Don't Do This When Cleaning Your Bathtub

Cleaning the bathroom is very important for your family's health. This is because the bathroom is one of the most common places for mold, mildew, and bacteria to grow, which could make you or your family sick. According to Family Handyman, the bathtub is one of the dirtiest places in the bathroom. The tub is used every day to remove germs from our bodies –- and those germs may be building up inside your bathtub.

This is why having an effective method for disinfecting your bathtub is so important. You may think you have the best method for cleaning your bathtub. If you're using a cleanser or disinfectant, a microfiber cloth, scrub brush, or sponge, and warm water, you're on the right track. However, even if your method of cleaning the bathtub seems to work, you may not be thoroughly disinfecting your tub. That's because many people make one fatal mistake when they clean their bathtub -– and once you know what it is, it's super easy to never repeat it again.

When most people clean their bathtub, they begin by spraying on the disinfectant or cleaner. Then, they immediately scrub with a scrub brush, sponge, or towel, and then rinse. However, this is a mistake. Instead of scrubbing the tub right away, you should allow the disinfectant to sit for at least five minutes, per Yahoo. This is because the cleaner needs time to kill any bacteria in your tub. You'll also want to make sure you use enough of the cleaner to thoroughly coat the surface of your tub.

Another mistake you may be making is not cleaning your bathtub enough. Molly Maid says that if your bathroom is regularly used, cleaning it once a week is best. If it is not used as often, at least once a month is recommended. On the other hand, Family Handyman suggests disinfecting once a week and doing a deep clean once a month. Either way, when you clean your tub, be sure to allow the disinfectant time to kill bacteria before scrubbing and rinsing.

There are actually different ways of cleaning a bathtub according to your tub's material, as outlined by The Home Depot. If you have an acrylic tub, use baking soda or a mild cleaner and allow it to sit for at least five minutes. Then scrub, rinse, and wipe the tub clean. For tougher stains, you can soak the tub in warm water and vinegar for 15 minutes, then drain and scrub.

You can clean a fiberglass tub by spraying two parts vinegar and one part water onto the surface, then allow to soak for 15 to 20 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing the tub. If you have harder stains, soak a towel in vinegar and allow it to sit on the stain for one hour, then scrub. 

For a porcelain-enameled tub, equally combine water, ammonia, and baking soda, then scrub it into the tub and rinse. Place a rag soaked in lemon juice and salt on harder to remove stains for one hour, then scrub. 

Finally, if you have a stone resin tub, scrub the tub with a mixture of detergent and water, then rinse multiple times to avoid streaks. To remove stains, scrub with a cream stain solution.