How to Clean Old Dirty Bathtubs

Clean an old bathtub with vinegar and baking soda.

You may notice that there is a ring that encircles all of your old bathtub. Stains caused by sweat and grease will appear in any bathtub in time. Using harsh cleaning chemicals will likely remove such stains from your old dirty bathtub. The chemical cleaners may also stain or even damage an old bathtub. A combination of two household items will remove any stains from an old bathtub without causing any damage to the tub.

Things You'll Need

• Tub stopper
• White vinegar
• Water
• Baking soda
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Remove everything from the bathtub, including any hair and other items surrounding the tub's drain.

2. Plug the drain with a stopper.

3. Pour about a gallon of white distilled vinegar into the bathtub.

4. Fill the rest of the tub with hot water. Using water from your bathtub's faucet is fine. Leave the liquids in the bathtub for 2 to 3 hours.

5. Remove the stopper from the bathtub in order to empty the tub.

6. Sprinkle baking soda over any stained portions of the bathtub. You should need between 1.5 and 1 cup of baking soda.

7. Scrub the bathtub with a wet sponge after about 30 minutes. Then, rinse the tub thoroughly with water.

8. Inspect the bathtub. Repeat the process, beginning at Step 2, if the bathtub is still dirty.

References

• TLC: Uses for Vinegar: Cleaning Your House
• The Vinegar Institute: Uses & Tips
• Vinegar Tips: Cleaning With Vinegar