As sarcastic as that sounds, I do love cleaning. I am one of those people who can’t relax unless I’m in a clean, tidy space and I find cleaning quite meditative. Well, there is one cleaning task I always procrastinate about – cleaning the bathtub.
The Problem with Bathtub Grime
Over time, your bathtub is covered in a layer of soap scum and mildew, which can be so hard to get rid of. Fortunately, there’s one easy little hack that will help you cut right through that grime and make your tub sparkle-clean. All you need is Dawn dish soap and a broom with plastic bristles.
How to Use Dawn Dish Soap for Bathtub Cleaning
Spray a good amount of dish soap on the sides of your tub. You can also do the bottom of your tub afterward, but be careful because the dish soap will make the surfaces very slippery. Use the broom to work the soap into the sides and bottom of the tub. Just like the dish soap cuts through grease and food residue on your dinnerware, it breaks down the residue of soap scum and mildew like nobody’s business.
For an alternative heavy-hitting option, use a dishwasher tablet! Just get the surface of the tub a bit wet, and use a damp dishwasher tablet — can be used like a scrubber on those stubborn spots. The tablet’s power-packed cleaning ability makes short work of soap scum and grime, and it’s surprisingly gentle on the tub’s surface. Just rinse really well afterward to unveil a sparkling clean tub with minimal effort.
Use the Tablet as a Soaking Solution
Another way to use a dishwasher tablet for cleaning the bathtub is to dissolve it in hot water and use the solution as a powerful soak. Here’s how:
- Fill the Tub with Hot Water: Plug the drain and fill the tub with a few inches of very hot water.
- Add the Dishwasher Tablet: Drop one or two dishwasher tablets into the water and let them dissolve. Stir the water a bit to help the tablet fully break down. If those aren’t working as expected, here’s why your dishwasher tablet might not be dissolving and how to fix it.
- Soak and Scrub: Allow the solution to sit for about 10-15 minutes to loosen the grime. Then, use a sponge or cloth to wipe down the sides and bottom of the tub.
- Rinse Thoroughly: Drain the tub, rinse with warm water, and marvel at the clean shine!
This method is great for bathtubs with tough stains or heavy soap scum because the dishwasher tablet’s enzymes work to break down residues while you do less scrubbing!
In the past, I’ve had to wear a mask and use a scrub brush and bleach to get through the gross buildup on the tub and shower. This hack is a lot easier to work through! And it will leave your tub fresh and sparkling clean. Now that I know about this simple cleaning method, I don’t think I’ll be procrastinating this cleaning chore (as much)!
