Don’t let a dirty bathtub keep you from unwinding at the end of a long day. Keeping your bathtub clean is important for your own self-care routine, but it’s also necessary to prevent mildew or rust stains. Whether you're learning how to clean an acrylic bathtub or how to clean a bathroom overall, getting a squeaky clean tub should be quick and easy.
Prepping to Clean Your Acrylic Bathtub
Before you grab your strongest, most abrasive cleaners, make sure you know how to clean an acrylic bathtub. This material requires a gentler touch so that you don’t scratch it in the process. Even if you're hoping to remove rust stains from your tub, abrasive cleaners with acetone or bleach are not the way to go. Avoid steel wool or any other touch scrubbers outside of those with gentle plastic bristles. Some of the best cleaners for your acrylic tub can be found around the house.
These may include:
Baking soda
Lemon juice
Distilled white vinegar
Dish soap
Borax
Commercial cleaners approved for acrylic
Soak Tub to Remove Stains
If this is the first time you’re cleaning the tub in a while, and you need to get rid of some stain buildup, you can use vinegar and water. Plug the drain and fill the tub with hot water, then add 2 cups of distilled white vinegar. Let the mixture soak for 15 minutes, then drain the bathtub. If your tub doesn’t have a lot of stains and just needs its weekly cleaning, you can skip this step and move on to the next step.
Sprinkle Tub With Baking Soda
Baking soda is great for clearing off the dirt that can accumulate between tub cleanings. Sprinkle baking soda generously all over the tub. Don’t neglect the tub ledges and corners, where the ledges meet the bathroom walls or acrylic surround. Let the baking soda sit for about 10 minutes.
Scrub With the Baking Soda and Water
Use a damp sponge or microfiber cleaning cloth to begin scrubbing the baking soda. The moisture in the sponge or cloth will create a paste with the baking soda in the tub to help lift up dirt and grime. Give extra attention to corners and tub ledges, where grime has more potential to build up. Here, a soft-bristled brush may be beneficial for cleaning tough dirt spots without damaging the acrylic surface.
Use Commercial Cleaner for Remaining Stains (Optional)
Some stains might be too tough for your baking soda and vinegar cleaning mixtures. Fortunately, there are many all-purpose bathroom cleaners that are safe for acrylic tubs. After trying the baking soda trick, rinse it away, and then try a commercial cleaner.
Be sure to check the label and confirm the cleaner you want to use is safe for your tub, then follow the directions on the bottle to spray and scrub away tub stains. Always work in a well-ventilated area and never mix cleaners together.
Rinse and Dry
Whether you used just baking soda or you opted for commercial cleaners to deep-clean your tub, you’ll want to rinse and wipe down the area to prevent water spots or mildew. Run the faucet to rinse out the base of the tub, and use a clean, wet cloth to wipe down the walls and ledges of the acrylic bathtub. Then, use a dry, clean cloth to thoroughly dry the bathtub.
Tips For Cleaning an Acrylic Bathtub
Set yourself up for bathtime success by following a few tips on how to clean acrylic tubs. These pertain to both your weekly cleaning regimen, as well as removing tough soap scum.
Pre-rinse your tub before scrubbing to remove all dust, loose grime, and basic soap scum.
Start cleaning from the top down to avoid backtracking as you go.
Save time by soaking your tub and drain to break down soap scum.
Approach special metals with care, such as learning how to clean brass faucets and knobs.
Keep containers of baking soda and white vinegar under your bathroom sink that are designated for cleaning.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Clean a Bathtub
For a clean tub you can feel good about bathing in, you should plan to spend about 30 minutes at least once a week cleaning an acrylic bathtub. Cleaning this type of tub is DIY-friendly and requires items you probably already have in your cleaning caddy under the sink.
But if you don’t have much time to dedicate to cleaning or you just want to take the week off, you can hire a local professional cleaning service to clean the tub. Professional cleaners charge about $30 to $50 per hour, and between $85 and $170 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom home.
Finding the best house cleaner for you can take some time, so be sure to ask your family, friends and neighbors for recommendations, and chat with at least three pros before signing a long-term contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Acrylic tubs are easy to clean with simple items you already have around the house. You can use dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, cream of tartar, or borax to clean an acrylic bathtub. Avoid mixing any household cleaners, including common ingredients like vinegar and bleach, as this can create toxic fumes. It’s also best to start with a spot test of any cleaners you use.
Ammonia is a powerful household cleaner, but don’t use it for your acrylic tub. Ammonia or cleaners containing this ingredient can break down the surface of the acrylic bathtub and leave it with permanent damage. Instead, try a gentler store-bought acrylic tub cleaner, or a homemade baking soda cleaner.
When it comes to cleaning bathrooms, bleach usually comes to mind. But like ammonia, bleach can damage acrylic tubs. In fact, many tub manufacturers warn against using bleach on acrylic bathtubs, and doing so could void the warranty on your tub. Again, a gentler cleaner specifically made for acrylic tubs, or one of the homemade methods listed above, is your better bet here.
