How to Whiten a Bathtub

Washing in a bathtub can become a less than enjoyable experience when the tub itself is dirty. Because of the porcelain that many bathtubs are fashioned from, bathtubs can easily stain and rust over time. Regular soap and water oftentimes will not eliminate hard-to-remove stains from the porcelain surface, necessitating stronger cleansers and methods of stain removal. By selecting the right types of products and applying a little elbow grease, bathtub stains can be removed to whiten your bathtub back to its original hue.

Things You'll Need

• Liquid build-up remover
• Abrasive powder cleaner
• Bleach liquid cleanser
• Rubber gloves
• Old clothing
• Scrub brush
• Bucket
• Salt
• Turpentine
• Vinegar
• Liquid soap
• Abrasive sponge
• Old rag

Instructions

1. Wear old clothing that you don't mind getting stained with cleansers. Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands. Make sure that your bathroom has proper ventilation, leaving the door to the bathroom open and opening a window to prevent inhalation of chemicals.

2. Wash the bathtub with soap and water. Run the water in your bathtub first and fill up a bucket. Add a few squeezes of liquid soap. Dip an abrasive sponge into the soapy water and wash the tub and its enclosure, applying extra pressure to soap scum and removable debris. Run water in the tub, moving it around with your scrub brush. Dump the soapy water out of the bucket and refill it with clean water, setting it aside outside the tub.

3. Apply powdered abrasive cleanser to your wet tub. Shake the cleanser upside down to evenly distribute it across the bottom of the tub surface. Wet your scrub brush and use it to move the abrasive cleaner around the tub's bottom and sides until you create a bluish or whitish paste. Make sure all surfaces of the tub are covered, and apply an extra thick layer on areas with stubborn stains. Let the cleanser sit for 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse off as you scrub the surfaces of the tub. Rinse your scrub brush.

4. Clean the tub with a liquid cleanser (containing bleach) that is intended for bathroom or bathtub cleansing. Squirt the cleanser on remaining stains in the tub and let it set for 10 minutes. Scrub the tub with the scrub brush and cleanser in a circular motion. Let the cleanser sit for another 10 minutes and then rinse the tub and the brush.

5. Eliminate tough stains with a thick build-up cleanser. Pick up a cleanser made especially to remove rust, calcium and lime build-ups in bathtubs and showers. Squirt the cleanser on the stains that remain. Let the cleanser sit for 5 minutes, scrub the stain spots and then rinse the tub and brush promptly.

6. Try homemade cleaners to remove persistent stains and create shine. Fill a bucket with a few inches of turpentine and salt and use your sponge to apply it to stubborn stains. Let the mixture sit for 3 to 4 minutes and then rinse well with soapy water, making sure to also rinse your scrub brush. Take an old rag and dip it in vinegar, wiping it on the walls to cleanse and create shine.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep children away from the tub and bathroom as you clean. Never mix chemicals together, as they can interact to create toxic fumes and pastes that are harmful to the lungs and skin.