How to clean a bathtub without using harsh chemicals

• Set a weekly or bi-weekly cleaning schedule to keep your tub free of mold, mildew, and soap scum.
• To remove stubborn stains, scrub with a paste of dish soap and baking soda.
• Avoid abrasive cleaners, as they can damage or scratch the surface of many bathtubs.

Cleaning a bathtub isn't difficult, but ignoring a dirty tub makes it harder to clean. Doing so is also potentially bad for your health, says Vera Peterson, president of Molly Maid.

"Bathtubs can accumulate a lot of germs, mold, mildew, and gunk," says Peterson. "The buildup is mostly due to all the body oils, soaps, and bath bubbles you put in it on a regular basis."

According to Peterson, maintaining a regular cleaning schedule and removing soap scum buildup will help grout and glass stay cleaner for longer. Generally, Peterson recommends deep cleaning your tub on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

While how often you need to clean a tub will vary by frequency of use, bathroom traffic, and the type of material a tub is made of, it's inevitable that your tub will get dirty, says Peterson.

"The bathroom typically ranks as the room in the house most in need of a deep cleaning, even if kept tidy. It simply gets too much use to remain spotless for long," Peterson says.

Before you begin

When it comes to cleaning a bathtub, there are some materials you absolutely want to stay away from. To start, Peterson stresses you should be very careful with the type of drain cleaner you use.

"Caustic drain cleaners (those that contain potash or lye) are extremely corrosive to organic materials and many metals. While they may clear out a clog, they can also damage everything else that they come in contact with," she says. If you happen to spill one on your tub, it could corrode the material and stain.

How to clean a porcelain tub

One of the most common tub types, porcelain can be easily damaged as a result of heavy impact or frequent use of harsh products, says Peterson.

Avoid using abrasive cleaners when cleaning a porcelain tub, as they can chip away at the surface of the bathtub, says Peterson. Other products to avoid include scouring powder, white vinegar, and steel wool, all of which can damage the bathtub's finish.

First, fill a bucket with hot water and pour it over the tub to wet the surface. Next, in the bucket, make a non-abrasive cleaner by combining ½ gallon of hot water and 2 tablespoons of dish soap.

Use a sponge to scrub all bathtub surfaces with the water and soap mixture, adding more of the hot water and soap to the bucket as needed. When the tub is clean, rinse the surface with clean hot water. With a clean dry cloth, polish the faucet, drain, and shower handles.

How to clean an acrylic tub

Acrylic plastic can be easily damaged by the effects of chemicals and abrasive materials, and requires special care, says Peterson. To determine whether your tub is acrylic, look around the tub's edges to see if they appear thinner. If so, it may be acrylic. Acrylic also feels warmer to touch than fiberglass, and tubs made of acrylic have smoother finishes and come in many colors versus typical white porcelain.

To clean an acrylic tub, Peterson recommends beginning by using warm water to wet the bathtub. Pour a small amount of baby shampoo onto a damp rag or cloth and rub the surface of the bathtub in circles. Rinse the rag and repeat until the bathtub is clean and spot-free.

After the bathtub is clean and dry, Peterson says you can make the surface sparkle with a can of car wax (available at hardware and home improvement stores.) Using a clean rag, apply wax in circles to the bathtub surface, as if you were waxing a car. Allow the surface to dry, then buff with a dry cotton rag.

How to clean a fiberglass tub

Peterson says it's important to take special care when cleaning a fiberglass bathtub, as the material is not as durable as others. Fiberglass tubs are notorious for their color fading on the bottom over time. If you see that the bottom of a tub is more discolored than walls, that's a good indicator it's fiberglass, says Peterson. Also closely examine the edges of the tub, and if they're thin, the tub could be fiberglass.

Make a shower cleaner by mixing one-part hot water, ½ cup of your favorite dish soap, and enough baking soda to form the mixture into a paste. Keep adding baking soda to the mixture until it easily sticks to the wall of the bathtub. Using a sponge, apply the mixture to the tub and let it stand for at least 30 minutes. Then scrub the bathtub vigorously with the sponge, and use cold water to rinse the tub. Wipe away excess water with a paper towel. Finally, use a Magic Eraser to wipe away any remaining stains and dirt.

Other bathtub parts to clean

Cleaning a bathtub doesn't just involve cleaning the tub surface. Cleaning caulk and grout and tackling mold, mildew, stains, and slow drains should all be part of a regular cleaning routine.

How to clean a bathroom drain

Clogged drains can cause unpleasant odors and make bathtubs unusable. To keep a bathtub drain clean and clear, use a mesh drain catcher, says Peterson.

If your bathtub drain is slow, sprinkle four tablespoons of baking soda, followed by two cups of vinegar into it, she says. Once the bubbling stops, flush the drain with boiling water.

How to clean caulk and grout

Dirt and soap scum build-up can make caulk and grout look unsanitary. Clean caulk and grout with Peterson's tips for sparkling crevices and sealants.

First, remove all items from the shower or tub, then remove all items from the tile floor. Vacuum or sweep the floor.

Next, liberally apply a tile and grout cleaner using a scrubby sponge to spread it evenly. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Scrub the tiles with the scrubby sponge again. By this time, the mixture will have had time to loosen dirt, making cleaning easier. Use a grout brush (or old toothbrush) to scrub between tiles, then rinse and dry with a clean towel.

How to remove stubborn bathtub stains

After you've taken the necessary steps to clean your specific tub, there might still be a few remaining trouble spots. To clean these, make a paste out of baking soda and water, apply to the stain you want to treat, and let it set for a few hours, says Peterson. When it's dry, wipe away the paste.

How to remove mold and mildew

Mold and mildew can appear as black spots or streaks of red, green, or brown on tub tiles, floors, and in corners. The unsightly fungi tend to build up in moist, humid environments.

To remove mold or mildew, Peterson says to start by filling a spray bottle with hot water and four tablespoons of bleach. Spray this solution on the affected areas, and let it soak in. While the bleach is soaking in, spread baking soda throughout the tub. The bleach in the solution will kill fungus, while the baking soda will help remove surface build-up.

Scrub both the bleach solution and baking soda with a sponge, then rinse with hot water.

Insider's takeaway

Cleaning a bathtub isn't hard, but ignoring a dirty tub makes it harder to clean. Prevent mold, mildew, and soap scum build-up by setting and maintaining a regular cleaning schedule. Most tub types can be damaged by caustic cleaners so it's often best to stick with a combination of dish soap, hot water, and baking soda for stubborn stains.