How To Make Your Jetted Tub Sparkling Clean

Since we already solved the dilemma of the alcove bathtub vs. freestanding bathtub, we can verify that your newest issue will be the problem of ensuring that they keep their exquisite sparkling white color. I mean, beyond a dirty kitchen, the next most disgusting thing is a dirty bathtub. Just thinking about it gives us the shivers. Gross.

Not to worry, because as always, we at House Digest are here to save the day. Today, we will be sharing all of our tips for maintaining a sparkling jetted bathtub, which, according to Miss Mustard Seed, it could take about thirty minutes to three hours — give or take — on a recurrent basis.

The primary purpose of cleaning and retaining the white incandescent glow of your bathtub is because no one wants to be grossed out and everyone prefers to impede health hazards and ensure the tub lasts long. Of course, now that we know this, all the stuff you need is some simple equipment like a microfiber cloth, dishwashing liquid, and vinegar. Ready? Let's go!

The first thing you want to do is wipe down visible debris with a washcloth. While this might sound unpleasant, remember that it's for the greater good; it was you who grimed it, after all. Or, think about the repercussion of not doing so: plumbing costs of blocking your drain or jet streams. We don't mean to worry you, but yeah, that's one of the disasters that could happen, as noted by American Home Water & Air.

Moving on, fold your washcloth or hand towel and wipe all the dirt in sight. If you feel grossed out, you can always use a pair of plastic gloves to make things easier, writes Vileda Malta. Another option is to suck all the dirt inside the tank of a vacuum cleaner. The only problem with this is that you'll spend more time emptying the tank and cleaning the vacuum cleaner than wiping the tub with a cloth.

The next thing to do is to fill your tub to the brim with water. Then, open the tap, and let it all flow out. FYI, this could be warm water or cold water. However, Molly Maid explains that it is important to do this soaking in warm water as opposed to cold water because heated water would soften all of the stains and grime and make them receptive to the cleaning agents when you eventually add them in. 

The ideal time for soaking is about 10 to 15 minutes. But if the stains on your tub are annoyingly tough, you can let it sit for up to 30 minutes. As a preventive measure for people with sensitive skin (especially for skin that reacts to warm or hot water), it's essential to wear a garment that covers the entire body before engaging in this cleaning task to avoid getting burnt with hot splashes. 

The next thing to do is to add your cleaning agents. And no, we do not mean dishwashing liquid. Here we mean your bleach, which will lift off the essential oils, perfumes, scented candles, and soaps you used all month long in your bathtub. The bleach will also make your bathtub ready to be scrubbed, as noted by Clorox.

If you're particular about our planet, we also have eco-friendly alternatives for you. A measure of 2/2 distilled white vinegar will do the trick perfectly fine. And if getting distilled white vinegar is unfeasible, Badeloft USA suggested a mixture of baking powder and regular vinegar as an alternative. According to them, baking soda helps to remove scum and mildew, while regular vinegar will lessen the possible damages that can be done to your tub during the scrubbing process. That makes sense, right? Let's move on to the next step.

The next step is to drain the tub of the solution of warm water and cleaning agent after it has soaked for a cumulative time of about 30 minutes. Gold Star Maids says that at this point, you'd have fewer amount of grime to deal with, and you might even see the changes visible already, but that's not the time to stop.

So, go on and turn on the jet streams again — this time, it's okay to use cold water — as this will ensure that everything stuck in the streams comes right out. Some solid dirt may need to be scooped out into a waste bin. In that case, you can use a waste packer or a scoop. And just if you don't have any of those, put on your gloves and collect the solid dirt with your hands. With that done, drain the tub once again and get ready to scrub, as recommended by Grove.

Now, it's time to get your hands dirty, literally. Using the sponge, scrub the sides of the bathtub, working your way from one end to the other, per Molly Maid. This should be done in an organized and uniform motion if your plan is (and should be!) to get the entire jet tub sparkling white. To do this, simply scrub from top to bottom on one side, move to the other, and work your way up from the bottom again. Continue this way until you're okay with the condition of all four sides of the jet tub.

The best way to clean the creases and cervices, like jet rims and drains, is to use an old toothbrush to scrub them clean. Other alternatives include wrapping the dental floss around the jet rims and pulling at both sides like you are flossing teeth till the icky dirt pops out, says Build with Ferguson. Finally, rinse the tub and you're good to go.

As you know, and we love to reiterate, prevention is always better than the cure. So, why wait till your jet tub turns off-white before you decide to clean it? Instead, to keep your jetted bathtub sparkling white, take care to run fresh water through it after every use. This way, you get to wash off body dirt, essential oils, soaps, etc., preventing discoloration over time.

Essentially, while this is a preventive measure, the step-by-step guide to cleaning the bathtub that we highlighted earlier should be done twice a month, says Aqua Living. Another importance of this tip is that it will take time for your tub to get dirty, and even when it does, it won't be grossly dirty. What does this mean? Well, you'll never have to wash your tub every time, and it will be an easy wash whenever you have to do it. How sweet!

We get the thrill and your need for essential oils for the ultimate bath experience, either with a companion or as a form of self-care. It's absolute bliss, and we understand. But if you can, avoid the essential oils. As we at House Digest recently discovered, struggling to clean them eventually is no fun for anyone. However, where you'd still love to maintain the aura, you could use other products like fragrance oils or herbal infusions as recommended by the experts at Leaf.

These alternatives are recommended because they do not cause discoloration to your tub, unlike essential oils. That said, mixing fragrance oils with carrier oils will do no harm to your bathtub, with carrier oils made of coconut, olive, sunflower, and jojoba being the best to use, Prevention says. So now that your jetted bathtub is sparkling white, you can run yourself a warm bath and splurge!

If you've ever had some black flaky stuff floating all over your bathwater like they owned your bathtub, we can bet that you were annoyed, angry, or just piqued. Who wouldn't be? According to the experts at Today, the black residue is merely the coagulation of biofilms, dirt, mildew, etc. Now you don't have to panic. Instead, simply call an expert to clean it out for you.

However, you can prevent this situation in the future by soaking your bathtub in warm water every other day after use. US Inspect says that this is a sure-fire way to keep all of the mildew and gross bacteria at bay. And according to Certified Mold Assessments, other ways to prevent mold growth in your tub are always maintaining the tub free of items, keeping the tub dry when not in use, and providing ventilation to your bathroom.