Home / Housekeeping / General / Surprising Ways To Clean A BathtubSurprising Ways To Clean A Bathtub  43 Comments    Print     EmailThink your old, grungy bathtub is beyond repair? Then this is the tip is for you! If nothing seems to bring it to a shine, you can try spraying a layer of oven cleaner on the surface.I have an old bottle of Easy-Off in my chemical crate and the back label reads:…is ideal for barbecue grills, NON-ALUMINUM and NON-CHROME pots, pans, skillets, fryers, drip pans, etc.Also cleans surfaces of porcelain enamel, stainless steel, undecorated ceramics, and concrete.For white porcelain surfaces that are hopelessly stained and you don’t have the cash for a refinishing job, I found this does do a good job lifting grime. Make sure you open the bathroom window first to ventilate the room as much as possible and wear a face mask if you find the fumes overwhelming.You will see the foam ooze out black and brown grime. Let it work for a few hours before rinsing off.

The chemicals are very harsh so I would only use this if nothing else works. I did use this myself once on a 20 year old tub that was deeply stained and it worked like a charm. I can’t say if it damaged the finish at all or if it had any undesirable long term results but as a non-expert, I didn’t notice any ill effects.I don’t know if this is safe to use on colored porcelain, but you can test a small area if you’d like to find out.Tip: If it’s a plastic or acrylic bathtub that has hard to remove stains, try soaking laundry detergent in it for a few hours–this can do wonders too!Update: Here’s a cautionary note sent in from a reader:I used three fourths of a can (Easy Off) making sure every inch was was covered and it didn’t work at all and it took off all the color on my new brass colored drains on the tub, making them all turn black.Although none of the hardware discolored when I used this method, it’s something to be aware of (test a small area first just to be sure).

Kickin SoakHere’s a “miracle paste” you can try plus details for using a laundry detergent soak.Fill the tub with hot water and add 2 to 3 cups of powdered laundry detergent. Drain then wipe down with a hot, wet sponge.Laundry detergents that work well for this task:Tide, Ivory Snow, Cheer or any detergent that has enzymes.Miracle PasteIf things are particularly grimy, here’s a paste you can try*:Make a paste with baking soda and bleach, then apply to wet sponge to scrub off grime.Rinse well then voila! To scrub down the shower walls and tiles, use the bleach and baking soda paste with a nylon scrubber, rinse well.*Don’t use if you’ve applied ammonia or ammonia based solutions to the tub.DecalsPeeling off old decals reveals a sticky mess or dark dried up glue underneath. Here are a few different methods to remove them, get that gunk up and surfaces back to a shine.If the decals don’t pull off easily, fill the tub with very hot water about 1″ deep with a cup of white vinegar poured in, soak for several minutes until the water has cooled enough to comfortably put your hands in (but still very warm).

Then take a plastic scraper (or old credit card) and gently try prying an edge of the decal up and then pulling it off completely. Drain the water and dry the surface.You could also try heating each decal with a hair dryer and then pulling it up once the glue has melted underneath. all natural carpet cleaner powder*DO NOT DO THIS* if there is any water in the tub! las vegas pool tournamentI feel silly just typing that–but–you know.what does it cost to acid wash a poolHow To Remove The ResidueMethod #1Cover each gunk spot with a paper towel, then saturate the towel with vinegar. carpet steam cleaner home depot rental

Press the towel firmly on each spot to make sure the gunk is soaking in the vinegar. Leave alone for a few hours (keep pouring on vinegar if the paper towel starts drying) then remove and rub each spot gently with baking soda and a wet cloth. ways to clean pool filtersThe gunk should wipe up easily.best steam cleaner for carpet 2014Method #2Rub in petroleum jelly and leave it sit for an hour. Then take a hot, wet cloth and work the jelly in and then wipe up.Method #3Slather mayonnaise on each spot, cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for a few hours. Wipe away mayo and if some residue is still stubborn–rub gently with some baking soda.Method #4Make a thick paste of cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide, slather it on decal residue. Cover with plastic wrap and allow it to sit for an hour. Then take a wet cloth and work in the paste until residue is gone. 

Print     Email Published: February 19, 2007Updated: August 7, 2012User ReviewedHow to Clean Grout Between Floor Tiles Four Methods:Using Baking Soda and VinegarCleaning with Oxygenated BleachCleaning Grout with Hydrogen Peroxide, Baking Soda, and Dish SoapCleaning Grout with a Steam CleanerCommunity Q&A Even after mopping, tile floors with dirty grout may still look messy. You can make your floors look fresher by cleaning the grout between the tiles. This wikiHow will show you how to do that. Apply a paste made from baking soda and water to the grout. Spray it down with diluted vinegar. Scrub it with a brush, rinse it, then wipe it dry. Pour a solution made from oxygenated bleach and warm water onto the grout. Scrub it with a brush, rinse it, then mop it up. Use a brush to scrub a paste made from hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap into the grout. Rinse it out, then mop it up. Rent or purchase a steam cleaner. Steam the floor following the instructions on the cleaner.

Make a paste of baking soda and water. Mix 3 parts of baking soda to 1 part water to make a thick paste. This versatile cleaner will work with all colors of grout, but vinegar can be harmful to some natural stones such as marble or limestone. Apply the paste to the grout lines with your finger. Although the baking soda isn’t harmful, wearing rubber gloves can help prevent scratches or irritated skin from the abrasive grout and baking soda. Make a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Wait for the solution to stop bubbling. Scrub the grout lines with a brush. Use a nylon bristled scrub brush, or a toothbrush, to scrub along each grout line. Pay close attention to corners and edges to make these areas clean as well. Mop the floor with plain water. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of oxygenated bleach into 2 cups of warm water. Test a hidden corner of the grout before cleaning the entire floor. Pour the oxygen bleach solution onto the grout.

Use a nylon bristle brush to scrub the oxygen bleach solution into the grout lines. Allow the oxygen bleach solution to sit on the grout for several minutes for optimum results. Scrub the grout with the brush back and forth. Be sure to scrub in corners and around the floor’s edges as dirt and grime tends to accumulate here. Dip the brush into the oxygenated bleach powder to increase cleaning power. If you find a stain that is darker or more noticeable, a stronger solution of oxygen bleach can be made by dipping your wet brush directly into the oxygen bleach powder. NOTE Pour a small amount of the powder into a separate container to avoid mixing water into your main container of oxygen bleach powder. Rinse the floor with water and dry.Mix ¾ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tablespoon dish soap. This highly effective paste cleans the grout in three ways:[3] The baking soda works as a natural abrasive to scrub the grout. The hydrogen peroxide chemically reacts with the baking soda releasing bleaching oxygen ions.

The dish soap helps loosen dirt and remove grease. NOTE: The bleaching action of the chemical reaction may affect colored grout. Test a hidden corner before cleaning the entire floor. Apply the paste with a nylon bristled brush. Let the mixture sit on the grout for 15 minutes. Rinse the grout with warm or hot water to remove all of the solution. Pour a small amount of water directly onto the tile floor to rinse the solution off the grout. Use caution as wet tiled floors can be very slippery. Use a rag to wipe the grout to remove any leftover residue or dirt. Mop the floor with clean water.Steam cleaners can effectively clean and sanitize all types of tiles and grouts as there are no chemicals involved. Visit your local home improvement store to find a machine to rent or buy. Make sure that the steam cleaner you acquire has the proper attachments for cleaning grout:[4] Follow the manufacturer’s directions to assemble and fill the steam cleaner.