How can I get my bathtub to LOOK clean?

United States
January 4, 2007 10:02am CST
I have one of those ancient bathtubs. And all the enamel or whatever isn't there anymore and so every speck of dirt is visible! I've scrubbed and scrubbed an scrubbed, but it still looks dingy and unclean. It's like the darn tub soaks up everything that it comes in contact with. WHat the heck can i do? I'm embarrassed for people to see it! And even though I know it's clean, I still hate sitting my daughter in it, because it don't LOOK clean, yuck! Do you have ANY ideas-besides replacing it-that I can do????? Please help! Please I can't stand it anymore. BTW- I've used CLR, and just about everything else like that. Can I re-enamel it? Or will I just permantly be making it look dingy? What I mean is that I can't get it too look clean so if I could re-enamel it, will that make a whole new finish or will the stains show through?
4 people like this
37 responses
@jmcafam (2890)
• United States
4 Jan 07
You could try one of those Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Cleaning Pads.I have used those and they work pretty well.Good luck.
2 people like this
• United States
4 Jan 07
LOL...That is the only thing I use at the moment, but it's still not good enough. After one bath, all the stains come back again. The nasty people that lived here before us must of never watched their kids. They colored the whole tub with red and blue crayons. Not to mention the other nasty stuff that had been in there for months. We lived here almost 2 weeks before I would let the kids take a bath. I scrubbed it till my hands bled. I spent so much money on different stuff. Ahhh, it's so aggervating...I hate a dirty bathroom. Thank you for your response!
1 person likes this
@jmcafam (2890)
• United States
4 Jan 07
Wow. It sounds like a really stubborn bath. I hope that you are able to find something to help you out. I wish I were more help for you.
2 people like this
• United States
4 Jan 07
i love mr. clean i can't live without it!!!! but paint it with an oil based spray that should do the trick I did that in one house where the bathtub was really hideous and dingy looking, I painted it and since it was oil, it lasted and didn't chip.
1 person likes this
@birthlady (5609)
• United States
4 Jan 07
I think you can re-enamel old bathtubs. I do know that baking soda removes mineral stains from bathtubs. Get the tub wet,then sprinkle ALOT of baking soda on the tub surface. Let it sit there an hour or so. Then scrub! The baking soda will turn a yellow orange color as it absorbs the mineral stains on your tub. (hard water minerals stain the tub). Also, try a water softener devise, it might help in the future.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
15 Jan 07
My sister in law used toilet bowl cleaner once in her tub. Boy was she sorry. The fumes alone would almost kill you. Next time I ended up showing her how to use the baking soda on her tub to get it nice and sparkling clean of course I had to do the whole tub..lol Also whem my mom moved into a new house once the bathand shower was awful where the owners used to have iron water and it had the whole shower and tub covered in orange stains from the iron and she went and got a product called Iron out and it worked really well got all the iron stains out good.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
5 Jan 07
What you are saying about the drippy runny looking stains makes me think someone else got deparate and tried to use toilet boil cleaner on it,or lime away, that will eat the enamel like that if not rinsed. I think your best bet is to go to a paint store and get a paint designed to re enamel tubs. They cost more, but if you follow the directions it comes out okay. At least that is what someone who did this told me. Good luck. Then use baking soda to clean your new finish, or oxiclean type product (store brand, cheaper)
• United States
4 Jan 07
Well, I wouldn't call it "water stains". I know what you mean, I've lived in places where the water smells like eggs and turns your hair and clothes yellow. It's not that. It kinda looks like someone poured something in the tub that has ate the tub away in spots. Well, in runs. (you know like how a drop of water will run down and leave a trail) And the things is that when you put your dirty feet in the bottom, the dirt off your feet IMMEDIATELY soaks into the tub. So, I have to scrub the tub everytime someone takes a shower or bath. I'm going to go get a case of baking powder in a little bit, and maybe leave it on there all night? or is that too long?
2 people like this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
4 Jan 07
you are doing the best you can. so, it's not really dirty as you said. you just don't like the way it looks. this happened to us before. and my mom sprinkled baking soda over the tub. and let it stayed there for almost an hour. then, she scrubbed it of. it worked. and it looks cleaner and better after.
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
15 Jan 07
I would try the baking soda thing because I myself use baking soda to clean and it does do a good job. dampen tub sprinkle in baking soda and dampen a scrub brush and clean the baking soda makes it come cleaner and not to much elbow grease. Also I have found something I now use alot of lately and it's called Oxyclean or off brand oxygen but it cleans great to better then even baking soda. I would fill tub up with warm water and put in enough Oxyclean however much it suggest per gallon and a few good scoops extra for even better cleaning . The off brand Oxygen which I would use since your going to be using a good amount of it for tub. I would leave it in over night and clean the next day. and after it is clean and dry I would get a couple cans of clear enamel spray and and I would add a couple coats of it to your tub. You can get some clear enamel for about a dolaar a can from the dollar store or even cheaper from lowe's or a hardware store. I hope this helps.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
15 Jan 07
I was going to add but forgot to that using a bar soap is the worst hting for making a tub look dingy if you would go to body washes it isn't as harsh on your tub and less build up of soap scum.
@gfsunder (83)
• India
4 Jan 07
Elementary sister...get another bathtub and donate the old one to the local museum
• Ireland
4 Jan 07
You could try bleach. I use this in my sinks and in the loos. It stink terribly but it is works. Yes, you can also have your bathtub re-enamelled. I got mine done in my last house. It cost 150 euros and it came up looking new.
• United States
4 Jan 07
I'm gonna call and check some prices. I don't know how to convert euros to dollars. If I could get it done for cheap (like under 100-150) it would be worth it, even though this is a rental, ugh. But, I'm going crazy looking at it! Thank you for the response!
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jan 07
Bar Keepers Friend - Cleans great!
Go buy "Bar Keepers Friend". It's wonderful! My dad and stepmom had the same problemw with their tub. They hired a 'maid' to come once a month because my stepmom's back is having problems and suddenly the tub was CLEAN looking. They asked what was used and it was Bar Keepers Friend. I bought it and used it myself. It's amazing. It also doesnt have that harsh chemical smell. I got mine at Walmart so they pretty much sell it everywhere. I'll post a picture.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jan 07
That sounds like a great idea, I like new products all the time. I will get that also. By the way, how do you add a picture there? I posted photos on my page, but I am clueless as to how I can add them into my discussions.
1 person likes this
@rubypatson (1841)
• India
5 Jan 07
Other than replacement i dont know what to suggest as you seem to have tried everything
1 person likes this
• Philippines
5 Jan 07
you put water with chlorine then add the soap...make it lather then start clean it up im sure its effective because i did it...
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jan 07
paint it with an oil based spray paint, it will come out brand new, make sure your bathtub is clean first. that should do the trick.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jan 07
That sounds like a good idea.
1 person likes this
@limosonia1 (1559)
• United States
5 Jan 07
There is a kit at home depot that is 19.99 at least it was when I bought it. It's like a refinishing thing. All you have to do is clean the tub really good so there are no particles in it then spray the stuff let it dry and it looks refinished and new. So far it has been a year and my tub still looks good. It hasn't worn off at all. The only bad thing is that it has to sit and dry for 48 hours I believe. So unless you have another tub it might be hard to do.
1 person likes this
@nickventere (1420)
• Zambia
5 Jan 07
U cold also take it to tub manufatures for re-coating, or something like that. And they can fix it for you. In my country we have a firm called Mend-a-Tub and they do just that!
1 person likes this
@bramley13 (291)
4 Jan 07
i can easy solve this for you.i got an old bath as well,its been re done once but all the marks come back,and it looks dirty,but we know its clean as well. bleach is no good, baking soda is the answer. let bath dry,then pour soda into bath,rub with a dry cloth, keep rubbing,leave i hour,then rinse,it will come clean
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jan 07
yes, baking soda is always the answer, besides bleach and all those chemicals are harmfull for you your family and the environment
1 person likes this
@adnanmd2 (830)
5 Jan 07
Obviously keep ur bathrooms clean with Harpic . It works nice.. TELL ur servent to wash it everyday..!! Simple ans dat anyone wuld tell u ..
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jan 07
lmao, my servant????? lmaoooooo I'm the servant! And I do wash it everyday....still laughing....Tell my servant...ha ha ha
• United States
5 Jan 07
What about scrubbing bubbles? or what about those erasers??? those I use for everything, and they do get things clean. I don't know about re-enamelling...good luck.
@inovator (603)
• Philippines
5 Jan 07
maybe you need to use a chemical to clean that itchy thing...for example a detergent soap with chlorine,,it can help you!!
1 person likes this
@lucy02 (5016)
• United States
5 Jan 07
I have the same problem. I know they have stuff at Lowe's that you can reenamel with because my husband and I happened to see it and were talking about it one day.
1 person likes this
@nhtpscd (1416)
• Australia
5 Jan 07
I use shower power. It is great. Or mix bleach with plain flour into a pasr wipe all over leave then rinse that is what my gran used.
1 person likes this
@valmiki (84)
• India
5 Jan 07
The best and probably the only solution is that you clean it daily. LOL
1 person likes this
@magarboyz (568)
• Nepal
5 Jan 07
well if ur bathtub is ancient than dont clean ur bath tub... let it be like the way it is...let it be the ancient tub ...... some thing are good whn they are dirty so why dont u let it be dirty..
1 person likes this