
It doesn’t seem possible, but you can actually remove mold from your tub without any scrubbing at all. Here’s what you do: Soak cotton balls (or alternatively cloth strips or cotton coils used for perms) in bleach water. Then apply the bleach water to the bathtub edges. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, the tub should be mold-free.
6) All-natural tub cleaner
Dealing with harse chemicals when cleaning is a pain. They smell awful and could actually be harmful to your skin. Here’s an alternative: Create your own all-natural all-purpose bathroom cleaner, which is perfect for the bathtub and shower area. You’ll need water, essential oils, baking soda, and Castille soap. See the full
DIY tutorial here.
Whether your home is old or new, you’ll have to deal with rust buildup in your bathroom at some point. And instead of buying a harsh over-the-counter rust remover, you can make your own quite easily. You just need Dawn, vinegar, and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Find out how to
do it here.
8) Gentle scrubbing mixture
If you have a tub that just needs a gentle scrub-down, try this alternative. Use a half grapefruit dipped in salt to scrub the bathtub. This probably won’t work for hard-water stains, but it’s perfect for a mild cleaning.
9) Jacuzzi tub cleaning hack #2
This hack is similar to the Cascade Complete hack. Instead you just fill the Jacuzzi with hot water and drop in the dishwasher tablet/pack. Once the tablet has dissolved completely, let the jets run for 15 minutes or so. You may or may not need to scrub it as well if you haven’t cleaned the tub recently.
10) All-purpose tub cleaner hack #2
For this all-purpose cleaner, you’ll need vinegar and Dawn dish soap. Mix equal parts vinegar and dish soap into a spray bottle. Shake it vigorously, and then spray it on the tub surfaces. Let is sit for a bit if there are stains. Then wipe it up without any scrubbing for a clean tub.
11) Use Scrubbing Bubbles
Here’s an over-the-counter cleaning solutions that many recommend. It’s called Scrubbing Bubbles. It works wonders at removing gross bathtub residue. You just spray is on the tub, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe it off. No scrubbing required.
If you’ve got a jetted tub to clean, this hack should work well. All you need it vinegar and baking soda. Scrub the tub using the baking soda, fill the tub with water, add a few cups of vinegar to the water, and then turn the jets on.
Here’s another option to clean your jetted tub. It’s an over-the-counter product called Oh Yuk. “
Oh Yuk’s jetted tub cleaner is specifically designed to break down and remove the Yuk from the inside of your jetted bathtub, Jacuzzi, or whirlpool, for a safe, clean, and healthy bathtub!”
14) Don’t use steel wool!
One thing to keep in mind as you’re cleaning your tub or shower: Don’t use steel wool or any other harsh and abrasive brushes or cleansers. If you do, there’s a change you’ll scratch the tub or tile surface.
15) Clean in well-ventilated areas
It’s also very important to clean in a well-ventilated area. Open a window or use a fan when you clean. In extreme cases, cleanser fumes or mixtures can make you pass out … or worse. And also use rubber gloves when handling harsh chemicals. This will help protect your skin.
Removing mild stains is simple, according to
bobvila.com. You’ll need baking soda and a half-and-half solution of warm water and vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda onto the tub, and then spray the vinegar solution over it. Let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing it down with a soft sponge or cloth. A paste will form. Let the paste sit for 15 minutes before wiping it off and rinsing.
For tougher stains that require a little more oomph, do this: Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts baking soda. This will create a paste. Rub the paste into the stain. Let is sit for a half hour to 60 minutes before wiping and rinsing clean. If the stain isn’t gone, repeat the process.
18) Remove hard-water stains
This hack is specifically for removing hard-water stains. You’ll need full-strength white vinegar, paper towels, and the baking soda and vinegar paste described in the last hack. Dip a paper towel into the vinegar and apply it to the stain. Let it sit for one to two hours, and then scrub it with the paste. Finally, rinse it down.
This tub-cleaning hack will help you cut throw rust quickly and effectively. You’ll need lemon juice and borax powder. First, sprinkle the borax over the rust stains. Next, rub a half lemon onto the stain until a paste is created. Let is sit for 15 to 30 minutes before wiping and rinsing clean.
Remember that you may be working with bleach and other harsh chemicals while cleaning the tub. So dress appropriately. Wear old clothes in case they get splashed with cleanser.
21) Be careful when mixing cleaning products
Mixing cleaning products can be very dangerous because of the different combinations of chemicals. Certain chemicals, such as ammonia and chlorine bleach, can burn your skin or even create very dangerous toxic fumes. Read about the chemicals you decide to use so you know what the possible dangers are.
22) Clean off all of the residue
When cleaning the tub, always make sure to get rid of all of the cleanser residue. You don’t want to take a bath that has cleaning products in it. So be sure to rinse out the tub off all residue before bathing.
23) DIY bath tile cleaner
To get bath and shower tiles super clean, try this hack. Combine equal parts white vinegar, dish soap, and hot water. Next, pour the mixture into a dish wand. Then use the want to scrub the tile.
24) Cleaning bathmat stains
To remove tough bathmat gunk, such as mildew and grime, try this. Combine 1 part lemon juice with 2 parts baking soda and stir. The mixture will turn into a paste. Using rubber gloves, smear the paste onto the bathmat stains. Next, pour white vinegar over the paste, covering it completely. Once it dries, then wipe it clean. Finally, rinse the mat off.
25) Prevent mildew on shower curtain
To minimize or even prevent mildew from forming on your shower curtain, try this. Combine 1 gallon of water with ½ cup of salt. Then soak the shower curtain for at least one hour. If you repeat this process once a month, your curtain should remain free of mildew.
26) Prevent mildew on tiles
This hack will stop mildew from forming on your bath tiles. Buy an over-the-counter car rain repellant. Spray the repellant on the bath/shower tiles. Polish with a clean cloth. That’s it!
To effectively clean your shower’s glass, this hack will do the trick. The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser comes to the rescue again. Ripe down the glass with a Magic Eraser. Then use a squeegee to dry the glass.
This hack may sound odd, but it reportedly works perfectly to clean a tub. You’ll need Dawn dish soap and a clean broom. Squirt the soap into the tub. Use a slightly wet broom to spread the soap around the tub. The motion will actually scrub the dirt off of the tub’s surface. This method is amazing at cutting through mildew, dirt, soap scum, and anything else. Then rinse the tub thoroughly.
Depending on the grime buildup in the tub, you may need to let the cleanser soak in before you start cleaning. This will help ensure that the cleanser sets into the stain or dirt, helping it to effectively clean the tub surface.
Start cleaning the tub from the showerhead and/or faucet area, to the tube/shower walls, and then to the tub floor. And use a top-down approach when doing so (start at the top and work your way down). This makes cleaning both easier and more effective.
31) Soak the showerhead in vinegar
You can use this hack on showerheads and faucets. Fill a baggie with vinegar, wrap it around the showerhead/bath faucet, and let it soak for about 3 hours. Then remove the baggie and the faucet will be super easy to clean.
Pre-heating the tub surface will make cleaning easier. Why? Because heating the surface makes the cleaning products more effective, according to
HGTV. To do so, fill up the tub with about 4 inches of hot water. Splash the water on the tile surface too. After a few minutes, start cleaning.
You can buy a rust stain remover from the store, or you can make your own at home using lemons and table salt. Pour the salt over the rust stain, covering completely. Then squeeze a lemon over the salt. Let sit for several hours. Then rinse, and the stain should be gone.
Often it’s tough to clean tile grout over the tub or in the shower. But all you need to do is soak an old toothbrush in lemon juice and scrub the grout.
35) Steam clean the shower
If you are sick of cleanser fumes, try steam cleaning your shower. It actually works, according to Simply Designing’s Ashley Phipps. Here’s the
full tutorial on this ingenious hack.
36) Power drill scrubbing
Tired of having to put so much elbow grease into scrubbing your bath and shower area? Then this hack is made for you. Get any cordless drill and attach your scrub brush to it. Check out the
video here on how to do this super helpful hack.
Prevent hair clogs in the first place by using disposable hair traps. These shields peel and stick over the shower drain, allowing you to easily remove and replace them when necessary. No more dealing with nasty hair clogs!
38) Clean group with bleach pen
While this option may take longer than other cleaning methods, it works perfectly to clean grout. Just use a bleach pen to get rid of mildew buildup on the grout. For really yucky grout, you may need to do a second application.
39) Clean using dryer sheets
Yep. This one might sound odd, but it works like a charm. Dryer sheets can do more than make your laundry smell nice. You can use these as an alternative to cleaning your shower doors. They work perfectly to remove water spots.
40) Remove soap scum with cooking spray
Soap scum can build up quickly. And it can be really difficult to get rid of. And while this hack is a bit unconventional, it works perfectly. Get some non-stick cooking spray. Apply it around your bath/shower, especially areas with heavy soap scum. Let the spray sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Finally, wash it away with cold water, making sure to rinse thoroughly.
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These bathtub cleaning hacks are sure to save you time each week. Plus, many of these require less scrubbing than if you used a harsh cleanser. And, you won’t have to deal with obnoxious fumes if you try some of these DIY cleanser recipes.
Just make sure to properly ventilate the bathroom while you clean by opening a window or turning on a fan, don’t mix certain chemicals, and protect your skin with gloves and eyes with googles if you do use any harsh chemicals or bleach.
Cleaning a grimy bathtub is probably last on your list of things to do. But, alas, it must be done! Because it’s important to keep the tub clean. You should disinfect your bathtub and shower curtain every week and deep clean once per month.
According to a study conducted by the American Society for Microbiology, after a week of use, shower curtains have a huge amount of microorganisms on them. “These bacteria can be especially hazardous for immune-compromised patients and could be the cause of numerous issues, including urinary tract infections, pneumonia, skin ulcers, and much more,” according to Family Handyman.
To make cleaning the tub and shower less annoying and faster, we’ve gathered 40 clever hacks, including how to make DIY cleaning solutions to tackle tough stains, grime, and rust; how to minimize mildew on bath tiles; the best way to clean shower glass; how to easily unclog a drain; the most effective way to clean a tub; and many more hacks.
