3 Ways to Clean a Bathtub So It Sparkles—While Standing
Cleaning the bathtub is one of those housekeeping chores that’s more pain than pleasure for those with health issues that make bending and kneeling difficult. So hard on the back and knees, that it just doesn’t get cleaned well. Here to the rescue are three very effective and efficient ways to keep any bathtub sparkling clean while standing—even a deep tub or jetted tub.
1. No-Bend No-Kneel Method
Use this method to deep clean a bathtub while standing—so it sparkles!
What You’ll Need
- Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid: Yep! You guessed it. You will need a bottle of our beloved Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid. You can substitute another kind of dishwashing liquid, but nothing cuts through grease, dirt, and scum like Blue Dawn. Why? Its proprietary formulation (only P&G knows the exact formula for sure) is loaded with surfactants.
- A clean broom: Make sure the broom is super clean, or you’re just going to transfer its dirt to the tub, and that makes no sense. A new broom you’ll dedicate to bathtub cleaning makes a lot of sense. Check the dollar store.
The Method
- Get the broom wet, shake it out, and set it aside.
- Squirt Blue Dawn around the bottom and sides of the tub, doing your best to hit any visible dirty spots. Using the broom, scrub the soap all around the surface of the tub.
- Last, rinse all of that soap, dirt, and scum down the drain. If you have a handheld shower wand, use it. If not, use a bucket or other receptacle you can fill and wash down the sides and bottom of the tub.
Looking for an upgrade?
One EC reader found a next-level way to take this method even further!
“I kept seeing this electric spin scrubber pop up on TikTok and finally caved—best decision ever. Scrubbing the tub used to leave me sore for the rest of the day, but now I just turn this thing on and let it do the hard work. The handle extends, so I’m not hunched over, and the spinning brush actually gets into the grime without me having to scrub like crazy. It even has different speed settings, which is great for stubborn spots. Honestly, I wish I’d bought one sooner!”
—Sarah J., EC Reader
2. Spray, Walk Away Method
For the best-ever bathtub cleaner, you have to try this Dawn dish soap and vinegar mixture.
What You’ll Need
- Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid: This stuff is so good, it’s practically the superhero of cleaning supplies!
- Plain white vinegar: Vinegar is a natural cleaning agent known for its versatility and effectiveness. Its acidic properties help dissolve tough stains and mineral deposits, leaving surfaces sparkling clean.
- Spray bottle: You’ll need a spray bottle to mix and apply your cleaning solution conveniently. Choose one with a nozzle that allows for easy and precise application, ensuring thorough coverage on surfaces.
The Method
- Open the bathroom window or turn on the ceiling fan. Or both.
- Add equal parts of dish soap and vinegar to a spray bottle, shake it up, and spray all over the tub and tile—sides, floor, and even the faucet fixtures.
- Close the door and walk away. Come back in an hour or so (longer if you have really tough stains). Rinse, no scrubbing required.
Look at that sparkling, clean tub!
Left with Rust Stains?
If rust stains remain after cleaning the bathtub, grab a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser! Get it damp, and then use it to wipe away those rust stains.
3. Jacuzzi-type Jetted Tub
Jetted tubs are particularly difficult, as hoses and internal plumbing can harbor mold and gunk that sits inside—out of reach and out of view—between uses.
Before proceeding, make sure you clean the tub floor and walls using one of the standing methods above. Then, clean the jets and internal plumbing to keep it all sanitary and free of gunk and debris that could be reintroduced into the tub for the next use.
What You’ll Need
- Automatic dishwasher powder or pods: I recommend Cascade Complete automatic dishwasher powder or any Cascade automatic dishwasher detergent pods. These options provide the cleaning power required to tackle stubborn stains and residue in your jetted tub.
The Method
- Close the tub’s stopper or drain plug
- Add 2 cups Cascade Complete powdered automatic dishwasher detergent or three (3) Cascade automatic dishwasher detergent pods to the tub.
- Fill the tub with the hottest water from the tap so the water level is at least 2 inches above the highest jets.
- With a clean broom, mop, or other suitable implement, stir and swirl the tub’s contents to dissolve the powder or pods.
- Turn the tub’s air jets on and let it run on high for at least 20 minutes or as long as necessary until it appears that all debris from the internal plumbing has stopped washing into the tub.
- Drain the tub and refill it with hot water a second time, at least 2 inches above the highest jets.
- Turn the jets on and let run for 5 minutes to make sure all of the residual dirt and detergent are flushed through the system.
- Drain and rinse well.
Resources
These household essentials can all be easily found at your local grocery or hardware store. Product images are for reference and may vary. Click on the images to check availability and pricing on Amazon.
Question: What are some other clever ways you’ve discovered to make household chores more manageable, especially when dealing with physical limitations like back pain or knee issues?
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Have used dawn now for years- another trick I use is marine grade boat/RV polish on my fiberglass tubs. I clean the tub/shower then apply the polish as directed. Marine polish only needs to be done a couple times of year more or less depending on how often the shower/tub is used. Now the grime doesn’t stick and with dawn the job is a breeze.
Great tip, Karen! Thanks …
have used your dawn mix on my shower stall, with the broom, and it is a stone assuming. the grout didnt come as clean as I’d like, reason?
also, have a shower mat with suction bumps on bottom – it gets filthy quickly, tried using the brook and mix, its not easy, is there a better/easier way to get to it, or just get a new one without the raised suction bumps? thanks! oldie and arthritic here….. dont use jet tub, how often should I clean it (I do clean the tub part weekly)….
Your grout is likely unsealed, and has become stained. You will need another method on that. I recommend spraying the grout with fresh hydrogen peroxide liberally, then sprinkling Bar Keepers Friend cleanser on the hydrogen peroxide. Allow to sit for awhile (30 mins at least). Use that broom to “scrub” the grout lines, then rinse well. This works like a miracle for white tile grout in my home, I think it will work well for you too.
have used your dawn mix on my shower stall, with the broom, and it is a stone assuming. the grout didnt come as clean as I’d like, reason?
also, have a shower mat with suction bumps on bottom – it gets filthy quickly, tried using the brook and mix, its not easy, is there a better/easier way to get to it, or just get a new one without the raised suction bumps? thanks! oldie and arthritic here…..
Mary, I moderate a group of Canadian and American folks with Rheumatoid Arthritis who would really benefit with this information. May I share this with them?
Thank you,
Nata Etherton
Oh yes, Nata! Please do and would you also give them a link to EverydayCheapskate.com We’d love for them to join us by signing up for the daily email!
I used the vinegar and Dawn mixture at a thee to one ratio on the tub in my upstairs bathroom. I let it sit for 5 hours and then used a broom to scrub. It was a really dirty tub. The results were magical. I will be using this once a month to keep the look.
I started cleaning my tub with a new/clean sponge mop last year! With COVID, I haven’t had my home health aide I have an autoimmune disease, and it feels like an unnecessary risk.) and I was desperate to clean the tub, but didn’t have the energy to do so. That’s when I remembered the new sponge mop head. It conserved energy while saving my back and knees.
ide
This post about washing the tub and shower with a broom and Blue Dawn has saved my back and knees if not my life! I clean and flip a huge vacation rental with 6 bathrooms, 5 of which have showers and tubs, one of which is more like a pool. It takes me hours to clean the place with the bathrooms taking the most time. This is what I did to try this out:
I used the vinegar/Dawn solution (3:1, vinegar/dawn) on 3 of them, and the Dawn alone on 2 to see which worked best. I used a new nylon broom. I sprayed down the vinegar/Dawn tubs about an hour later, and the straight Dawn baths immediately. It helps to have removable hand-held showers to wash down the walls.
My thoughts: both work well but prefer the straight Dawn mainly due to time. The latter works better for my work load, and you can clean and move on quickly. The outcome is AMAZING!!!! The walls are spotless as are the tubs. They PoP! which is super important in this biz. And it’s easy…No more cleanser or windex or leaning over the tubs. I’ll add that for the straight Dawn method, you don’t need to use very much, just a quick squirt across the bottom of the tub or shower. But like Mary said, make sure you either get the broom wet or squirt down the tub/shower in advance. I do the latter.
I ended up using the vinegar/Dawn solution ( again, 3:1 ) to clean the bbq’s and covers which were covered in tree goop and grease from use. I just sprayed them off afterwards with water. Again, amazing!
Thank you for posting this and thanks to whomever it was who thought this up!
Wow what great feedback, Randi. Happy to hear how this is working for it. It is remarkable and I like you choice of a nylon broom.
You didn’t specify the type of broom. I would assume not straw, but instead some sort of synthetic or plastic?
Try a sponge mop!
That is a lot of water to use to clean the jetted tub! Is there another way?
You dare not run the jets “dry” which means the water level needs to exceed the highest jet. Performing this deep clean occasionally is not a water guzzler in the big scheme of things. I’m guessing you don’t use your jetted tub often? This cleaning process would equal to two luxurious baths in your jacuzzi tub.
In this article you say use half vinegar half dawn, but in previous articles you say 1 part dawn and 3 parts vinegar. It seems like 1/2 and 1/2 is way too soapy. I’ve been using the 1 to 3 ratio and it works just fine.
I agree. I use the regular mix, as you mentioned, and it’s pretty darn soapy as is.