Whether you want to relax and unwind with a long soak in a deep bath, or climb in for a quick dip when you don’t fancy taking a shower, time in the tub can be spoiled by a build up of grime and soap scum. 

While having a regular cleaning service will help keep your tub spotlessly clean no matter how often it’s used, if you prefer to do your own cleaning, or want to keep your tub clean between visits from a cleaning company, here are some things to think about when trying to achieve this:

What is the best time to clean the tub?

While this is almost entirely dependent upon how often your tub is used, and what type of products are being used in it, most households should be de-griming their tub on a weekly basis, and deep cleaning it monthly. 

Things you’ll need:

Gather together the following supplies before gloving up and diving in!

• A bucket
• Scrubbing brush
• Sponge or cloth
• Spray bottle
• Dish soap
• Baking soda
• Multi-purpose cleaner
• Old toothbrush
• Bleach

Once you’ve got the items laid out in front of you, you can start by following the instructions given below:

• Fill the bucket with hot water and pour it into the tub, covering the sides, too. 
• Then, sprinkle a good amount of baking soda all over the damp tub
• Fill the bucket back up with around a half-gallon of hot water and pour in a couple of tablespoons of dish soap
• Dip your sponge or scrubbing brush into the soapy water, and use it to scrub the sides and bottom of the tub
• For corners that are difficult to get your sponge or scrub brush into, use an old toothbrush
• If there are some particularly stubborn stains on the surface of the tub, you can sprinkle some baking soda onto your sponge or brush, and scrub until they disappear
• Once scrubbed, and ideally, gleaming and back to its former glory, you can hose down the tub with the shower sprayer, or refill the bucket and pour fresh hot water over it to eliminate any residue or remaining dish soap or baking soda. 
• Dry the tub off with a clean towel and polish up the faucet, drain and any handles

Should you be dealing with staining on or around your tub caused by mold or mildew, you can use the method outlined below to safely get rid of it:

• Add four tablespoons of bleach to a spray bottle filled with hot water, and shake to combine
• Spray the combination onto affected areas and leave it to soak in for a short while
• While you wait, sprinkle baking soda generously all over the surface of the tub
• Then, simply scrub away until all stains have disappeared

Remember that if using bleach anywhere on or in your tub, you must rinse the tub well before using it. 

When you consider what tubs go through, especially in busier households, it’s little wonder that they often get so grimy, so fast. Having a cleaning service work on your bathroom and tub when they visit is the best way to ensure a grime-free soak every time you step into your tub, but the method outline above will also work wonderfully well in their absence, or between their visits.