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Written by Grove Collaborative

How to deep clean a bathtub naturally in 4 steps.

Last Updated: August 5, 2021


It may seem straightforward, but getting your tub gleaming with minimal effort involves a few tips and tricks of the trade. Here’s how to deep clean to get rid of bathtub grime, germs, and stains with natural products.

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So why should you clean your bathtub?

The bathroom is one of the most-used rooms in your home. And as the most humid room in your home too, the bathroom is a breeding ground for bacteria, including E. coli, which can travel in microscopic droplets from the toilet to surfaces six feet away.


If that isn't convincing enough, then keep reading to learn more about why it's important to keep your bathtub clean to help your family stay healthy.

How often should you clean the bathtub?

How often you clean your bathroom depends on how often you use it.


If you use bubble bath in the tub with kids or your bathtub is part of an integrated shower, make cleaning it part of your weekly routine.


If you have a stand-alone bathtub, cleaning it every two weeks will do.


Here are some daily, weekly, and monthly bathtub cleaning tips to ease up your scrubbing load.

Daily bathtub cleaning tasks

After you bathe or shower, rinse away any soap or shampoo drips from the sides of the bathtub.

Weekly bathtub cleaning tasks

Wipe or scrub your bathtub along with the rest of your bathroom fixtures, including the toilet and sink.

Grove's sustainability tip

Go plastic-free with your cleaners

U.S. companies make 76 million pounds of plastic every day, but only 9% of plastic is recycled. At Grove, we think it's time to stop making plastic.

Keep more plastic out of landfills and the ocean by using reusable glass spray bottles and cleaning concentrates to refill them.


Grove Co.'s new Beyond Plastic line of cleaning concentrates and glass spray bottles are 100% plastic-free and save more than 12 tons of plastic from landfills in just one year.

Things you’ll need to deep clean the bathtub naturally

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How to deep clean a bathtub: Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Apply cleaners

Put on gloves and spray down the bathtub with your favorite tub and tile cleaner.


Make sure to get the bottom of the tub, the walls, and the top, including any surrounding tile.


Want to go all out and clean the grout too? Here are some tips.


Add a sprinkle of Bon Ami or another powdered cleanser to the bottom of the tub — especially around the bathtub drain, where stains can develop.


Let the tub cleaner and the powdered cleanser sit together in the tub for five minutes before scrubbing.



Step 2: Scrub it down

Use a scrub brush or an abrasive sponge and some elbow grease to scrub the bathtub and surrounding tile.


Pay special attention to any areas where mold or mildew may have accumulated, such as in the grout lines and corners.



Step 3: Wash it off

Thoroughly rinse the entire tub and tile to remove all dirt and cleanser residue.


If you have a shower attached, you can simply turn on the shower and spray down any cleaner. If you don't, use a bucket filled with water to splash off the cleaners.


Grove tip: Don't forget to clean the shower head too with these easy steps!



Step 4: Dry

Dry the bathtub completely using a microfiber cloth to help prevent water marks and streaks, especially if you have a glass shower door attached to the tub.


If you have a shower curtain, check out our guide for deep cleaning your curtain and liner too.


More of a visual learner? Watch a video of these steps below.


3 more bathtub cleaning tips & tricks

How do I clean tough bathtub stains?

If you've cleaned your bathtub and still see stains, make a paste of one part hydrogen peroxide and two parts baking soda.


Rub the paste onto the stain, and let it sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.


Learn more baking soda cleaning tricks in this article where Grove writers tested out this magical cleaner on 5 stubborn stains.



How do I remove limescale buildup in my bathroom?

In a reusable spray bottle, combine equal parts of water and vinegar. Spray the solution on the limescale build-up, and let it sit for 15 minutes.


Scrub, rinse, and repeat as necessary. You can also try Aunt Fannie's vinegar-based cleaner if you aren't the DIY type.


And find more tips and tricks to get rid of nasty, stubborn soap scum here.



Can natural tub cleaners also be antibacterial?

Absolutely. Natural brands like Method's Antibacterial Bathroom Cleaner can kill up to 99.9 percent of germs while remaining biodegradable, paraben-free, vegan, and hypoallergenic.

Find more natural bathroom cleaners at Grove

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