There is nothing worse than a dirty bathtub. It makes the whole bathroom look unhygienic and it is very unappealing to guests.

If you have had a long day and you want to relax by having a soak in the tub, you want it to look sparkling clean and inviting.
If you want to know how to clean your bathtub and leave your bathroom sparkling then keep reading.
The Quick Method
If you have guests coming over and you don’t have time to do a full bathtub clean, you can use this quick method:
- Spray – Use an all purpose cleaner to spray the bathtub. Make sure you cover all surfaces including the tiles.
- Wipe – Use a soft cloth or a cleaning wipe to wipe down all the surfaces of the bath to remove the surface dirt and leave it looking clean.
- Rinse – rinse the bathtub with hot water to remove any smudges and loosened dirt.
- Faucets – Use a dry, microfiber cloth to polish up the faucets and remove any watermarks.
This method will make your bathtub appear clean, but it will not leave it entirely a sanctuary.
The Simple Method

This method is ideal for your regular, weekly bathtub cleaning:
- Rinse – Wet your bathtub with hot water to remove the surface dirt.
- Baking soda – Sprinkle baking soda over the bathtub and make sure that all of the surfaces are covered- this includes the tiles. You can also use a specialized bathtub cleaner instead.
- Scrub – Fill a bucket or a large bowl with warm water and dish soap or your preferred cleaning concentrate. Use a scrubbing sponge or a nylon brush (make sure you check what is suitable to use on your bathtub) to clean the bathtub and tiles. Dip the sponge or brush into the water then scrub, working the baking soda into any stains and grime. Keep rinsing the sponge or brush by dunking it into the water. If the water gets too dirty, replace it with a fresh bucket.
- Tough stains – If there are any stubborn bits of dirt or grime, apply baking soda again or put it straight onto the sponge. Scrub over the area until it is clean.
- Rinse – Once the bathtub is clean, rinse it with hot water to remove all of the soap suds and baking soda.
- Faucet – Finally, clean the faucets and any other metal areas with a glass cleaner or stainless steel cleaner and a lint free cloth. This will leave them sparkling clean.
The Deep Clean
If your bathtub is particularly dirty then it will need a deep clean. You should do this once a month to make sure that your bathtub is hygienic:
- Rinse – Start by rinsing your bathtub with hot water. Open the bathroom window for ventilation or turn on the extractor fan.
- Spray – Choose a specialized bathtub cleaner – it is up to you if it contains bleach or not. Spray the bathtub thoroughly, focusing especially on the areas that get the most use or collect the most dirt. Make sure you also spray the tiles. If you have any black mold on your bathtub seal or on the grouting then use bleach or a mold remover on these areas.
- Wait – Leave the cleaning products for at least 15 minutes to work on the dirt and grime.
- Scrub – Using a bathroom cleaning pad, a scrubbing brush, or sponge, scrub the bathtub thoroughly. Use circular motions to remove stubborn areas of dirt and grime. You can even use a toothbrush on the grouting.
- Rinse – Rinse the bathtub with hot water to remove the cleaning products and the loosened dirt. If the bathtub still looks dirty repeat the spray and scrub then rinse again.
- Faucets – Once the bathtub is clean, polish the faucets and metal areas with a glass cleaner or stainless steel cleaner.
Top Tips
Here are some top tips that you should always remember to help you keep your bathroom sparkling clean:
- Use the right cleaning utensils – If you use a wire scourer on a ceramic bathtub then you could scratch it. Make sure that you check which utensils you should be using. If in doubt, a dish sponge will usually do the trick, or a bathroom cleaning pad.
- Use the right products – Baking soda is great for cutting through bathroom grime and old soap scum. You can leave it for 10-15 minutes for extra tough areas. However, you may need a specialized cleaning product if your bathtub is particularly dirty. You may also need to use grout cleaner, mold remover, or glass cleaner for other areas of the bathroom.
- Natural Products – Some people prefer to use natural cleaning products with plant based ingredients. If you have children or pets then make sure that whatever cleaning products you are using are non-toxic.
- Bleach – If you are using cleaning products that contain bleach, make sure you wear gloves and old clothes. Bleach will remove the color from your clothing and can be harmful to your skin (and nose).
- Be thorough – Remember to get into all the difficult to reach areas. Scrub around the bottom of the faucets, the plug hole, the overflow, handles etc. Remember to clean the plug and the chain, and any shower attachments and soap holders.
- Faucets – when it comes to faucets and other metal parts, you should use a stainless steel cleaner or glass cleaner to remove water marks and leave them sparkly. You can also use cream cleaner.
- Mirrors – Don’t forget to clean your bathroom mirror if you want your bathroom to look spotless. Use a glass cleaner and lint free cloth for a flawless finish.
- Fresh towels – You should change your hand towels often to make sure that they are hygienic. It is a good habit to get into to change your towels when you clean the bath.
Summary
The quick method is ideal if you are in a rush. The simple method should be done at least once a week to keep your bathtub clean.
The deep clean should be done once a month or whenever your bathtub is looking dirty. Remember to check the top tips to find out how to keep your bathroom sparkling clean.
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