How To Clean A Bathtub With Bleach
October 12, 2021
source: iStock/sdominick
You may think that cleaning a bathtub is a fairly straightforward process. And it can be – until mildew, soap scum, and even mold begin to build up. Fortunately, you can get that bathtub clean and sparkling again with the right products and cleaning methods.
You Will Need:
Bleach
Bucket filled with hot water
Scrub brush
Microfiber cloth
Safety mask
Eye protection
Rubber gloves
Before You Begin
Bleach is no joke. Before you begin cleaning with bleach, dress in clothes you don’t care about (we all know how easily bleach stains!). You’ll also want to ensure you’re wearing a high-quality KN95 mask to act as a buffer between your respiratory system and the bleach fumes, some sort of safety goggles to protect your eyes, and rubber gloves to protect your skin. If your bathroom has a window, open it up all the way for proper ventilation. You can also turn your bathroom’s fan on if you have one to help filter out the fumes.
Cleaning a Bathtub with Bleach
Now that you’ve done your prep work, you’re ready for the fun part: cleaning! Start out by removing toiletries and everything else from the tub. Next, use hot water to rinse your tub all over. You can use a sponge to apply hot water to the tub if you don’t have a handheld shower nozzle. Next, dilute about 1/4 cup of bleach in about 3/4 gallon of water. Dip your sponge in the bucket and rub the solution all over the tub, paying special attention to the cracks and crevices where mold and mildew forms.
Once you’ve wiped down the entire tub with the bleach solution, let it sit for about five to ten minutes so it can really do its job. Then, rinse with cold water and wipe dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
Tackling Stubborn Areas
If you have a tub with especially built-up soap scum and mildew, you can make a paste using equal parts baking soda and bleach. Apply the paste to the trouble areas, then use a scrub brush to scrub the paste in. The bleach helps to remove and clean the stains, while the abrasive nature of the baking soda gives extra scrubbing power. When you’re finished scrubbing, rinse with cool water, then wipe dry.
A Natural Alternative
When my kids were small, I avoided cleaning with bleach and preferred natural products instead. If you don’t want to use bleach but still want your bathtub to be clean, start out by making a paste using baking soda, a few drops of liquid dish soap, and some lemon juice. Apply the paste to soap scum and mildew build-up and scrub it in. Rinse extremely well when you’re done scrubbing (the dish soap can make things very slippery if you don’t rinse thoroughly!).
Next, mix together equal parts distilled vinegar and water. Spray the solution all over your tub, then let it sit for about 20 minutes. When the time’s up, rinse well with cold water, then wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.
In Conclusion
Whether your tub is in need of some serious bleach power or you prefer a more natural cleaning method, I hope you’ve found these tub cleaning tips helpful! Cleaning your bathtub regularly will prevent soap scum and mildew from building up, and prevent a bigger bathtub cleaning job than necessary. Happy cleaning!