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In this detailed guide, I will show you how to clean bathtub without scrubbing and how to use the best bathtub cleaner without scrubbing! A clean bathtub may not seem like a big deal but when you are staring down a grimy tub, it can be a real low feeling.
But who among us wants to get down on their hands and knees to scrub the entirety of a bathtub? Thankfully, there may be a better way. No more scrubbing, no more “elbow grease” needed to get out those tough spots.
Just spray on and gently wipe away the stains. You will then be able to keep a clean tub without the effort that it may have taken before.
Best Bathtub Cleaner Without Scrubbing
The best cleaning solutions are the ones that do the job for you. After all, the point is to avoid having to scrub, right? What good is a cleaner that requires you to do most of the work when cleaning your bathtub?
The good news is that there is a miracle no-scrub tub cleaner. Read on in the next section to find out what you can do to make that tub grime a thing of the past.
Is it Safe to Mix Vinegar and Dawn Dish Soap?
The best natural way to clean your shower or bathtub is a two-ingredient mixture. All that you need is a little bit of Dawn dish soap and some vinegar to create a safe mixture for cleaning your bathtub effortlessly.
All that you need to do is mix a cup of each together. The original blue is proven to work but it should work no matter what kind you choose.
Just keep in mind that the blue is unscented; if you want a different scent applied to your bathtub, just know the scent before you start spraying.
You need to pop your mixture into the microwave for about a minute or so. When you are done, just pour it into a plastic spray bottle and then coat the tub evenly. Just be aware beforehand that it has a pungent smell.
Let the mixture sit in your tub – 30 minutes to an hour should work just fine – and use a cleaning rag to wipe all of the grime away.
You won’t have to scrub in the least; the cleaning mixture does all the work for you. The difference can be quite astounding, especially if you haven’t cleaned your bathtub in a while. Best of all, it is really safe to use.
The good news is that you can use whatever type of dish soap that you want, though of all the soaps out there, blue Dawn has worked the best and most consistently so far.
There is even cleaning grade vinegar that you can buy inexpensively at your grocery store. It’s even less expensive than food grade vinegar and is meant precisely for jobs like this one.
How To Clean Bathtub Without Scrubbing
Keeping a clean bathroom might not be the most fun thing in the world, but it is a necessity. After all, how can we keep ourselves clean if we can’t keep our bathroom space clean? Here are a few tips to help you along the way.
- Black Mold
The worst thing that you can find in your bathtub is black mold. Not only is it gross, but it can present potential health issues as well.
Thankfully, you can get it gone without the need to scrub. Soak some cotton balls, cotton coils, or cloth strips in bleach water.
Apply them around the edges of the bathtub and let them sit overnight. It should pull up all of the mold by the time you wake up the next morning. Simple yet effective.
- Cleaning Bathtub Drains
The drains are perhaps the grossest part. Full of hair, soap scum, and other debris, it can be like a science experiment getting into the drain.
Unscrew the stopper, use some pliers to get the heavy-duty stuff out, and then mix some baking soda and vinegar into the drain.
After about 15 minutes, flush out the concoction. Not only does it clean and clear the drain, but it helps to disinfect it as well.
- Use Homemade Cleaners
There are so many different cleaning sprays out there that it can be difficult to tell the difference between them.
Not only that, but you wind up with a cabinet full of cleaners that are all supposed to do the same thing. As mentioned above, all you need is a little dish soap and vinegar.
It is a simple yet effective combination that takes the need to scrub and throws it out the window. You don’t have to shell out for expensive cleaners that do the job half as well as this mixture does.
- Bathtubs with Jacuzzi
Who doesn’t love sitting in a tub that has Jacuzzi jets? There is nothing quite like the feeling that those jets provide. Unfortunately, they are another spot for grime and gunk to live.
There are specific types of Jacuzzi jet cleaners out there that work to make cleanup easier. They are designed to get into the nooks and crannies of the Jacuzzi jets safely, getting all of the filth that can build up within.
- Removing Rust
Rust can build up over time, making a shower look grimy and old. With the aforementioned Dawn and vinegar mixture, plus a Magic Eraser, you can get your tub looking new again. All without having to get down and scrub.
- Magic Eraser
Speaking of Magic Eraser, all you need to do at times is a little touch up cleaning. Maybe getting out drain rings, tub rings, or other spots that can persist over time.
The magic eraser is great for tubs that have a light level of grime to them. Just a quick wipe and those rings and spots will be a thing of the past.
- DIY Tile and Grout Cleaner
The tub is one thing, but what about the tile and grout? Those can get just as dirty over time and require a good cleaning. All you need is some baking soda, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide to make an effective DIY cleaner.
- Powder Dish Detergent
Making use of household items can go a long way. Dishwasher powder can be a great way to keep your tub clean, especially if you have jets.
Just fill the tub up to about two inches or so and add a quarter-cup of powder dish detergent. Run the jets and let them do the work for you.
- Cascade Complete
This is quite similar to the prior method. If anything, it takes the guesswork out of which type of powdered dish detergent that you need to use.
Just add two cups of Cascade Complete to your partially filled tub, turn the jets on for 10 minutes, and let the tub clean itself.
- Vinegar and Baking Soda
If you are even remotely familiar with homemade cleaners, you know the power that each of these can bring to the table. So why not try mixing them together for the best cleaning power ever?
For jetted tubs, you just need to lightly scrub with baking soda, fill it with water and add in a couple of cups of vinegar. Then turn on the jets and let the bubbling commence. A great way to keep your jetted tub clean.
- Another Homemade Cleaner
Homemade cleaners are great for a few reasons. For one, you control what goes into it. For two, the ingredients are usually right in your home.
If you are looking for a great-smelling cleaner, try mixing Castille soap, baking soda, water, and your favorite essential oil. The great thing with this method is that you can pick a new oil for a new scent each time that you clean.
- Grapefruit and Salt
One thing you may notice in these homemade cleaners is that they have acidity to them. For that reason, a grapefruit that has been dipped in salt, can make for a great hard water remover.
The acidity, combined with the coarseness of the salt, can bring up even the toughest of hard water stains.
- Scrubbing Bubbles
Don’t feel like messing with homemade concoctions or a litany of cleaners? Scrubbing bubbles is the most effective cleaner that you can find. Just spray it over the surface of your tub and let it sit for five minutes.
The bubbles break down the stains, requiring nothing more than a quick wipe.
Conclusion
Knowing how to clean bathtub without scrubbing is as easy as you can see from my tips above and there are a number of mixtures that you can use to achieve this goal!
Hello, my name is David Zal and I’m a plumber with more than 20 years of experience based in Englewood (Florida). I like to teach normal people how to make easy fixes in their homes. I believe that a lot can be achieved just with DYI and that’s why I started this blog.