How Do I Clean My Bath Tub??

Updated on April 12, 2010
N.G. asks from Antelope, OR
26 answers

Back in my "pre-kid" days I'd use bleach & scrub scrub scrub, now that my one year old son takes baths im afraid to use bleach because I'm worried that the bleach may still be in/on the tub surface? whats the best way to clean a tub without using bleach?? is there one? :)

3 moms found this helpful

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C.T.

answers from Dallas on

I use Soft Scrub with bleach and rinse with hot water very well. Like the previous mom said, I really don't get all the fuss over using cleaning products as long as you are thorough with rinsing.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.B.

answers from Stationed Overseas on

The only thing I've found that gets my tub clean is Magic Eraser. Then I just use a little disinfectant after for the disinfecting properties more than anything. Just rinse well and all is good.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

What about the Clorox Green spray and a Mr Clean Magic Eraser? That's what I use. And rinse, rinse, rinse.

1 mom found this helpful

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C.S.

answers from Salt Lake City on

there is NOTHING wrong with a good bleach cleaning on ANY surface as long as its rinsed. Besides, by the time bathwater is filled up, it'd be diluted to like 1/100,000 or less. You know you're suppose to mix a little bleach and water to soak toys and bottles? That's how many day-cares and homes keep items germ/bacteria-free ;)

4 moms found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

hi~
I use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
Here is some more info on non-toxic cleaning from http://www.greenamericatoday.org/pubs/realgreen/articles/...

“Bathroom surface cleaners: You can use the all-purpose cleaners recommended above or, for even simpler bathroom cleaning, use baking soda or borax as a scouring powder. For a softer scrub, Bond says to combine 1/2 cup baking soda with enough liquid soap to achieve a frosting-like consistency. You may want to add 5-10 drops of an essential oil for fragrance. Club soda works wonders on plumbing fixtures.

The Basic Ten

Stock your cupboards with these ten products, and you can clean just about anything:

1) White vinegar: An antifungal that also kills germs and bacteria.

2) Baking soda: Eliminates odors and works as a gentle scouring powder.

3) Borax: Borax, the common name for the natural mineral compound sodium borate, eliminates odors, removes dirt, and acts as an antifungal and possible disinfectant. Use with care around children and pets, as it can be toxic if swallowed.

4) Hydrogen peroxide (3% concentration): A great nontoxic bleach and stain remover, as well as a proven disinfectant.

5) Club soda (fresh): A stain remover and polisher.

6) Lemon juice: A pleasant-smelling nontoxic bleach, grease-cutter, and stain remover.

7) Liquid castile soap: An all-purpose cleaner, grease-cutter, and disinfectant. “Castile” means the soap is vegetable-based, not animal-fat-based.

8) Corn meal: Great at picking up carpet spills.

9) Olive oil: Makes a wonderful furniture polish.

10) Pure essential oils: Adding all-natural, organic essential oils to your cleaning concoctions can add wonderful scents to your housekeeping endeavors. Some—such as lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and tea tree oils—also may have antibacterial, antifungal, or insect-repelling properties. To find pure, organic essential oils, visit your local health food store or consult the “Aromatherapy/ Essential Oils” category of our National Green Pages™. Remember to use care with essential oils, as they can cause harmful reactions when ingested or put directly on the skin. Some are considered dangerous for pregnant women (To be safe and simplify things, stick with eucalyptus, lemongrass, and tea tree oils for all recipes below if you’re pregnant).

Good luck!

4 moms found this helpful
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T.R.

answers from Detroit on

I use Srubing Bubbles and Magic Eraser and Rinse Rinse Rinse with HOT water!

2 moms found this helpful
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C.R.

answers from San Francisco on

I recently discovered H2O at Home all natural cleaning products. They make a Clay Powder that is 100% Natural and biodegradable that can be used in the bathroom and kitchen to perfectly clean faucets, tiles, ceramics, ovens, etc... It's a direct sale company and it may seem expensive when you look at their products but you need only a tiny bit of the clay powder so it will last for a very very long time. I personally can't stand the smell of most cleaning products, even the "green" products and I didn't want my daughter being exposed to the fumes or touching the chemicals. I'm really happy with these products which have been used in Europe for years. They also make special microfiber cloths that you can use to clean everything from windows to the greasiest stove top with just water! I know it sounds like I'm trying to plug a product, but I don't sell this stuff and I don't benefit from any orders, I just am happy that I found something to clean my house quickly and safely! Here's the web address to check it out.
https://www.myh2oathome.com/A100047/

1 mom found this helpful
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B.R.

answers from Sacramento on

I avoid using bleach for personal reasons, but you should know that the recommended product for childcare centers to us to disinfect toys and surfaces is chlorine bleach solution that is nine parts water to one part bleach. That should tell you that if you choose to continue using bleach in your tub, it isn't going to hurt your son. Whatever you do use, you need to just be sure you rinse the tub well before bathing him.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from San Diego on

I use comet with bleach and scrub. Then rinse.

We spend at least 2 days a week in swimming pools, and that's in the winter. In the summer we're talking 6-8 hours a day in the pool 7 days a week. Seems sort of silly to me to avoid bleach products in the house, but be swimming in bleach for hours (the chlorine is one and the same, either in a bottle labeled bleach, or in a swimming pool).

1 mom found this helpful
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D.T.

answers from San Francisco on

Baking soda. Make a paste with some water. You can add a few drops of tea tree oil as a natural antibacterial. I always wondered why parents used bleach. I mean, what is growing in there? It's just soap residue and body oils - not ebola. :-)

1 mom found this helpful
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C.P.

answers from New York on

Tilex Soap Scum remover is the best cleanser I've found. I used it to remove years of grime and build-up in a 100+ yr old victorian tub. Just spray on, let it sit for a few minutes, and with a gentle sponge (plastic scrubbie or something that doesn't scratch, rinse it off). To keep it clean (as well as the tile walls, fiberglass enclosure and glass door) I use Method dishwashing liquid or simply Dawn on a sponge and it takes scum right off, leaving everything shining. Rinse well.

Be careful with the Mr Clean eraser, it is very caustic and can scratch delicate surfaces (use with gloves).

1 mom found this helpful

H.K.

answers from Gainesville on

i first use a magic sponge to get all the junk out and then if I feel it needs an added touch I use a toxin free cleaner. Tub n Tile from melaleuca works wonders and I love it!

A.P.

answers from San Francisco on

Baking soda is safe, effective, and it is very inexpensive. Use this link below to get other useful ideas.

www.thenewhomemaker.com/bakingsoda

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H.B.

answers from Redding on

I mix baking soda and borax half and half and use as you would a cleanser.

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M.R.

answers from San Francisco on

I spray vinegar after the bath and use a sponge to scrub/rinse before the next one (that warms up the tub too). I do this pretty much every night, so I usually don't have to use anything else. When I do the deeper cleaning, I add a little baking soda and vinegar and scrub. Tub comes out clean. Maybe once or twice a year I'll use bleach on the grout (and only if needed). They I rise it super well and spray everything with vinegar again and rise.

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L.D.

answers from Modesto on

No problem with bleach (preferably in a cleanser like Soft Scrub) as long as you rinse really well. I have no problems with Soft Scrub and it works great. Otherwise you can use baking soda/water paste or vinegar - whichever you think works better.

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T.S.

answers from Sacramento on

I try not to use chemicals to clean my house as much as possible (steam mop etc). I've found I can get the tub very clean using only a tiny bit of tub cleaner (like a tablespoon or less on a rough rag) if I use VERY hot water. Put on gloves so you don't burn your hands and then use a washcloth to rub clean hot water everywhere, then a little cleanser on the rag and rub circles around the walls and floor of the tub. Baking soda is also great for making a scrubbing paste.

If you have to use a little bleach, it's probably not the WORST thing in the world (I mean who doesn't let their kids swim in chlorine) and whatever's left will evaporate before you use the tub for baby, but limiting chlorine bleach in the house is a smart move anyway from a health standpoint.

Also, I'd say cleaning it more frequently than you would with bleach will make it easier to clean without the "big guns."

Hope this helps.

T.

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E.M.

answers from Bakersfield on

Hi Mama-
1. Clorox makes Green products- no bleach. 97 % natural.
2. Seventh Generation products- all natural, no bio hazardous waste, etc.
Really good stuff.
3. Baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda, scrub, rinse with water. Been used
for a LONG time to clean. You can use it anywhere, really.
4. Pure Castor Oil Soap. Get it at Target. I like the Almond one. Smells
really good and is all natural.
5. Cut a lemon in half and add salt. Use as a scouring pad/scrubber.
Smells good, cleans great. We have a tree that produces year round,
and makes this alot easier. But you could probably buy a couple and
scrub down a few times a month and it would be pretty cheap, too.
6. Vinegar (white).

A little elbow grease and all is well!

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S.R.

answers from San Francisco on

Ecover makes an all-purpose cleaner that works so well! You can get it at Whole Foods and othe natural stores. It is all natural so I don't worry about any negative effects on my son. This actually works so good we use it all over the house!

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J.R.

answers from Sacramento on

try "scrubbing bubbles", you spray it on and it basically does all the work...

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S.K.

answers from Sacramento on

I use commet and scrub. I also use a bleach bathroom cleaner on the ring and pink "mold" that comes up. It's not like using straight bleach and it gets the crud out.

C.C.

answers from Fresno on

Use bleach. It works and is not toxic. (They use it in our municipal water supply, for goodness sake!) If you would get into a pool with your child, then there is absolutely no issue with using bleach in your bathtub. The pool has a much higher concentration of chlorine than a bathtub that was cleaned in it. And unlike many other methods of cleaning, bleach kills just about every virus and bacteria there is. And... it's cheap! Like you, I've been using bleach to clean just about everything ever since my college days when I worked in a day care. Most day cares use bleach to clean everything (in a spray bottle, diluted 9 to 1). It is recognized by the Health Dept as being safe to use around babies and children. No need to switch away from that to using anything else. =)

K.C.

answers from Barnstable on

BOROX. Then rinse it well and if you are still concerned, wash it down with a little soapy water (dish soap).

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M.H.

answers from San Francisco on

I use Napisan, it gets the bath sparkling. Just put water in the bath with the napisan and leave for a couple of hours.

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J.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I use Bon Ami for this type of job... you can also use good old baking soda!

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C.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi Ninenine,
I think your question is a good one. I have always used Comet cleanser to clean out my toilets, sinks and bathtubs. I would make sure I rinsed the shower/tub out with hot water for several long minutes...
I too, would like to know how others clean their bathrooms....

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