Cleaning Tips for Acrylic Bathtubs
Using traditional cleaning methods including acetone treatment and steel wool sponges is not recommended for cleaning the acrylic bathtub. These methods can significantly damage the surface of the tub. In order to clean your tub properly and keep it safe, you can use such products as baking soda, borax powder, shampoo and white vinegar. These things are absolutely safe not just for the acrylic bathtub, but for your skin as well.
Let’s dig deeper to find out how exactly you should use safe products to maintain the cleanliness of your acrylic tub.
How to Deep Clean the Acrylic Tub
No doubt, you can easily find commercial bathroom cleaners that can help your tub look spotless indeed. But these products often contain harmful chemicals that should not be used for cleaning an acrylic bathtub. So, using natural products is a much better option to clean your tub.
White vinegar can help you remove dirt from the surface of the bathtub and make it look new and sparkling again. You should take a spray bottle and fill it with warm water and white vinegar. After mixing the solution properly, spray it on the surface of your acrylic tub.
Let the solution settle down for at least 15 minutes. Then, you should take a microfiber cloth or a soft sponge to wipe the tub surface properly.
After the procedure, wash the tub with clean water and wipe it again with a dry cloth. Now you can enjoy the fantastic look of your acrylic bathtub.
Removing Mild Stains from the Acrylic Tub
The best thing about acrylic bathtubs is that they are easy to clean and maintain. You do not have to buy expensive commercial cleaners to remove mild stains from the surface of your acrylic tub. It can be done by using natural products.
Removing Mild Stains From An Acrylic Bathtub
Vinegar, baking soda and water would be enough to make your tub shine. Sprinkle baking soda on the stained areas of the tub. Then mix vinegar with water and spray the solution on the surface of your acrylic tub. Leave it for a few minutes.
After that you should take a soft sponge and scrub the surface properly. Clean and wash the tub to see how beautiful it has really become.
Removing Tough Stains from Your Acrylic Bathtub
Cleaning your acrylic bathtub on a regular basis is crucial. Otherwise, mild stains will turn into tough stains that are usually much harder to remove. But, even if you notice such stains on your tub, there is no need to worry.
Using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is an effective way to deal with tough stains on your acrylic tub.
Removing Tough Stains from Your Acrylic Bathtub
Make a cleaning paste by mixing one part of hydrogen peroxide and two part of baking soda. Put this paste on tough stains and let it sit for about 60 minutes. Then, take a soft sponge and rub the surface gently. After that, remove the paste and wash your acrylic tub with clean water. If the stains are still visible, you can repeat the whole procedure from the very beginning.
In fact, there is another method you can use to remove tough stains from the tub. If you notice that your tub is heavily stained, you can fill the acrylic tub with hot water and add 2 cups of vinegar to it. The acid found in the vinegar will quickly loosen the grime and dirt without damaging the surface of your tub.
Removing Hard Water Stains from the Acrylic Tub
In order to remove stains from your acrylic bathtub effectively, the first thing that you should do is to determine what type of stains you are dealing with. Very often, homeowners can see stains on the surface of their acrylic tubs.
These stains are usually caused by hard water. White vinegar will help you get rid of these stains within a short period of time.
You can pour white vinegar in a bowl and put paper towels into it. Then you should put the towels on stained areas. Leave paper towels for about two hours to do the job. After removing the towels, apply a cleaning paste made with baking soda and vinegar.
Let the paste sit for a few minutes. Then take a soft sponge to rub the stained area. And finally, remove the paste and rinse the surface of your tub.
Removing Rust Marks from the Acrylic Bathtub
It’s really unpleasant to see rust marks on the surface of your tub. Rust can make a very negative impression on your guests and spoil even the most fantastic bathroom design. But how can you remove those marks effectively and make your tub look fabulous again?
Make a paste using water and borax. Keep in mind that the paste has to be thick. So, you should add small amounts of water in order to get the right consistency. When the paste is ready, spread it over the rust stains.
Wait 25 minutes before rubbing the stained area. After that, remove the paste and rinse your bathtub properly. If you notice that the rust marks have not been removed completely, repeat the procedure again.
Other Products You Can Use to Clean Your Acrylic Tub
Apart from vinegar, baked soda and borax, there are some other products you can use to remove dirt from your acrylic bathtub.
When it comes to removing mild stains, lemon can be really effective. The acid found in the lemon can destroy bacteria and germs. Rubbing the surface of your acrylic tub with a cut lemon will help you remove soap scum quickly and easily.
Lemon juice can also help you get rid of rust stains that may appear on the surface of the tub. As you can see, lemon is a great cleaner that can make your bathtub look beautiful and smell fresh.
If you like to bake, you probably know what cream of tartar is. It is a powder-like, dry byproduct of wine production. Due to its acidic properties, cream of tartar can also be successfully used for cleaning a lot of things in your home, including an acrylic bathtub.
Other Products You Can Use to Clean Your Acrylic Tub
For removing stains, you can mix a few tablespoons of cream of tartar an add hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Apply this paste to the stained areas of the tub. Then, wash the bathtub properly. You will see how quickly and effectively the dirt will be removed from the surface of your tub.
Laundry detergent is another effective cleaning solution. This product can help you get rid of dirt, mold growth and soap scum residue and make your bathtub look shiny and fresh. It would be enough to take 1 cup of powdered laundry detergent, add water to it to prepare a thick paste.
When the paste is ready, spread it on the stained area. Let the paste sit for about 20 minutes. Then, you should take a soft cloth and rub the stains until you remove them.
You may also use liquid laundry detergent to clean your acrylic tub. Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent with a cup of hot water. Put the scrubbing brush into this mixture and rub the entire surface of your tub. And finally, rinse the tub with clean water. You can repeat the procedures again, if necessary.
Shampoo is also an effective bathroom cleaner. In fact, it can be hard to remove tough stains with shampoo. However, it still can make your acrylic tub beautiful and sparkling. You should wet the tub with warm water before starting the cleaning process.
Then pour a small amount of shampoo on a damp piece of cloth. Rub the surface of your acrylic tub. Rinse the tub and repeat the process if you think that your tub is not clean enough.
Things You Should Do When Cleaning Your Acrylic Tub
Before you start removing the stains from your acrylic tub, make sure that the tools you use are safe and will not damage the surface of the tub. You should also use homemade and neutral products that are safe for your bathtub as well. Open the doors and windows in your bathroom to keep it properly ventilated.
Do not forget to wear rubber gloves in order to protect your skin. Due to the fact that some chemicals can discolor and damage your clothes, wear old clothes while cleaning the bathtub.
Do not forget to test the products on a small inconspicuous area before using them on the entire surface of the tub. It will help you understand whether the cleaning product is absolutely safe and will not do any harm to your bathtub.
After using any cleaning product, wipe and rinse the bathtub properly to make sure that there is no residue left on the surface of the tub.
Things to Avoid When Cleaning the Acrylic Bathtub
When it comes to cleaning your acrylic tub, there is definitely the right way and the wrong way to do it. Using the proper cleaning products will help you extend the life of your tub. Plus, the bathtub will always look clean and sparkling.
But if you choose the wrong products, you run the risk of damaging the tub. In this case, you will have to repair or even purchase a new acrylic tub.
Things to Avoid When Cleaning the Acrylic Bathtub
When you buy a new acrylic bathtub always read the care instructions that come with the tub. It will help you understand how to take care of the tub to preserve its great look. The vast majority of acrylic tub manufacturers do not recommend using bleach and other abrasive cleaners.
Bleach is known to be a powerful disinfectant. However, it can damage and discolor your acrylic tub. Bleach can significantly damage your skin. Breathing in bleach fumes is dangerous as well. You should never mix this chemical with other cleaners because their combination may create toxic gases.
The combination of chlorine bleach and ammonia can even burn your skin. Keep in mind that mixing chemicals is extremely dangerous, especially if you do not have the appropriate knowledge on this subject.
If you have a colored acrylic bathtub, using chlorine bleach is not an option. In some cases, you may use powdered oxygen bleach to clean your tub.
When cleaning your acrylic tub, avoid using rough clothes and sponges. These materials can scratch the surface of the tub. Avoid using steel wool as well.
Maintaining Your Acrylic Bathtub
Some homeowners believe that an acrylic bathtub has to be cleaned only when the signs of discoloration become visible. In fact, you should clean your tub often, at least once a week. Remember that soap scum, grime and dirt build up and become very hard to remove.
As a result, you will have to spend a lot of time and effort to make your tub beautiful and shiny again.
Maintaining Your Acrylic Bathtub
You should also rinse the acrylic bathtub thoroughly after each use. It will significantly reduce the amount of buildup between your weekly cleanings and prevent mildew. It’s a good idea to remove any toys from the bathtub in order to prevent watermarks on the bottom of your acrylic tub.
Do not forget to clean difficult corners of your bathtub on a regular basis.
Keeping your acrylic tub clean and sparkling is not as difficult as you might think. Just follow simple care instructions and treat the tub gently to enjoy its convenience, great look and durability for many years to come.
Check out the articles below for further reading on how to properly clean and care for your acrylic bathtub:
How To Properly Clean An Acrylic Bathtub
Also, check out some more articles that we have written on acrylic bathtubs below:
7 Key Advantages of Acrylic Bathtubs
6 Steps To Choosing The Ideal Acrylic Bathtub For Your Home Quickly
