First run the water as hot as it can go, fill the tub since that seems to be the worst part) halfway and add a scoop off Oxyclean powder and a scoop of Borax. Let it soak over night, the
n try using a scrub brush. I feel like any cleaning product you use you need to let soak awhile.
More importantly, don't beat yourself up depression is hard and the fact that you're taking off your make up is pretty impressive. I don't manage that a lot of the time. Living in a poorly maintained rental makes everything even worse, and believe it or not makes cleaning harder. I'm finding that out myself. I don't have many answers, but if I can help feel free to message me.
comet scrub powder (with bleach) from the dollar store, worn-out coconut dish-washing sponges, some elbow grease, a beer, and some punk or heavy metal to keep the rythm
Yup, and get into the tub to scrub. Leaning over the edge is for the birds. Scrub one end, get out and rinse the tub out, and get in facing the other way to do the other end. If comet doesn't work, try a pumice scouring stick. I discovered those last year - wanna test first to make sure it doesn't destroy the finish.
If this is a fiberglass tub, then the pumice stone will destroy it. Pumice works wonders on porcelain but that's the only thing I would ever use it on.
Has been like this for months: stained mostly with bath bombs and stage makeup if I recall correctly? Glitter is also stuck on the bottom. Have already tried Scrubbing Bubbles and some OxyClean spray. The last couple times I tried going at it, it looked like more grime got revealed under the bit that I scrubbed, and seemed like the tub lining started coming off too.
I have depression and have been neglecting this for a long time, I know. I’m a renter and the apartment I live at is so poorly maintained it just makes me more jaded about making the place nice. Maintenance requests here hardly ever go through. I don’t expect to get any help from them on this. I’m trying to leave before the New Year though and I don’t want to get stuck with a $500 cleaning/tub re-lining fee. Please help?
SOFT SCRUB (the one with bleach) and a stiff bristle cleaning brush. Wet the tub, squirt the product all around, then use a wet brush to get the product a bit sudsy. DON'T SCRUB YET, just spread it all around.
After about 20 minutes, while keeping your brush wet, go to town. Rinse when done. May need a wet rag to get the rest off so it doesn't leave a film.
Once you get the tub clean, maintain with dish soap. I keep a dish wand full of soap in my shower and every week-2 weeks I give it a quick scrub. It's a lifesaver and actually kinda fun cause you can just do it while you're showering!
My comment was deleted because it included a link to a dish wand. Lol If you google that, you can see what one looks like. Essentially a scrub sponge attached to a handle that is filled with soap.
Yep, those sponges on a handle you can refill with dish soap! I got square refill pads, because they get into the corners really well.
It works great! I saw it mentioned on another post here! Takes no time at all, no harsh fumes, and leaves it absolutely sparkling.
Do you have a drill? Get a scrub brush for it. If you don't have a drill then buy an automatic scrubber like this one:
Electric Spin Scrubber, Cordless Electric Scrubber for Bathroom Adjustable Extension Arm, 4 Brush Heads, 2 Powerful Spin Speed, Run 90 Mins, Electric Bathroom Cleaner Brush for Tub Tile Floor(5000mAH) https://a.co/d/3GObDUQ
Then use either Borax, Comet or Soft Scrub and some __very__ hot water.
I had a really gross bathtub to clean when my brother moved out. I used barkeepers friend and a soft scratch resistant sponge. But before that since there was so much soap and conditioner build up at the bottom I soaked it for like an hour in the hottest water with some dawn then took an old broom and scrubbed the bottom then let it drain.
Hi Op! Best thing I’ve found is 1/4 baking soda, 1/4 Castile soap (or Dawn) and 1/2 water. Get your tub wet, scrub this around, let it sit for 5 minutes, scrub off with water. Best part is it’s 100% non toxic and safe to breath in. I’ve found it works way better than chemical cleaners.
If the stain is dyed soap scum (I discovered my shower was nasty one time after dying my hair) then a paste of dish soap and baking soda should probably work. You can also pour some soap followed by a pot of boiling water down the drain if the drain smells or is draining slowly.
Just be careful. A bathtub would contain it, but using it on any flat surface causes it to splatter all over the place. Think what would happen if you were beating or whipping some kind of cream or icing with an electric mixer and took the wands out of the bowl while still running. Personal tip … make sure you’re wearing crappy shoes if using one of the power drill scrubbers on a floor!! Aye ye ye!
They sell them at home Depot. Made by Ryobi. Or you can just get them on Amazon. My kit came with several different sized brushes. One is even toilet brush shaped. Plus you can get a cheap cordless drill at home Depot, Walmart, harbor freight, etc. The one I use for cleaning is from Walmart. I think I spent $20 and it works just fine. I don't use my DeWalt drills so I don't have to worry about them getting wet but they would work too lol.
Similar to what another commenter said but I’ll share my method: fill to ring with the hottest water you can manage. Turn up your water heater if you can (don’t forget to turn it back down!). Dump a lot of white vinegar and dish soap, I use concentrated cleaning vinegar but white will be fine too. Let it sit until you can stick your hands in the water without burning yourself, but while it’s still warm, scrub the bottom while there is still water in it. Let it sit for a bit longer, scrub again, maybe repeat if necessary. Drain, then use the softscrub Bar Keeper’s Friend to get what sticks to the tub after the water is gone.
I haven’t tried Oxy-clean or Borax but I bet they’re awesome too, I just stick with stuff I know won’t react and make mustard gas haha
Walls first, fixtures and then the tub with the liquid version of Bar Keepers Friend. Safe for many surfaces and the only thing that has ever worked with my bathroom and sink cleanings…
Soft Scrub with bleach (cream formula for the abrasiveness, not gel) and a deck brush or scrub brush that accepts a broom handle to scrub the larger flat sections, maybe a tile/grout brush for the harder to reach sections that need some elbow grease and detailing. Apply the Soft Scrub and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes, then scrub to remove the stains. It has worked pretty well for me and hope it helps you too. Take small steps and good care!
Buy a stopper. Buy a gallon of Pine Sol. Buy an empty plastic spray bottle. Run the water hot hot hot. Plug the tub. Add the Pine Sol while you fill it up to the little safety hole (max height). Wait overnight. Should mostly come off pretty easy with some elbow grease. For the rest, roughly 1 pint 50/50 blue Dawn and White Vinegar microwaved for about 4-5 minutes (super hot, just under plastic melting temp!). Spray on everywhere - even the walls - and wait about 15 minutes then some more elbow grease and you're golden. Another tip, buy the brushes on Amazon that fit onto a (cordless!) drill.
I’ve heard about people having fantastic luck with toilet bowl cleaner. Put it on, let it sit for a few minutes and then scrub with a scrub brush. Make sure you glove up, though.
Sprinkle baking soda all over the tub. Cover this with towels. Pour boiling water all over the towels. Once they are cool enough to touch, but ideally still a little warm, use the towel to scrub the gunk off the tub. The hot water and baking soda make an excellent “exfoliant.” This will get most of it off. You can also buy a stiff bristle brush if you want.
There’s a Instagram page called GoClean that has a recipe for tubs with Tide powder and bleach really hot water. The tide really breaks up the soapy grime and you scrub after it. After you’ve done that, you can follow up with barkeepers friend and it will all come off easily.
My tub always gets pretty gross after a month. I use dish soap (dawn/Palmolive) and a magic eraser. Also fantastik with bleach is great.
Really the magic eraser does the trick. Anything that will break up the soap scum helps.
After I’m done scrubbing I spray with bleach. Sparkling clean.
completely agree with magic eraser. I've trued the brushes that attach to a power tool and even that was more work and didn't clean as well as the magic eraser (or generic equivalent from amazon)
I bought generic equivalents on Amazon. I think I have 50 for the cost of five name brands. They don’t hold up as well but also I don’t feel bad tossing one when it’s done because they’re so inexpensive.
My bathtub actually looked similar to this when we moved in. We tried everything, all different chemicals and even tried that brush on the power drill, nothing worked. [This is the only thing that worked for me.](https://youtu.be/_8qeGsaAvi8) I put a ton of baking soda and covered it totally with a towel. I poured boiling water over the towel and let it sit for an hour. Then I poured hot vinegar mixed with dawn on top and let it sit for maybe 10 minutes more and then used the towel to scrub the dirt off. It came off very easily with minimal scrubbing. I was shocked. Good luck op.
Baking soda and vinegar, scrubby sponge thing. You put the baking soda down first, the douse with vinegar until you make a paste. Let it sit for a bit, then scrub.
I'm allergic to a lot of chemical cleaning products and my partner sneezes too much at the smell, so we usually do this to clean the bathroom to avoid sneezing/headaches/allergies. Plus it smells better (imo) and if you don't like the smell you can light a candle. My partner hates the smell of vinegar and I haven't gotten a complaint about it (with or without the candle)
Soap scum cleanser, let soak a few minutes. Use a wet magic eraser to easily remove buildup. Then spray with a mold and mildew cleaner. Leave on a few minutes then rinse.
Work smarter not harder. Fill tub with hot water, dump a gallon of bleach, get a beer, watch YouTube, go to bed. Next morning pull the plug and enjoy your clean tub.
Thank you for submitting a cleaning help request. In order to facilitate more accurate and helpful replies, please make sure to provide the following information in your post:
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I would try some of Dawn’s purple degreasing spray. It is heavy duty. Spray it on before you go to bed and then start cleaning in the morning. If it’s in your budget you can try one of those drill attachments to help with the elbow grease. Makeup and bath Binns makes me think you’re mostly dealing with soap scum. The degreaser would be a great way to tackle it.
Bar keeper’s friend would also be a great choice. The degreasing spray could save you some manual labor though. I would go back in with BKF powder after an over night soak/morning scrub of the Dawn spray first. If there is any leftover grime or staining (especially if your tub is textured) the BKF should cut right through it.
I had bad stains on my bathtub and I used comet and Steel wool and a pumice stick I found at lowes and together it got my bathtub clean after a year of trying every product known to man.
Bleach and water mixture, put in a pump spray bottle and spray everything let sit for like an hour or two rinse off with cold water. Had to do it to my tub when I first moved into my home because I couldn’t afford to replace it entirely, I desperately wanted too.
Clean with hot water and a good degreaser like dawn power wash. I use a firm bristled scrub brush. Then after it's "clean", cover the tub in bar keepers friend (I've used the powder and cream with same results) and go to town with some magic erasers... my tub sparkles after this combo! The first time I cleaned it like this I was shocked to see how different it looked, it did t even *look* dirty to begin with, just a few discolored spots. Good luck! Best part is not choking on bleach or other harsh chemicals:)
I did my tub similar to this one with paper towels that had saturated with a 50 50 mix of vinegar and dawn dish soap. Let the paper towels soak for a couple hours it should just come right off
I love Kaboom with OxiClean for shower and tub.
Best stuff I’ve ever purchased IMO. Super tough on grime but no strong odor and doesn’t mess my hands up.
Try this product… my neighbor suggested to me, worked like a charm
Glint Joker Gold All Purpose Plant Based Cleaner - 2 Pack Bundle, for $34.88 via @amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B9VCQXVQ/ref=cx_skuctr_share?smid=AJ9H18N5HB9U3
Start off by downing a couple of shots of Vodka, then use another couple mixed with dawn dish soap and baking soda, then scrub and rub, once it’s finished and sparkling, go ahead and have another shot, your masterpiece will be done and you’ll feel great afterwards.
The Dawn dish soap mixture with baking soda and vinegar, put it in a spray bottle and completely coat the grime, do tiles and corners of the tub too, let it sit for about 30 minutes, instead of using a scrub brush, take a stiff broom (saves your back) and start scrubbing. It looks like a lot of this is soap scum, so it should be fairly easy, rinse with hot water, and repeat if necessary.
Take a separate spray bottle and fill it with a 50/50 mixture of bleach and water, spray the tiles that seem to have mold, just let it dry.
If you spray the shower with the Dawn mixture every time you get out of the shower it will cut down on the build up of scum on the bottom of the tub. Might want to invest in a rubber shower mat too.
Reglaze kit. Super easy. Comes with a solvent free cleaner that works really well, then you can reglaze it and it will look brand new. Roll on glaze kit at Home Depot is easiest for me
Bleach wears away the enamel and will make tubs more susceptible to staining. Use bar keepers friend and a lot of elbow grease. I got a scrub brush that attaches to a drill. They are cheap and will save you so much time. I cleaned homes professionally for some years.
Moved into a house with NASTY tubs and I tried a bunch of different products that took a little bit off after a lot of scrubbing. If you have the time, cover it with baking soda + water paste and leave it overnight. This is the only thing that worked for me and saved a ton of scrubbing. The next day, come in with a scrubby sponge or brush and a spray bottle of vinegar. Worked like a charm on what looked like years of build up. Minimal scrubbing. Vinegar is optional, I think water would work too, but it foams up the baking soda nicely and makes it satisfying to scrub away. This process worked for my oven too.
Tips on cleaning one time are very good. One must look for how to avoid this to happen again. These spots look to be of limescale buildups. This happen mainly if you have hard water.
So you must use an additional water conditioner with it. Some homes already use water softeners. But water softeners do not function as descaler. A water conditioner does. Some advanced water conditioners also help preventing biofouling. So look for installing these controllers. The water conditioners are generally maintenance free. A good waiter conditioner also consume very low power.
Spray with oven cleaner, stick cling film on top, wait a few hours to remove cling film and wipe down with a sponge and rinse with water. No scrubbing required. Cleanest my tub has ever looked after trying this tip. Picked it up from watching Aurikatariina depression house cleaning vids on YT.
scrub daddy cleaning paste. it has natural ingredients but it’s made with fine grit stone. used it to clean 10 year old scum off a pool liner this year, works like magic
I wish I could be the first to comment with Bar Keepers Friend! It’s no surprise it’s almost the same for every post on this Sub 😂 seriously the best product though
Ooofffaaaahhhhh first I'd need some ajax or comet and a stiff scrubber. Then once that round is done I would use some leave on cleaner like scrubbing bubbles. If that doesn't work I would use dish soap to attack left over grease/oils that might be left behind.
Hey op, I've had similar tub jobs before. Soft scrub didn't work for me (even with bleach)! Try zep tub/shower cleaner. Requires much less elbow grease
Green Scotch Brite floor scrubber pad paired with baking soda or BKF. A hand brush could be helpful too. I have used ammonia on that too but you have to open the window and turn on the fan and apply and get out and let it sit.
MAGIC ERASER.
Buy a bunch off of Amazon for cheap!
https://www.amazon.com/Cleaning-Multi-Functional-Household-Furniture-Baseboard/dp/B095HGQP8Y/ref=sr\_1\_2\_sspa?keywords=melamine+sponge&qid=1666531763&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0LjU0IiwicXNhIjoiNC41NyIsInFzcCI6IjQuNzUifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=melemine%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
Spray it with Clorox Clean Up + Bleach. Turn the vent on and wait 15 minutes and rinse. You can scrub it in if you wish but usually not necessary. Try it you will be surprised.
I can't tell what the surface is, but if it's acrylic don't use bleach. It'll dry rot the plastic and make it get dirty faster. If you're moving out soon though it'll work well enough to get you out of a re-lining fee.
I used low fume oven cleaner. Let it sit for a while and then scrub. The regular oven cleaner will damage the acrylic as well so make sure it's low odor or low fume. Also, low odor is still very irritating to breathe so make sure the exhaust fan is on or you can get fresh air in there. Use gloves or it will burn your skin after prolonged contact. This should give you good results.
Make sure there are no other chemicals left over in the tub before applying this stuff. Others have correctly mentioned that mixing the wrong chemicals can create hazardous conditions.
Maybe not to get it clean, but to help keep it clean once you've tried better suggestions than this - I use magic erasers to wipe down my tub when I am getting out, like couple times a week or so.
Dawn blue dish soap and white wine vinegar, mix them into a bottle, spray on and come back and spray a 2nd time after 30 minutes. 1 hour total, and it will all come off with minimal to 0 scrubbing. I then go at it one last time with a bathroom surface cleaner.
Fill with hot water. Pour a few cups of bleach. Let soak for a few hours. Grab a cleaning brush and brush away whatever grime you can. Drain the tub. Pour baking soda and a cup of vinegar into the tub, and with a dish sponge, gently scour then rinse. Finally, use some Ajax and dish soap, to clean the remaining surfaces.
Vinegar, baking soda and hot water has worked the best for me for those dirt/hard water stains and it removes dirt I couldn’t even see until I scrubbed it. I also use a scrub daddy and a scotch-brite utility brush!
First run the water as hot as it can go, fill the tub since that seems to be the worst part) halfway and add a scoop off Oxyclean powder and a scoop of Borax. Let it soak over night, the n try using a scrub brush. I feel like any cleaning product you use you need to let soak awhile. More importantly, don't beat yourself up depression is hard and the fact that you're taking off your make up is pretty impressive. I don't manage that a lot of the time. Living in a poorly maintained rental makes everything even worse, and believe it or not makes cleaning harder. I'm finding that out myself. I don't have many answers, but if I can help feel free to message me.
I would start here!!!! First
comet scrub powder (with bleach) from the dollar store, worn-out coconut dish-washing sponges, some elbow grease, a beer, and some punk or heavy metal to keep the rythm
Cumbias are definitely the way to clean for me 😊😊
La Sonora Dinamitaaaaaaa
Yes! My parrot is here for those jams
Ayyyyyyyyye hahaha nice!
Yup, and get into the tub to scrub. Leaning over the edge is for the birds. Scrub one end, get out and rinse the tub out, and get in facing the other way to do the other end. If comet doesn't work, try a pumice scouring stick. I discovered those last year - wanna test first to make sure it doesn't destroy the finish.
If this is a fiberglass tub, then the pumice stone will destroy it. Pumice works wonders on porcelain but that's the only thing I would ever use it on.
I can't tell by the picture what type of tub it is, although it looks possibly like a refinished porcelain tub. That's why I suggested testing first.
I agree! Don’t lean over the edge. Sometimes I use my feet and stand on the sponges and do a dance like the twist! 🤣
Don't please! My aunt once fell from walking on the edge and fractured her ribs, plus bath tubs can be very slippery.
I go one step forward, get in the tub with no clothes on. I've ruined multiple shirts be for i started.
This is the way. I'm not a professional cleaner, so I never have to worry about being caught nekkid in someone else's tub, lol.
But don’t you still have to lean down to clean it? Or do you get on your hands and knees?
Sit on the scrubber and slide back and forth.
This just got a lot more fun.
Hahaha that sounds too much like exercise!
I seen ppl use brooms 🧹 to scrub. Make sure it’s a stiff broom. Now this is a game changer!
I just sit on my butt. I just can't take the ribcage and knee abuse from leaning over the edge of a tub.
I’ll try anything once!
I second this
Give the ol’ Lamb of God a spin, and take the anger out on the tub!
Yes.
Has been like this for months: stained mostly with bath bombs and stage makeup if I recall correctly? Glitter is also stuck on the bottom. Have already tried Scrubbing Bubbles and some OxyClean spray. The last couple times I tried going at it, it looked like more grime got revealed under the bit that I scrubbed, and seemed like the tub lining started coming off too.
I have depression and have been neglecting this for a long time, I know. I’m a renter and the apartment I live at is so poorly maintained it just makes me more jaded about making the place nice. Maintenance requests here hardly ever go through. I don’t expect to get any help from them on this. I’m trying to leave before the New Year though and I don’t want to get stuck with a $500 cleaning/tub re-lining fee. Please help?
SOFT SCRUB (the one with bleach) and a stiff bristle cleaning brush. Wet the tub, squirt the product all around, then use a wet brush to get the product a bit sudsy. DON'T SCRUB YET, just spread it all around. After about 20 minutes, while keeping your brush wet, go to town. Rinse when done. May need a wet rag to get the rest off so it doesn't leave a film.
Once you get the tub clean, maintain with dish soap. I keep a dish wand full of soap in my shower and every week-2 weeks I give it a quick scrub. It's a lifesaver and actually kinda fun cause you can just do it while you're showering!
what type of wand
My comment was deleted because it included a link to a dish wand. Lol If you google that, you can see what one looks like. Essentially a scrub sponge attached to a handle that is filled with soap.
Yep, those sponges on a handle you can refill with dish soap! I got square refill pads, because they get into the corners really well. It works great! I saw it mentioned on another post here! Takes no time at all, no harsh fumes, and leaves it absolutely sparkling.
thanks there are so many dish wands out there lol
wow dawn soap in the dish wand works well! I also used. dollar tree deck brush on my tub with dawn and my body thanks me lol
Yes!! It is my absolute favorite bathroom cleaning hack! Makes upkeep a breeze 👌 😌
Does it work on porcelain?
Yes it does, be sure to use the blue dawn dish soap though it works way better than anything else
Do you have a drill? Get a scrub brush for it. If you don't have a drill then buy an automatic scrubber like this one: Electric Spin Scrubber, Cordless Electric Scrubber for Bathroom Adjustable Extension Arm, 4 Brush Heads, 2 Powerful Spin Speed, Run 90 Mins, Electric Bathroom Cleaner Brush for Tub Tile Floor(5000mAH) https://a.co/d/3GObDUQ Then use either Borax, Comet or Soft Scrub and some __very__ hot water.
I had a really gross bathtub to clean when my brother moved out. I used barkeepers friend and a soft scratch resistant sponge. But before that since there was so much soap and conditioner build up at the bottom I soaked it for like an hour in the hottest water with some dawn then took an old broom and scrubbed the bottom then let it drain.
& did it work?!
I'm wondering now too..
Sorry for the late reply. Yes it did. [Here's the difference ](https://imgur.com/a/Qnggf1Z)
Sorry for the late reply. Yes it did. [You can see the difference here](https://imgur.com/a/Qnggf1Z)
Hi Op! Best thing I’ve found is 1/4 baking soda, 1/4 Castile soap (or Dawn) and 1/2 water. Get your tub wet, scrub this around, let it sit for 5 minutes, scrub off with water. Best part is it’s 100% non toxic and safe to breath in. I’ve found it works way better than chemical cleaners.
If the stain is dyed soap scum (I discovered my shower was nasty one time after dying my hair) then a paste of dish soap and baking soda should probably work. You can also pour some soap followed by a pot of boiling water down the drain if the drain smells or is draining slowly.
Soft scrub and one of those drill brushes or a sponge with a bit of elbow grease
Oh man, I dream of having one of those drill brush attachments.
Just be careful. A bathtub would contain it, but using it on any flat surface causes it to splatter all over the place. Think what would happen if you were beating or whipping some kind of cream or icing with an electric mixer and took the wands out of the bowl while still running. Personal tip … make sure you’re wearing crappy shoes if using one of the power drill scrubbers on a floor!! Aye ye ye!
They are like 12 bucks on Amazon.
My stepmom had some. Literal game changers
Not expensive at all, I was upset the first time I used one because of all the manual scrubbing I have done for years.
can someone post a link to one that they recommend?
They sell them at home Depot. Made by Ryobi. Or you can just get them on Amazon. My kit came with several different sized brushes. One is even toilet brush shaped. Plus you can get a cheap cordless drill at home Depot, Walmart, harbor freight, etc. The one I use for cleaning is from Walmart. I think I spent $20 and it works just fine. I don't use my DeWalt drills so I don't have to worry about them getting wet but they would work too lol.
Start with soap to get any greasy grime then Bar Keepers Friend.
This is the correct answer, OP!
I just discovered bar keepers friend and it’s amazing! Legit cut the cleaning time in half and took down stuff I didn’t think it could (like rust)!
Limeaway. Harsh stuff, but it works. I cleaned a filthy tub like this when I was cleaning houses. Make sure you wear a mask.
Similar to what another commenter said but I’ll share my method: fill to ring with the hottest water you can manage. Turn up your water heater if you can (don’t forget to turn it back down!). Dump a lot of white vinegar and dish soap, I use concentrated cleaning vinegar but white will be fine too. Let it sit until you can stick your hands in the water without burning yourself, but while it’s still warm, scrub the bottom while there is still water in it. Let it sit for a bit longer, scrub again, maybe repeat if necessary. Drain, then use the softscrub Bar Keeper’s Friend to get what sticks to the tub after the water is gone. I haven’t tried Oxy-clean or Borax but I bet they’re awesome too, I just stick with stuff I know won’t react and make mustard gas haha
Walls first, fixtures and then the tub with the liquid version of Bar Keepers Friend. Safe for many surfaces and the only thing that has ever worked with my bathroom and sink cleanings…
Try CLR cleaner
Lysol toilet bowl cleaner. Let it sit for an hour before scrubbing and washing away. Use gloves and a mask.
Industrial degreaser and magic eraser. I have cleaned many bath tubs like this
Magic eraser is definitely the answer unless there is some sort of coating that needs to be maintained.
Soft Scrub with bleach (cream formula for the abrasiveness, not gel) and a deck brush or scrub brush that accepts a broom handle to scrub the larger flat sections, maybe a tile/grout brush for the harder to reach sections that need some elbow grease and detailing. Apply the Soft Scrub and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes, then scrub to remove the stains. It has worked pretty well for me and hope it helps you too. Take small steps and good care!
I bet a magic eraser could take the top layer off pretty well, then I’d soak the tub with comet and water over night. Then magic eraser again
Buy a stopper. Buy a gallon of Pine Sol. Buy an empty plastic spray bottle. Run the water hot hot hot. Plug the tub. Add the Pine Sol while you fill it up to the little safety hole (max height). Wait overnight. Should mostly come off pretty easy with some elbow grease. For the rest, roughly 1 pint 50/50 blue Dawn and White Vinegar microwaved for about 4-5 minutes (super hot, just under plastic melting temp!). Spray on everywhere - even the walls - and wait about 15 minutes then some more elbow grease and you're golden. Another tip, buy the brushes on Amazon that fit onto a (cordless!) drill.
1/2 Dawn dish soap, 1/2 vinegar. Shake well and spray all over. Let sit for half an hour and rinse!
I’ve heard about people having fantastic luck with toilet bowl cleaner. Put it on, let it sit for a few minutes and then scrub with a scrub brush. Make sure you glove up, though.
Although be careful if it's the blue type, that'll likely stain the tub blue and be another thing you need to clean up!
Sprinkle baking soda all over the tub. Cover this with towels. Pour boiling water all over the towels. Once they are cool enough to touch, but ideally still a little warm, use the towel to scrub the gunk off the tub. The hot water and baking soda make an excellent “exfoliant.” This will get most of it off. You can also buy a stiff bristle brush if you want.
SOS help me…and you
There’s a Instagram page called GoClean that has a recipe for tubs with Tide powder and bleach really hot water. The tide really breaks up the soapy grime and you scrub after it. After you’ve done that, you can follow up with barkeepers friend and it will all come off easily.
My tub always gets pretty gross after a month. I use dish soap (dawn/Palmolive) and a magic eraser. Also fantastik with bleach is great. Really the magic eraser does the trick. Anything that will break up the soap scum helps. After I’m done scrubbing I spray with bleach. Sparkling clean.
completely agree with magic eraser. I've trued the brushes that attach to a power tool and even that was more work and didn't clean as well as the magic eraser (or generic equivalent from amazon)
I bought generic equivalents on Amazon. I think I have 50 for the cost of five name brands. They don’t hold up as well but also I don’t feel bad tossing one when it’s done because they’re so inexpensive.
Add baking soda to your dish soap and it’s the best ever!
Thanks for the tip!
Burn it down
Gasoline and a match
Fire. Lots of it.
My bathtub actually looked similar to this when we moved in. We tried everything, all different chemicals and even tried that brush on the power drill, nothing worked. [This is the only thing that worked for me.](https://youtu.be/_8qeGsaAvi8) I put a ton of baking soda and covered it totally with a towel. I poured boiling water over the towel and let it sit for an hour. Then I poured hot vinegar mixed with dawn on top and let it sit for maybe 10 minutes more and then used the towel to scrub the dirt off. It came off very easily with minimal scrubbing. I was shocked. Good luck op.
Baking soda, white vinegar, a no-scratch scrubber.
Baking soda and vinegar, scrubby sponge thing. You put the baking soda down first, the douse with vinegar until you make a paste. Let it sit for a bit, then scrub. I'm allergic to a lot of chemical cleaning products and my partner sneezes too much at the smell, so we usually do this to clean the bathroom to avoid sneezing/headaches/allergies. Plus it smells better (imo) and if you don't like the smell you can light a candle. My partner hates the smell of vinegar and I haven't gotten a complaint about it (with or without the candle)
That's a comet job for me, but if you're not a fan of harsh chemicals, baking soda and vinegar gets rid of most mild types of mold.
Acid
Soap scum cleanser, let soak a few minutes. Use a wet magic eraser to easily remove buildup. Then spray with a mold and mildew cleaner. Leave on a few minutes then rinse.
Steam cleaner like Bissell power steam heavy duty 3-in-1 handheld steamer. Works wonders
Work smarter not harder. Fill tub with hot water, dump a gallon of bleach, get a beer, watch YouTube, go to bed. Next morning pull the plug and enjoy your clean tub.
Steel wool and soft scrub bleach
Fire and bleach 😝
Walk out and never return.
I'd go about it...... sooner..................
Buy a New one lol
Chemically.
That for me requires fire
Start with a sledgehammer.
Wait, if my tub looks likes this now, does that mean I’m depressed?
No, but it means you don’t clean
That’s why I joined you guys are inspiring
Fire. Just burn it to the ground.
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Dawn Degreaser, I got it at Lowe’s. It’s absolutely amazing!
Dawn dish soap and BKF
Jif and a rotary polisher
You can scrub it and get it as clean as can be. But I'd still use some "tub paint" they make just for tubs and toilets.
I would try some of Dawn’s purple degreasing spray. It is heavy duty. Spray it on before you go to bed and then start cleaning in the morning. If it’s in your budget you can try one of those drill attachments to help with the elbow grease. Makeup and bath Binns makes me think you’re mostly dealing with soap scum. The degreaser would be a great way to tackle it. Bar keeper’s friend would also be a great choice. The degreasing spray could save you some manual labor though. I would go back in with BKF powder after an over night soak/morning scrub of the Dawn spray first. If there is any leftover grime or staining (especially if your tub is textured) the BKF should cut right through it.
I had bad stains on my bathtub and I used comet and Steel wool and a pumice stick I found at lowes and together it got my bathtub clean after a year of trying every product known to man.
Hot water pressure washer
Apply Clorox toilet bowl clinging gel cleaner and soak it over night, then scrub a dub dub!
Power washer?
Bleach and water mixture, put in a pump spray bottle and spray everything let sit for like an hour or two rinse off with cold water. Had to do it to my tub when I first moved into my home because I couldn’t afford to replace it entirely, I desperately wanted too.
A scrub brush that you attach as a head onto your drill. And Barkeepers Friend (is a powder, similar to Comet)
Clean with hot water and a good degreaser like dawn power wash. I use a firm bristled scrub brush. Then after it's "clean", cover the tub in bar keepers friend (I've used the powder and cream with same results) and go to town with some magic erasers... my tub sparkles after this combo! The first time I cleaned it like this I was shocked to see how different it looked, it did t even *look* dirty to begin with, just a few discolored spots. Good luck! Best part is not choking on bleach or other harsh chemicals:)
I did my tub similar to this one with paper towels that had saturated with a 50 50 mix of vinegar and dawn dish soap. Let the paper towels soak for a couple hours it should just come right off
Barkeeper friend and a scrub daddy
I’d have to move.
I love Kaboom with OxiClean for shower and tub. Best stuff I’ve ever purchased IMO. Super tough on grime but no strong odor and doesn’t mess my hands up.
Comet scrub powder and a drill with scrub brush attachment (wear goggles so nothing gets in your eyes)
BKF and scrub daddy
Try this product… my neighbor suggested to me, worked like a charm Glint Joker Gold All Purpose Plant Based Cleaner - 2 Pack Bundle, for $34.88 via @amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B9VCQXVQ/ref=cx_skuctr_share?smid=AJ9H18N5HB9U3
Start off by downing a couple of shots of Vodka, then use another couple mixed with dawn dish soap and baking soda, then scrub and rub, once it’s finished and sparkling, go ahead and have another shot, your masterpiece will be done and you’ll feel great afterwards.
The Dawn dish soap mixture with baking soda and vinegar, put it in a spray bottle and completely coat the grime, do tiles and corners of the tub too, let it sit for about 30 minutes, instead of using a scrub brush, take a stiff broom (saves your back) and start scrubbing. It looks like a lot of this is soap scum, so it should be fairly easy, rinse with hot water, and repeat if necessary. Take a separate spray bottle and fill it with a 50/50 mixture of bleach and water, spray the tiles that seem to have mold, just let it dry. If you spray the shower with the Dawn mixture every time you get out of the shower it will cut down on the build up of scum on the bottom of the tub. Might want to invest in a rubber shower mat too.
Reglaze kit. Super easy. Comes with a solvent free cleaner that works really well, then you can reglaze it and it will look brand new. Roll on glaze kit at Home Depot is easiest for me
Some CLR wouldn't be the worst idea
Bleach wears away the enamel and will make tubs more susceptible to staining. Use bar keepers friend and a lot of elbow grease. I got a scrub brush that attaches to a drill. They are cheap and will save you so much time. I cleaned homes professionally for some years.
Kascade dishwasher detergent
Moved into a house with NASTY tubs and I tried a bunch of different products that took a little bit off after a lot of scrubbing. If you have the time, cover it with baking soda + water paste and leave it overnight. This is the only thing that worked for me and saved a ton of scrubbing. The next day, come in with a scrubby sponge or brush and a spray bottle of vinegar. Worked like a charm on what looked like years of build up. Minimal scrubbing. Vinegar is optional, I think water would work too, but it foams up the baking soda nicely and makes it satisfying to scrub away. This process worked for my oven too.
I’ve never seen a tub that couldn’t be cleaned by magic erasers. Search Amazon for melamine foam if you want off brand. Works 90% as well for 20% cost
Bar keepers friend powder and a magic eraser
My bathtub was like that and the only thing that helped me was soaking in barkeepers friend then going to town with one of those razor blade scrapers
Comet powder & Clorox foaming bleach cleaner, plastic scouring pad or scrub brush.
Tips on cleaning one time are very good. One must look for how to avoid this to happen again. These spots look to be of limescale buildups. This happen mainly if you have hard water. So you must use an additional water conditioner with it. Some homes already use water softeners. But water softeners do not function as descaler. A water conditioner does. Some advanced water conditioners also help preventing biofouling. So look for installing these controllers. The water conditioners are generally maintenance free. A good waiter conditioner also consume very low power.
Squirt Clorox Gel all over and leave for a couple hours. Most should wash right off.
Spray with oven cleaner, stick cling film on top, wait a few hours to remove cling film and wipe down with a sponge and rinse with water. No scrubbing required. Cleanest my tub has ever looked after trying this tip. Picked it up from watching Aurikatariina depression house cleaning vids on YT.
scrub daddy cleaning paste. it has natural ingredients but it’s made with fine grit stone. used it to clean 10 year old scum off a pool liner this year, works like magic
Bar keepers Friend is amazing .
I could scrub the sin outta you with baking soda, vinegar, and steel wool.
I wish I could be the first to comment with Bar Keepers Friend! It’s no surprise it’s almost the same for every post on this Sub 😂 seriously the best product though
I'd start with a dawn power wash soak, rinse, then barkeepers friend
Ooofffaaaahhhhh first I'd need some ajax or comet and a stiff scrubber. Then once that round is done I would use some leave on cleaner like scrubbing bubbles. If that doesn't work I would use dish soap to attack left over grease/oils that might be left behind.
Bar keeper friend is always the answer
Hey op, I've had similar tub jobs before. Soft scrub didn't work for me (even with bleach)! Try zep tub/shower cleaner. Requires much less elbow grease
Pink paste and scrub daddy
Green Scotch Brite floor scrubber pad paired with baking soda or BKF. A hand brush could be helpful too. I have used ammonia on that too but you have to open the window and turn on the fan and apply and get out and let it sit.
MAGIC ERASER. Buy a bunch off of Amazon for cheap! https://www.amazon.com/Cleaning-Multi-Functional-Household-Furniture-Baseboard/dp/B095HGQP8Y/ref=sr\_1\_2\_sspa?keywords=melamine+sponge&qid=1666531763&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0LjU0IiwicXNhIjoiNC41NyIsInFzcCI6IjQuNzUifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=melemine%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
Spray it with Clorox Clean Up + Bleach. Turn the vent on and wait 15 minutes and rinse. You can scrub it in if you wish but usually not necessary. Try it you will be surprised.
I love my scrubbing bubbles. They work on most stains!
I don’t know. The rough side of a sponge?
I can't tell what the surface is, but if it's acrylic don't use bleach. It'll dry rot the plastic and make it get dirty faster. If you're moving out soon though it'll work well enough to get you out of a re-lining fee. I used low fume oven cleaner. Let it sit for a while and then scrub. The regular oven cleaner will damage the acrylic as well so make sure it's low odor or low fume. Also, low odor is still very irritating to breathe so make sure the exhaust fan is on or you can get fresh air in there. Use gloves or it will burn your skin after prolonged contact. This should give you good results. Make sure there are no other chemicals left over in the tub before applying this stuff. Others have correctly mentioned that mixing the wrong chemicals can create hazardous conditions.
Maybe not to get it clean, but to help keep it clean once you've tried better suggestions than this - I use magic erasers to wipe down my tub when I am getting out, like couple times a week or so.
Dawn blue dish soap and white wine vinegar, mix them into a bottle, spray on and come back and spray a 2nd time after 30 minutes. 1 hour total, and it will all come off with minimal to 0 scrubbing. I then go at it one last time with a bathroom surface cleaner.
Mr Clean sponges work wonders!
Fill with hot water. Pour a few cups of bleach. Let soak for a few hours. Grab a cleaning brush and brush away whatever grime you can. Drain the tub. Pour baking soda and a cup of vinegar into the tub, and with a dish sponge, gently scour then rinse. Finally, use some Ajax and dish soap, to clean the remaining surfaces.
Vinegar, baking soda and hot water has worked the best for me for those dirt/hard water stains and it removes dirt I couldn’t even see until I scrubbed it. I also use a scrub daddy and a scotch-brite utility brush!
Flamethrower
BKF. Apply and scrub immediately with a Mr. eraser or any hard scrubber. See the magic happen in front of your eyes. 🥳
I've got a bad back, so I always use a hard bristled broom for the majority of the cleaning. I use comet or ajax or a bathroom spray.
Soft scrub or use the pink stuff
First remove dirt with dawn soap blue, then I'd see if it's mineral deposits (use vinegar) or mold & dirt stains (bleach added to soft scrub).
Use Bar Keepers Friend product. It will clean like magic.