The bathtub. The sanctuary to run to and sink yourself into after a long hard day. And while you soak away the aches and tiredness of the day in the privacy of your bathroom, you’re not really that alone in the tub. That’s because your tub is one of the least clean spots in your home with it being infected with more than 1,000 bacteria per square inch. That’s a lot of bacteria you don’t want bathing with you.
Bathrooms, in general, are a very good environment for bacteria, fungus, and germs grow because of constant moisture. When you think about it, it’s actually kind of ironic that the soap and water that makes us squeaky clean doesn’t do the same thing in the bathtub. That’s because if you don’t give your bathtub a good weekly scrub, over time the minerals in the water, combined with soap molecules, form that layer of grime that we call soap scum.
So what happens in many cases is that your tub might look clean, but it’s really not, so you’ll find mold and mildew and other types of germs along bathroom tiles, the shower curtain, or under the floor mats. Mold spores are microscopic. If you’re starting to notice those black or dark green spots that means your bathroom and your tub actually has millions or billions of unseen mold spores.
While all this doesn’t sound pleasant at all, it’s not something that you can’t manage with a good daily routine and weekly wash down and keeping the entire bathroom ventilated.
We will help you right here and now by telling you 10 ways to keep your bathtub sparkly and shiny from the outside, while also keeping nasty bacteria away from you and your family.
1. Know your tub
It’s not about befriending your tub, but to know what material it’s made out of. When you know what it’s made out of, you’ll know better how to clean it. Some materials are prone to scratches or the color of the tub can fade with harsh detergents. For example:
Acrylic:It’s highly resistant to damage, such as staining, cracking, chipping and fading; yet, it can scratch.
Fiberglass:Despite its durability, fiberglass also prone to scratching, cracking and, over time, discoloration if using the wrong solution for it.
Porcelain enamel:This material can handle heavy abrasion, but vulnerable to chipping, which can cause the metal underneath (cast iron or steel) to rust. Using bleach has been out of the question since that will cause discoloration.
2. Rinse
After each shower or bath, make sure the tub is rinsed. This is a basic routine that every member of the family should follow. This will release the soap film that has developed and just send it streaming down the drain. This basically only takes a few seconds, but will save you a lot of time during scrub days.
3. Work your way down
Before scrubbing the tub, start with the wall tiles, the shower curtain or door, and chrome fixtures of taps and showerheads. If you have a detachable shower head, spray down the whole surface into the tub, then clean the tub.
4. Use a squeegee
After the wall tiles have been cleaned, use a squeegee to remove all leftover water. For the tub, you want to dry it with a clean dry cloth or a towel that will always be used for that purpose.
5. Use a broom for hard to reach areas
If your tub is big, then just jump right into it to get it cleaned as best you can. When you’re in the middle of the tub, with a solution or a bucket of water and soap detergent you’ll be able to reach all those areas that are hard to get to. If you have limited mobility, or just worried to slip while in the tub cleaning it, you can fill your tub with water, pour in some detergent and use a long handled broom or type of mop; either will do.
6. Let solutions sit for a while
When it’s time for a scrub, whatever product you’re using, let it sit awhile in the tub before actually scrubbing. You want to give a chance for the product to work and cut through that grime and scum so that you don’t have to scrub so hard.
7. Use vinegar
White vinegar is great for tackling these types of cleaning chores. Lots of people use a homemade vinegar based solution. Simply mix half a cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon of water. Using a spray bottle, spray wall tiles, tub and floor with the mixture. Allow the vinegar, water mixture to stay on tiles for around 20 minutes before a final scrub and rinse.
8. Exhaust fans
If you want to reduce the humidity that runs into the bathroom, then it’s time you install an exhaust fan. These fans should be on while taking a shower, and keep it running for a good half hour after taking a shower or bath to dry the air out.
9. Paste mixture
Stubborn stains need more elbow grease, but you can create a paste mixture of white vinegar with baking soda. It’s best to apply this paste directly onto the sponge for it to be more effective.
10. Routine cleaning
Regular cleaning of your bathtub should keep things under control and not let germs and bacteria run amok. These routines cleans don’t need any type of heavy or anti-fungus solutions. A routine clean just needs a regular bathroom cleaner, while anti-fungus solutions could be used every week or even just once a month depending on the conditions of your bathroom.
The bathroom of any house is supposed to represent cleanliness and should be a pleasure to enter it and not gross you out. There are simple ways to keep your tub clean by following regular routines that don’t take time; so simple that you might actually enjoy cleaning it. Well, maybe not enjoy, but you’ll enjoy your hot baths more knowing it’s just you in there, without any nasty germs or mold and mildew.