No one likes a dirty soaking tub. Luckily, with a little bleach, you can make your bathtub look like new again. First, rinse the tub with water first. Make a bleach mixture, then brush the tub. Rinse the tub again with water and dry with a towel afterwards.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning an Ordinary Soaking Tub
Step 1. Remove all items from the soaking tub
If you keep your loofah, soap, and shampoo bottles in the tub, remove them first. Store it on a table or other safe place so it doesn't interfere with your bleach cleaning.
Step 2. Rinse the tub
Turn on the hot water tap for a minute and wet the sponge. Turn off the tap afterwards. Use the sponge to wipe the surface of the tub. This will loosen the remaining dirt on the surface of the tub and can be removed more easily with bleach.
Step 3. Make a mixture of bleach and water
Mix 120 ml of bleach with 3.8 liters of water. Dip a sponge in the mixture and rub it over the surface of the tub. Wait for at least 5 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Step 4. Rinse the tub again
After the bleach mixture has been sitting in the tub for at least 5 minutes, dip a new sponge in cold water and rub it over the surface of the tub in a circular motion. Wipe the soaking tub dry with a towel afterwards.
Step 5. Make a baking soda paste to remove stubborn stains
If the tub still looks dirty, make a paste of baking soda and bleach in equal proportions. Apply the paste on the dirty or yellowish part. Wait for at least 15 minutes, then spray some water on the paste and use a damp sponge to wipe and lift off the remaining paste in a circular motion. Dry the cleaned area with a towel.
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning the Jet-equipped Soaking Tub
Step 1. Read the user manual
Some companies recommend closing the air control holes in the tub cleaning process. Meanwhile, other manufacturers suggest keeping the hole open. In addition, some companies also require (or prohibit) the use of certain cleaning products. Check the user manual to determine the best course of action to take.
Step 2. Fill the tub
Turn on the faucet. While filling the tub, add 120 ml of dish soap and 1 liter of bleach if the tub is very dirty. If the tub requires only a light cleaning, simply add a pint of bleach.
If the hot water from the tub faucet doesn't reach 60° Celsius, you will need to boil the water yourself using the stove to the right temperature, then transfer it to the soaking tub
Step 3. Start the jet engine
Run the engine for 20 minutes. After that, empty the tub by pulling the stopper at the bottom of the tub.
Step 4. Refill the tub
Turn on the faucet. However, this time you just need to fill it with warm water (even cold water will do). Do not add soap or bleach. Run the jet engine again for 20 minutes.
Step 5. Empty the tub
At this stage, all the remaining bleach has been drained. To be sure, wipe the surface in the tub again with a towel. This way, you can prevent skin irritation due to the bleach residue left behind.
Method 3 of 3: Using Bleach Safely
Step 1. Make sure the whitening product you buy is safe to use in a soaking tub
Do not use the product in tubs made of (or containing) iron. Bleach causes the iron to oxidize, leaving a red stain or line. You also shouldn't use bleach on an acrylic or enamel-coated bath, as bleach can damage the acrylic finish.
Some acrylic bath manufacturers allow the use of powdered oxygen bleach. Read the user manual or contact the manufacturer for information on products that may be used to clean the tub
Step 2. Open the room window
The smell or fumes of bleach is very strong and can cause respiratory problems when you use high concentrations of the product. Also open the bathroom door and turn on the fan if necessary.
Step 3. Do not mix bleach with other cleaning products
Mixing bleach with ammonia or vinegar, for example, can produce toxic gases. Chemical mixing like this can also occur on the surface of the tub. Therefore, wipe or lift one cleaning product before you use another cleaning product.
The only ingredient that can be safely mixed with bleach is water
Step 4. Protect skin and eyes
Bleach is harsh on the skin. To protect yourself, wear thick rubber gloves. In addition, wear eye protection such as protective goggles.
Step 5. Put on old clothes
Bleach can fade the color of the fabric. If you accidentally spill or splash bleach on your clothes, white spots will appear on the bleach-affected area. To keep your favorite clothes from getting damaged, wear clothes you don't mind getting damaged before cleaning the tub with bleach.
When wiping or drying the inside of the tub, use a white or other towel that you don't mind discolored
Step 6. Use baking soda and vinegar instead of bleach
If you want to use a lighter, eco-friendly material instead of bleach, try cleaning the tub with baking soda and a brush or rag first. Mix 900 ml of hot water with 200 ml of vinegar, then dip a brush or washcloth in the mixture and rub it back into the tub while focusing cleaning on hard-to-clean areas. When you're done, rinse the tub as you would if you cleaned it with bleach.
