Cleaning 101: The Natural Way to Clean a Tub

Hard water stains & grime getting you down? Put down the caustics, pick up the best tub cleaner, and get a sparkling bathtub in minutes!

If you're not scrubbing your bathtub regularly, you might be sharing your bath with uninvited guests like dead skin cells, soap scum, bacteria, fungus, and yeast.

You don't need to break out the caustic ingredients: With a natural tub cleaner – and eight easy methods – you can keep things squeaky clean!

How to Naturally Clean Your Bathtub

You only need a couple minutes and a handful of products to achieve a cleaner bathroom. Try these steps to clean a bathtub.

Bathroom Cleaning Supplies

• Microfiber Clothes
• Natural Surface Cleaner
• Baking Soda
• White Vinegar
• Cleaning Brush
• Sponge
• Natural Stain Remover

• Take Everything Out of the Tub

Before you start cleaning, remove all toys, products, washcloths, and caddies (you can clean those later). Recycle empty product containers, wash/replace washcloths, and toss out small bits of soap.

• Wipe Down & Scrub Walls

Using your showerhead or a bucket full of warm water, remove any visible dirt and hair. Combine a small amount of water and baking soda until it forms a paste. Apply it to walls and tiles and spray with distilled white vinegar to clean. You can also use our Natural Surface Cleaner, then wipe them down with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.

• Clean Grout

Apply the baking soda and water paste, plus distilled white vinegar spray to grout. Once it stops foaming, scrub it with a brush and rinse with water. While scrubbing grout, pay extra attention to especially grimy areas (e.g. corners) where water tends to pool.

• Check the Drain

If it takes a while for the water to drain after showers or baths, there's probably a clog. And it's probably hair (gross!). Unscrew the plug then remove any clumps. If it's deeper down, try using a deconstructed wire hanger to pull it out.

Pro Tip: Pour ½ cup of baking soda and ½ cup of white vinegar as a natural drain cleaner down the drain. Run hot water for a few minutes to break up clogs.

• Start Scrubbing

Spray the bathtub with your multi-surface cleaner and let it sit for 1-2 minutes. Working from top-to-bottom, wipe it down with your microfiber cloth or use soft sponge. Finish up by rinsing remaining residue with the showerhead or a clean bucket of water.

• Tackle Build-up

Now it’s time to focus on any stubborn stains like soap build-up, hard water stains, dirt, mold, and bottle rings (which may require a bit more elbow grease) with your baking soda and vinegar paste. You can also spray them with Puracy Natural Stain Remover and leave it for at least 15 minutes. Scrub with a paintbrush or toothbrush, then rinse away any loosened grime.

Pro Tip: Use auto detailing brushes for cleaning grout and loosening tough stains.

• Make It Shine

Once the scrubbing is out of the way, give your tub a final dry and shine. Even a few swipes with a clean microfiber cloth should leave your bathtub clean, bright, and ready for use.

• Clean Items Before Putting them Back

Bacteria in your shower is definitely hanging out on your shower items. Be sure to wipe down bottles before putting them back.

To clean children’s tub toys, you can use natural dish soap, equal parts vinegar and water, or toss them on the top shelf of the dishwasher (make sure they’re heat-safe!). To inhibit mold growth, let them air dry afterwards.

Pro tip: When’s the last time you replaced your loofah? Throw them in the dishwasher every week and replace them every month. Or just switch to a washcloth.

• Clean the Surrounding Areas of the Bathtub

While the bathtub is now clean, don’t forget to clean the surrounding areas like the curtain and surrounding walls. You can use a diluted white vinegar solution and spray it on the plastic curtain and the walls and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing. Make sure the tub is spick and span by wiping it underneath, too!

How Often Should I Clean a Bathtub?

If your home only has one bathroom or hard water, you might need to deep clean your bathtub every week. For tubs used less often (or in guest bathrooms), a monthly routine might suffice.