Porcelain enamel bathtubs are unarguably the most beautiful, stylish, luxurious, and durable tubs. However, nobody would refute the fact that nothing can be more disgusting than a stained, scratched and worn out bathtub donning some ugly spots on it! There are various types of bathtubs stains which appears in yellow, brown and black colour. In this article, we are going discuss about causes of stains on bathtub and how to clean stained porcelain bathtub.
What Causes the Brown Stains in a Bathtub?
The reddish-brown stains in your tub are caused by dissolved iron and other minerals in the water, which oxidize with oxygen. After settling on the tub’s bottom, it forms the stains.
If your tub has these stains, you don’t need to worry yourself out. What you need to do is to keep a cleaning schedule and use stain-removing cleaning agents. By doing so, you’ll keep the brown stains at bay.
If a porcelain enamel bathtub has undergone years of use or neglect, it is bound to look not just dull, dingy, and discoloured but will also become a safe breeding ground for the bacteria and germs.
However, by deploying proper methods and materials for cleaning the porcelain bathtub, you can tackle one of the most difficult part of owning it!
Yes, the toughest part of owning a porcelain bathtub is cleaning it. Now, you can give a sparkly clean look to the bathtub by putting to use some effective materials and easy hacks.
What Causes Yellow Stains in Bathtub?
If you are seeing yellow stains on bathtub, this is may be caused due to natural organic material known as tannins. The water turns yellow and gives off a terrible odour. Yellow stains also caused due to hard water and oil deposits presence in hair gel or shampoo. When these products mix in the bathtub over time and accumulate over time, they cause staining.
You may wondered how to remove yellow stains from enamel bathtub. Well, to get rid of yellow stains from bathtub, you need vinegar, baking soda, lemon and salt.
Bathtub Cleaning Materials
The materials you will need are:
- Baking Soda – It’s used as a stain remover.
- Vinegar – It’s used to clean drains naturally and for it to work effectively, you’d need to combine it with baking soda.
- Dish Soap – When combined with water, a dish soap makes an excellent cleaner.
- A Bucket – It is used to keep cleaning chemical mixtures and water separate from other domestic uses.
- Tub and Tile Cleaner – It’s used to get rid of mineral build-up.
- Soft (nylon) Sponge – A soft nylon sponge is recommended as it is non-abrasive.
- Lemon Oil – Lemon oil repels soap scum and also gives your bathtub good smell.
Tip: It is always advisable to avoid using abrasive materials while cleaning your porcelain enamel bathtub. Keep at bay things like steel wool, white vinegar, and scouring powder, as they can chip or ding the surface.
How to Clean a Enamel Bathtub?
Enamel Bathtub Cleaning is a herculean task for many homeowners as it requires to be done with a lot of care, lest you damage it. However, following the steps below on how to clean a porcelain bathtub and you will be able to meet your expectation.
Step 1: Dump Hot Water in the Tub
Use a bucket to dump hot water in the bathtub and allow it to drain. Hot water speeds the process. Use the mixture of white vinegar and baking soda to clear the clogs.
Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda
Sprinkle some baking soda all over the wet tub to clean away grubby stains and build-ups. You can also use a tub and tile cleaner for faster and deeper cleaning, especially if the tub is filthy.
Step 3: Scrub Down the Bathtub
Fill the bucket again with hot water and add some tablespoons of dish soap. Using a soft sponge and dish soap, scrub the tub all around. Rinse away the washed patches. Use a stiff cleaning brush to clean them stubborn stains, if any.
Step 4: Rinse the Bathtub
Use a shower head to rinse the bathtub immediately after scrubbing out the dirt. Do not let the dirt and the soap scum harden in the tub. You can also use the bucket for rinsing by filling it with water and pouring it over the bathtub as you clean.
Step 5: Give it a Shine and Add a Protective Coating
As a finishing touch, use a little cleaning product you had used to clean the tub. Then, use a clean cloth to polish the handles, the faucet, and also around the drain. To keep the sink clean for a longer time, use lemon oil to repel soap scum and other dirt. Here is how you should do it;
- Take lemon oil and squeeze a small amount of it onto a clean rag.
- Into the porcelain bathtub sides, rub the lemon oil as you avoid the tub’s bottom to prevent slipping.
After you’re done with this step, you’ll appreciate your work as the tub will look sparkling clean and will also have great fragrance.
Things You Should Avoid While Cleaning Your Bathtub
Avoid some of these common mistakes so that your bathtub keeps shinning for a longer time.
- Never use steel wool, complex tools, or scrub pad to scrub or rub the bathtub surfaces as they can cause cracking of the bathtub and start showing scratches or marks.
- Avoid leaving your shampoo bottles or soap in the bathtub, as this might cause more marks and stains to emerge. These products also contain acids which might cause cracking of the bathtub and growth of bacteria.
- Never use paint thinners as they too have properties that can damage the tubs.
- Never focus on cleaning only the dirty area of the bathtub. Instead aim for a germ-free and cleaner bathroom as a whole and when you clean the bathtub, make sure you are cleaning the sides, inside the structure, hidden areas and all around. This will ensure that your bathtub is free from any bacteria and stains.
- Make sure your shower curtains match your bathtub. When the shower liner hits the bathtub, the area is extensive and can be an easy mould and mildew breeding ground.
How to Remove Stains From Bathtub?
Does your bathtub have tough-to-remove stains? If yes, worry not, follow the steps below, and you have accomplished one of the toughest tasks.
- Cover the stains with salt.
- Squeeze half lemon juice on the targeted areas.
- Using a clean sponge, scrub the mixture of the salt on the stain and then remove it.
- Leave the salt mixture on the stain for about an hour and repeat the process with some more lemon juice if it doesn’t yield the desired result.
- Now you can rinse and wipe your bathtub clean.
If the above steps did not work for you, don’t give up. Here is another quick way that won’t disappoint you.
- Wet the bathtub with water and sprinkle the entire area with baking soda.
- Fill a bucket with water and dish soap.
- Using a scrub sponge, scrub the tub off to remove the stains. A tub and tile cleaner can also go a long way.
With little extra efforts and care, the elegant porcelain enamel bathtub can last for a lifetime and you can have soothing and relaxing spa every time you step into the tub. Go on and keep the shine as long as it can!
Just in case you have any other methods on how to clean a porcelain bathtub, do leave a comment behind.
And before you leave, don’t forget to read below blogs too:
Bathroom with Bathtub | Good Idea or Regrettable Trend!
How To Spruce Up A Bathroom – Easy Bathroom Cleaning Tips
Image Courtesy: Image 3, Image 7, Image 8, Image 12
Author Bio
Fidelis Kinai – Fidelis Muti possess a bachelor’s in English and Journalism and have over four years of professional experienced writing and proofreading materials for print and online platforms, including newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs, and social media accounts. He also have over three years of experience as a marketing assistant and social media manager.
He is versatile and diligent and will produce exemplary content within time to meet your deadline.
He can deliver most work within 2-3 days; rush orders are accepted whenever possible. He is based in the Kenya but travel often and work for clients all over the world.
