Filed under: Your Home, Bathroom, Storage & Cleaning, Cleaning
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Sure, it's the last thing you want to spend your Saturday doing but at some point, it's inevitably time to tackle that dreaded task of (dum, dum, dum, dummm...) cleaning the bath tub.
To help you through the painful process, we asked a few cleaning experts to tell us the most important things to consider when cleaning the tub.
Before you start, try this:
-Run a hand-held vacuum or dry microfiber towel over the tub surface before applying any cleaning products. Bath tubs are often filled with lots of dust and hair -- gross factor -- and this will prep the tub for cleaning.
-Heat the tub approximately 10 degrees above the normal air temperature -- it doubles the effectiveness of alkaline cleansers, says Jacquelyn McGilvray, editor of HGTV.com. Fill the tub with a couple of inches of the hottest water from the tap and let it sit for a few minutes. Drain the water, then spray an antibacterial cleanser around the tub. Scrub from top to bottom.
-Hit the cupboard. White vinegar is one of the best cleaning products for working with tiled walls, say the experts at The New Homemaker. Give the tub area a good steam by running hot water (this will loosen up the dirt), then apply the vinegar directly with a towel, wiping across the surface of your tile. Also soak showerheads in vinegar overnight to remove corrosion or chemical build-up. Warning: Be careful with using vinegar around ceramic tile. If the grout was not sealed properly, the vinegar can etch the grout.
The right way to scrub:
-Invest in a tub and tile scrubber with a long handle -- it will save you from a lot of bending, plus it will enable you to get to hard-to-reach places close to the ceiling, McGilvray says.
-Wipe down bathroom faucets with rubbing alcohol. It will make them shiny and rid the air of nasty odors. McGilvray suggests using hydrogen peroxide for cleaning the metal shower-door tracks.
-Lemon oil works well for taking soap scum off glass shower doors. Use a squeegee to remove most of the water from the surface then a microfiber towel to dry it off.
-Don't slack on the rinse. Rinsing the tub and shower walls is the most important step, says McGilvray. The chemicals in cleansers are designed to attract soil and particles, so if you don't completely rinse the cleanser off, dirt is going to stick to it and build up.
For really stubborn stains:
-Get down and dirty. Spray oven cleaner (the no-fumes kind) on porcelain and let it sit for an hour or two, McGilvray recommends. Then spray enough water to just wet the area and use a cloth or brush to scrub the surface. Be sure to wear protective gloves.
Keep up with the grime:
-Avoid clogged drains and unnecessary tub cleaning in the future by pouring a quarter cup baking soda down the drain weekly, say the experts at The New Homemaker. Rinse thoroughly with hot water.
-If you're dealing with a shower curtain, don't leave it open after showering. Pull a wet curtain all the way closed so it can fully dry. If you leave it open, the folds are more likely to grow mold. If your vinyl curtain does need a wash, simply throw it in the washing machine with a few towels, a cup of white vinegar and detergent, then air dry, according to McGilvray.
Need a step-by-step guide?:
For a basic, overall cleaning, follow these steps from the experts at Seventh Generation to get your tub spick and span:
1. Spray an earth-friendly tub and tile cleaner (like Seventh Generation Tub and Tile Cleaner?) from top to bottom on a dry tub, and let it sit for five minutes.
2. Use an abrasive pad or thick sponge or scrub brush to clean from side to side, top to bottom.
3. Pour water into a small container and wet the sides of the tub.
4. To clean rust stains or yellow spots, mix baking soda with dish soap to make a paste that has the consistency of tooth paste. Apply to the spots and leave on for 10 minutes. With a pumice stone, rub the paste in a circular motion. Splash with water from a small container to rinse.
5. If you have mold, directly apply a tub and tile cleaner and let sit for 10 minutes. Clean very firmly with a scrub brush, then splash with water from a small container to rinse.