How to Clean a Porcelain Tub

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Last Updated: October 23, 2022 References

A bathtub is one of the most critical parts of a bathroom and can set the tone for the rest of the room. For this reason, it's important that you always keep your bathtub clean. Porcelain enamel bathtubs are one of the most popular kinds of bathtubs to have. Full porcelain bathtubs are rarer and were popular in the 1920s. Regardless of what kind of bathtub you have, it's important that you follow the correct procedure and use the right materials to achieve a clean tub and to preserve the tub's surface.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing a Genuine Porcelain Tub

1
Mix ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of white vinegar with 2 gallons (7.6 L) of water. Using a 5 US gal (19 L) bucket, combine ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of white vinegar with 2 gallons (7.6 L) of water. Mix the solution together until the liquids are well incorporated.^{[1]
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- To test if you have a genuine porcelain tub, place a magnet to the side of the tub. If it sticks to it, then you have a metal tub with a porcelain enamel finish.
- Genuine porcelain tubs are more resistant to chemicals than porcelain enamel tubs.
2
Wipe down the interior of the tub with a damp rag. Get the initial dirt and dust off from the surface of the tub before you go back in to do a deeper cleaning. Identify noticeable stains that you can concentrate on when cleaning the tub further.
- You can also do this on a normal basis to keep the inside of your tub looking clean.
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3
Dip a sponge into the vinegar solution and wipe down the tub. Saturate a sponge with the vinegar solution that you just mixed and wipe down the tub. Scrub the sides and top of the tub and work your way down, eventually wiping down the tub basin. For harder stains, use a soft-bristled scrub brush or a toothbrush to scrub the tub.^{[2]
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Rinse the tub with warm water. Let the vinegar solution sit in the tub and break down the rest of the dirt for 5 minutes. Once you're done waiting, rinse the tub down warm water, making sure to catch all the dirt and gunk that you were able to free up from washing it with vinegar. You should wash your porcelain tub once a week.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning a Porcelain Enamel Tub

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Treat stains with hydrogen peroxide OR baking soda and ammonia. You can soak the area with hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes before scrubbing it with your dish soap and water solution.^{[4]
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- Or, you can combine ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of ammonia and ¼ cup (55 g) of baking soda and use the paste to scrub away the stains.^{[5]
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2
Combine hot water with dishwashing soap. Combine 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of dishwashing soap and mix the solution together in a large bucket. Once the mixture starts creating suds, you can use it to wash down your tub.^{[6]
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3
Wipe down your tub with the soap solution. Dip your sponge into the cleaning solution and cover the entirety of your tub, starting with the top and working your way down. Scrub harder on areas of your tub that are stained. Continue to soak your sponge in the solution and return to clean the tub.
- You can use a rag as an alternative to a sponge.
- Porcelain enamel is sensitive to harsh chemicals like bleach and vinegar, which can lead to further degradation of the tub.^{[7]
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Rinse the solution from your tub. Thoroughly rinse the tub until all of the suds go down the drain. You can use either a bucket with clean water, or the showerhead to rinse everything off.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Lemon and Salt to Clean a Tub

1
Cut a lemon in half. Get a lemon from the grocery store. The less ripe the lemon, the better, as you'll be using it as a scrubbing tool. Use a sharp knife to cut down the center of the lemon and remove any seeds that may be inside of it.^{[8]
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- You can use a grapefruit as an alternative.^{[9]
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Sprinkle the top of the lemon with salt. Use coarse salt with large granules so that your fruit has the most scrubbing potential. Sprinkle enough salt so that the entirety of the fruit is covered in salt. Repeat the process on the other half of the lemon.^{[10]
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Scrub your tub. Grab onto the piece of lemon and use the salt side to scrub down tough stains on your bathtub. Push lightly on the fruit so that some of the juice gets onto your tub. Once the lemon becomes flat and all the pulp has been squeezed out, use the other half of the lemon to continue cleaning.^{[11]
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- The lemon will also create a shine and add a protective coating over your tub.^{[12]
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Rinse your tub. Use the showerhead or a bucket of water to rinse down your tub thoroughly. Make sure to get all the lemon pulp and salt that's been left over out of your tub when you're done.^{[13]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do I clean blue-green stains caused by a dripping tap?

Brad Bane

Community Answer

Most corrosion problems show up as blue-green staining. The stain is copper deposited from the corrosion of the water piping and fixtures. The corrosion will eventually cause pinhole leaks in the water pipes. The most likely cause is low alkalinity, which typically results in low acidic (low pH) water.
Question

How do I remove the gritty dirt left on a porcelain tub from a bathmat that was left on bottom for a long time?

Stephanie Atilano

Community Answer

If you have any tough-to-remove stains on the tub, cover them with salt and squeeze the juice of half a lemon on top. Or, you can try two parts baking soda and one part hydrogen peroxide set on a stain for about 30 minutes. Use a clean cloth or sponge to scrub the salt mixture into the stain and remove it.
Question

I have yellow residue in my bathtub, what is best way to get rid of it?

Stephanie Atilano

Community Answer

For yellow stains, use vinegar. For yellow stains and soap scum, vinegar will do the trick. This is the preferred bathtub stain remover, to use on the delicate surface of an acrylic tub.