3 Best Materials and Approaches to Clean Bathtub in 2023

~“Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”

Whether it is as important as food preparation or just keeping our surroundings tidy, cleaning has become an integral part of our life. Cleanliness gives satisfaction to the work when we are done with it. The same thing can be said for our bathroom. One of the most important areas in our household must be clean to keep our families free from illness. There are various approaches to cleaning a room, especially your bathroom. But when cleaning a bathtub in your bathroom, there are things you should know before starting the cleaning project. This article will discuss the materials and approaches you can take to clean bathtub. 

Types of Bathtubs:

Before we dive into the process and cleaning materials, it is best to understand the different types of bathtubs available in the market. Predominantly, two popular types of bathtubs are available in the market: Freestanding bathtubs and clawfoot bathtubs. There are other types of bathtubs, such as deep soaking tubs, alcove tubs, corner tubs, drop-in tubs, and flat-bottom tubs. The actual type of bathtub does not have any noticeable impact on the cleaning process. But it helps in the cleaning approach for your bathtub. 

Types of Bathtub Materials:

Bathtub materials play a major role in cleaning. Some materials are much more prone to degradation if you use the wrong cleaning materials/agents. First, it is best to see what popular materials-based bathtubs are available on the market.

First, acrylic-based bathtubs. Most affordable and, at the same time, available in various styles, acrylic-based bathtubs are probably the most popular bathtub material on the market. Acrylic can be manipulated easily and cast into the shapes that the trend demands. It offers great durability thanks to the fiberglass reinforcement, and the heat retention is also pretty good in acrylic bathtubs.

Second, cast-iron-based bathtubs. When it comes to durability, cast iron is one of the best. It is possible to get a tremendous amount of tub life (probably a decade or so), but the price of the tub is the factor to look out for. Cast iron can be expensive, but there is a possibility that you can get a tub at a reasonable price.

Third, copper-based bathtubs. The king of heat retention, copper bathtubs are a great addition to your bathroom, bringing a luxurious feeling. Copper has some maintenance approaches that need to be followed in order to get a prolonged life (which we will discuss in the later part of this article). Apart from heat retention, copper has great durability and medicinal properties. Copper reacts with water and can help you to relax your muscles and improve your blood circulation. Same as cast iron, the copper bathtub is considerably expensive.

Fourth, the natural wood-based bathtubs. Known for its great medicinal properties, natural wood is the perfect material for soaking in a bathtub. Even though it has some great advantages, such as heat retention and a considerable number of wood materials and styles. There are also some drawbacks that you should consider if you want to buy one. First, wood requires keen maintenance in order to get a very long life. Next to stone and copper tubs, wood is heavy and requires the best-reinforced floor. Also, wood-based bathtubs are more expensive than copper bathtubs, but the bathing experience is unparalleled.

There are other materials, such as stone-resin, ceramic, porcelain, stainless steel, and enameled variants of those said materials. All these materials are noticeably high in durability, and come in various styles. Also, they are cost-efficient compared to other flagship bathtub materials.

Best Bathtub Materials and Approaches to Clean Bathtub:

Different bathtub materials have different reactions when it comes to contact with different cleaning agents. Let’s look at popular cleaning agents and how they react with different bathtub materials.

Baking Soda:

The first one is baking soda. If you ask anyone what cleaning agent they use to clean their bathroom and other areas, most people may tell you they use baking soda, and there is a good reason behind it. Baking soda is naturally a cleansing agent and helps fight against discolorization for some bathtub materials.

So, what kind of bathtub material negatively reacts to baking soda? The answer would be any bathtub that has an enamel coating on it. It is not recommended to use it since it can accelerate surface degradation down the line. Apart from enamel coating the bathtub, it is safe to use baking soda as the cleaning agent for your bathtub.

Approach:

Take baking soda and warm water (ratio of 1:2 for spot cleaning). Spread the baking soda all over the surface of the tub, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Take the warm water and wash it off from the surface of the tub. When it baking soda comes in contact with warm water, it starts to create bubbles and remove any stains from the surface. If the stains are deep, it is recommended to use vinegar and baking soda and perform the spot cleaning. Note: This approach perfectly fits for removing any mildew or discolored spots. 

Bleach:

Bleach is another popular household cleaning agent most people use. But steps need to be taken before you use the bleach as it is comparatively toxic. The first step is to ensure that your bathtub and surrounding areas are free from any cleaning materials, such as brushes and other add-ons. Make sure that there is no carpet on the floor since it can get damaged greatly.

Now, you may say that bleach is toxic, but is it okay to use it for cleaning purposes? Yes, you can use them for cleaning purposes with some precautions. In fact, when it comes to cleaning, it does speed up the process and gives the result better than baking soda.

So, what kind of bathtub material has a bad reaction when it comes in contact with bleach? Acrylic bathtubs and cast iron are highly reactive with bleach. It can lead to discoloration and causes some crimson tone on the surface (if the bathtub has an iron presence). Apart from that, if your bathtub has an enamel coating, it is recommended not to use bleach as the cleaning agent, as it can damage the surface and lead to minor scratches. 

Approach:

Wear all the protective gear, such as gloves and mask. Ensure the area is well-ventilated so that the toxic gas from the bleach can dissipate to the surroundings easily. Take bleach and water in a ratio of 1:10. Use the sponge to dip into the cleaning mixture and scrub the surface of the tub. You can also use this mixture to clean the drain. Pour half a cup into the drain, and let it sit for five to ten minutes. After that, pour lukewarm water into the drain, and ensure it drains properly. It is recommended not to use bleach frequently for cleaning purposes. It is best to use it twice a year in your bathtub. 

Vinegar:

The acidic solution removes foreign materials on the bathtub's surface and the bathroom floor. The properties of vinegar are more or less the same as baking soda. Also, there are no fixed precautions that you should take before the cleaning process. Vinegar is the best middle ground between baking soda and bleach. In fact, as said above, you can use vinegar with baking soda for a deep clean bathtub.

So, what are the materials that have a bad reaction with vinegar? The answer is minimum. Stone resins have a high reaction with vinegar since the acidic solution can damage the surface of the tub and reduce the tub’s finish. Apart from that, any iron or metallic material-based bathtub negatively affects the concentrated vinegar. In those cases, it is best to dilute the vinegar with water and use it for a clean bathtub. 

Approach:

The approach remains the same with the baking soda. Mix vinegar with lukewarm water, and scrub the bathtub's surface. For spot cleaning, it is recommended to mix it with baking soda for better results. For cleaning shower heads and the bathroom floor, it is best to use the baking soda mixture since it can lighten the discoloration and remove any minor gunk around the corner of the floor.

Cleaning Agent	Acrylic	Cast Iron	Copper	Natural Wood	Stone Resin	Porcelain	Stainless Steel	Enamel Coating
Baking Soda	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X
Vinegar	✓	✓	✓	✓	X	✓	✓	✓
Bleach	X`	X	X	X	✓	✓	X	X

FAQs:

Which is the best cleaning material for an acrylic bathtub?

Baking soda and vinegar are the best cleaning agents for cleaning an acrylic bathtub. It is best to use both as a mixture to deep clean the bathtub to get a better result.

How to perform a deep clean bathtub?

It is easy to perform a deep clean bathtub. Take the mixture of bleach and water in a 1:10 ratio and scrub the surface of the bathtub. This will help lighten the discoloration and remove almost all the impurities on the bathtub's surface.

How to clean bathtub and make it shiny?

Mixing baking soda and vinegar can help remove dirt and gunk from the bathtub's surface. This also helps to make the surface shiny and brings back the old original color. 

Final Thoughts:

The bathtub is a great getaway from the “real world.” Taking a dip in warm water and soaking for a longer period can recover your body and mind. Making sure that your bathtub is clean is the only factor that helps to get that great bathing experience. Looking for something new or want to replace your old bathtub? Magnus home products offer a great collection of bathtubs with a wide variety of styles and materials. You can visit the collection from here, and choose the best bathtub for you and your family. This article hopes to give enough information on the best materials and approaches for clean bathtubs.