Prep first
Before you start
- Work out the color and whether the stain is slimy or hard before you pick a cleaner.
- Pretest any remover on a hidden spot, since rust removers are strong acids.
- Don't use chlorine bleach on an orange or reddish-brown stain until you know it is not iron, because bleach sets and intensifies rust.
A bathtub can show orange, red, pink or blue-green marks, and each one usually has a different source. Rust-colored marks come from iron in the water or from rusting metal, pink slime is usually a bacterium, and blue-green marks are copper left behind by corrosive water. Chlorine bleach makes rust worse, so the color decides whether it belongs anywhere near the tub, and dull or scratched acrylic is a job for the manufacturer's repair service rather than harder scrubbing.
Pink stains in a bathtub usually lift with a regular wash, so try that before any stronger product. Blue stains on fiberglass need a softer touch than a scouring cleanser, so start with the gentlest option. If a rust remover made for hard surfaces hasn't worked after a couple of tries, call a professional.
Before you start
What bathtubs can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care4
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
7 items
What you'll need
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- Mild soapFor the first wash of the whole tub. (opens Amazon)
- Warm waterUsed for the wash and the final rinse.
- Soft brushScrubs the stain without abrasive pads. (opens Amazon)
- Household cleanerUsed with the brush on the stain. (opens Amazon)
- Soft clothDries the tub after each rinse. (opens Amazon)
- Chlorine bleachOnly for pink or red slime, as the last step. (opens Amazon)
- Rubber glovesNeeded for any rust remover, since they are strong acids. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Identify the stain and the tub
Orange and reddish-brown marks are usually iron, which bleach makes worse. Pink-red slime is usually bacteria, and blue-green marks usually come from copper dissolved by corrosive water.
Check what the tub is made of, since cast iron, acrylic and vitreous china each have limits. If you can't tell the material, use only the mild wash in the next step.
Step 2 of 6
Wash the tub with mild soap
Wet the tub with warm water, then wash the whole surface with mild soap. This clears dirt and film so the scrub reaches the stain itself. Work from the top of the tub down so the runoff carries the residue away.
Careful. Don't let cleaners soak on the surface, and rinse overspray off nearby surfaces.
Step 3 of 6
Scrub the stain with a brush
Apply household cleaner to the stain and scrub it with a soft brush in short, light strokes. Keep the area wet while you work so the cleaner stays active on the mark.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse and dry the tub
Rinse the tub thoroughly with clean water so no soap or cleaner is left on the surface. Dry it with a soft cloth, then look at the stain in good light.
Step 5 of 6
Decide whether bleach applies
Only pink or red slime should get bleach, because it is usually bacteria. An orange, brown or blue-green mark that is still there needs the set-in options or a check of the water instead.
Step 6 of 610 to 20 minutes
Bleach any pink slime last
Apply a chlorine bleach solution to the pink or red slime and leave it in contact for 10 to 20 minutes to disinfect the area. Rinse the tub well with water once that time is up, and dry it with a soft cloth.
Careful. Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar, lemon juice or acidic cleaners: it releases chlorine gas.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for orange on bathtubs
For orange stains on enameled cast iron, look for an acidic rust remover labeled for that surface, and wear rubber gloves when you use it.
Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser
RUST AID Bathroom Rust Remover
CLR Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on bathtubs, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
Pink or red slime should lift after the bleach and rinse, and the tub should look even when dry. If an orange or brown mark is still there after the wash and rinse, it is iron, so move on to the set-in options.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your bathtubs
Pink in a bathtub or tub
Pink-red slime is usually a bacterium, so bleach is the step that matters for this color, unlike orange stains. Wash and rinse the tub first so the bleach reaches the slime directly.
Give the bleach its full 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing, then dry the tub with a soft cloth.
Blue on fiberglass and porcelain
Blue-green marks usually come from copper dissolved by corrosive water, so the washing steps may not clear them alone. Start with the mild soap wash, then rinse and dry the tub.
There are no specific rules here for fiberglass or porcelain, so if you can't confirm the material, stick to mild soap and warm water. Skip abrasives, solvents and bleach until you know what the tub is made of.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
An old orange or red mark on enameled cast iron may need more than washing. For occasional rust, use an acidic rust remover made for that surface and follow its label exactly. Wear rubber gloves for the whole job, because rust removers are strong acids and oxalic acid is poisonous.
Stubborn stains on cast iron can take an abrasive cleaner, used sparingly and always with water. Dull or scratched acrylic needs repair from the manufacturer, so don't keep scrubbing it.
Set-in marks may lighten without disappearing, especially on an old tub with deep iron staining. If the mark stays after a full set-in attempt, call a professional rather than trying stronger chemicals.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on orange on bathtubs?
Match the cure to the color before reaching for a remedy, since bleach makes orange iron stains worse. Here is where each one stands and why.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't scrub acrylic or vitreous china with abrasives
Abrasive cleansers scratch and dull acrylic and vitreous china. Stick with mild soap and a soft brush, which the steps already call for.
Don't use steel wool on cast iron
Steel wool, wire brushes and abrasive pads are off the list for cast iron. A soft brush and household cleaner are the safe substitutes.
Don't use solvents or ammonia on the tub
Solvents are off the list for acrylic, cast iron and vitreous china, and ammonia can damage the finish on vitreous china. Airjet acrylic baths can't take full-strength bleach. Keep ammonia off airjet acrylic too.
When to call a professional
If the tub is acrylic and dull or scratched, contact the manufacturer's customer service for repairs instead of scrubbing harder. On cast iron, improper cleaning can void the warranty, so check its terms before you use a strong remover.
Questions
Why does my tub have pink stains?
Pink-red slime in a bathroom is usually the bacterium Serratia marcescens, not a dye or a rust stain. Bleach works on it, but only after the tub has been washed and rinsed.
What causes orange stains in a bathtub?
Orange to reddish-brown stains are most often iron from water or from rusting metal. Iron oxidizes when it meets air, so a stain like this is treated with the wash and the set-in options.
How do I remove purple or blue shampoo stains from a bathtub?
Orange marks on a tub are most often iron, so don't assume shampoo residue is behind this one. Start with the mild soap wash and the brush from the steps, then rinse and dry. Skip bleach and abrasives until you know what the mark is.
Are blue stains in a bathtub from copper?
Usually, yes: blue-green marks come from copper dissolved by corrosive water. Wash and rinse the tub first, and if the blue returns after cleaning, the water is the likely cause and worth checking.
Is a green stain on a tub the same problem?
Green falls in the same blue-green group, so copper from corrosive water is the likely cause. Use the same wash and scrub steps, and leave out bleach unless the stain is pink.
How do I stop pink stains from coming back?
Wipe the tub down and dry it after every use, since the bacteria need moisture to develop. Check that any routine cleaner suits the tub material before you use it.
Orange on other materials
Other stains on bathtubs
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.