First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Put on rubber or disposable gloves before you touch anything.
- Gently lift off the solids without pushing them deeper into the surface.
- Rinse with cold water right away; don't start with hot water.
- Wash your hands with soap and water afterward.
Poop in a bathtub is a protein stain, so cool water gets the first pass before any soap goes near it. Residue that has dried on the surface is harder to lift than a fresh smear and may need a second round. Tubs differ in what they can take, and an acrylic surface, an airjet bath, enameled cast iron and vitreous china each call for a different level of care.
Go with a soft cloth rather than a stiff brush, since the surface type decides how hard you can push. Test any home remedy on a hidden spot first, because acrylic and enameled tubs respond differently. If a poop stain in the bathtub has set and won't budge, that's the time to call a professional rather than scrubbing harder.
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)
5 items
What you'll need
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- Rubber or disposable glovesKeeps the stain off your hands while you lift solids and wash. (opens Amazon)
- Paper towels or a soft clothLifts off the solids gently and wipes up the wash. (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid soapMakes the warm sudsy water for the wash step. (opens Amazon)
- SpongeCarries the clear water for the final rinse. (opens Amazon)
- Clean dry clothDries the tub after the rinse.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Check the tub's material
Find out whether the tub is acrylic, enameled cast iron or vitreous china, because that decides which cleaners are allowed. If you can't tell, use only the mild soap and warm water from the wash step and skip anything harsher.
Careful. Don't use abrasives or solvents until you know what the tub is made of.
Step 2 of 6
Lift off the solids
Put on your gloves, then gently lift off the solids with a cloth or paper towel. Work from the outer edge toward the middle so you don't spread the stain across the surface.
Tip. Roll the towel up and bag it, rather than shaking it out.
Step 3 of 6
Rinse with cold water
Run cold water over the stain as soon as the solids are off. Keep rinsing until the loose matter is gone from the surface.
Careful. Never use hot water first; heat makes protein stains harder to remove.
Step 4 of 6
Wash with warm sudsy water
Dip a cloth in warm water with a little mild liquid soap until it's sudsy. Wash the area gently, rinsing the cloth as it fills up, until the surface looks clean.
Careful. Don't let cleaners soak on the surface, and rinse overspray off nearby surfaces.
Step 5 of 6
Rinse with clear water
Moisten a sponge with clear water and rinse the whole area thoroughly. Keep going until no soap film is left on the surface.
Tip. Rinse the sponge often so it doesn't just spread the soap around.
Step 6 of 6
Wipe the tub dry
Dry the area with a clean dry cloth, then look at it in good light. If a faint mark is left, treat it as a dried stain.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for poop on bathtubs
Choose a mild liquid soap, not an abrasive cleanser, and check that the product is safe for your tub's material.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
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.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The surface should look clean with no smear once the clear rinse and dry wipe are done. If a shadow or film is still there, the stain isn't gone yet, so repeat the wash rather than moving to a harsher product.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your bathtubs
Acrylic tub
Acrylic doesn't take abrasive cleansers or solvents. Keep scouring pads and powder cleansers out of the wash, and skip aerosol cleaning products too.
If the wash leaves dull marks, don't scrub harder. Those need a repair from the manufacturer, not more cleaning.
Airjet acrylic bath
Airjet acrylic baths need gentler chemistry than plain acrylic. Avoid full-strength bleach and ammonia, since chemically active solutions can damage the surface.
Stick with the mild soap and warm water from the wash step, and rinse thoroughly. Anything stronger should wait until you've checked the tub's care instructions.
Enameled cast iron
Enameled cast iron is tougher than acrylic, but it still takes no steel wool, wire brushes or abrasive pads. If you need an abrasive cleaner, use it sparingly and always with water.
Rust is a separate problem and needs a product made for rust on cast iron, not the steps here.
Vitreous china
Vitreous china scratches and dulls under strong abrasive cleansers, so keep to the mild soap and warm water. Ammonia cleaners can damage its finish, so don't reach for them.
If the stain stays after the wash, repeat the wash rather than switching to harsher products.
Old, dried or set-in stains
If the stain is old or has been sitting for a while, the first pass often won't lift all of it. Scrape again to remove any crusted solids, then repeat the warm sudsy wash and clear water rinse.
Dried protein stains often need several rounds before they're gone, so plan for repeats rather than one hard scrub. Keep each round gentle and rinse between rounds.
A faint mark left after a rinse usually means the stain is nearly gone, not that you need something harsher. Stop before you reach for a stronger product the surface can't take.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on poop on bathtubs?
Skip most household remedies on a tub. Mild liquid soap is the only one needed, since a tub needs gentle cleaning. The others either fail on protein stains, are abrasive, or are meant for fabric or blood.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't shake the used cloth or towel
Shaking spreads whatever is on the cloth into the air and onto the tub. Roll it up and bag it instead, and wash your hands afterward.
Don't mix cleaners without rinsing between them
Chlorine bleach mixed with ammonia, vinegar or another remover can give off hazardous fumes. If you use more than one product, rinse the tub thoroughly between them.
Don't use these steps on a toilet
Toilets have different rules, and in-tank cleaners can damage the tank fittings and cause leaks. For a toilet, see the Toilets guide.
When to call a professional
For dull or scratched acrylic, contact the manufacturer's customer service about repairs, because cleaning won't fix the damage. Cast iron has its own care rules, and improper cleaning can void its warranty, so check before you try anything stronger.
Questions
How do you get poop out of a bathtub?
Put on gloves, lift off the solids gently, and rinse with cold water. Then wash with warm sudsy water, rinse with clear water, and wipe dry.
Can I use bleach on a poop stain in the tub?
Not as a first step. Chlorine is only allowed with care on most tub materials, and full-strength bleach is off-limits in airjet acrylic.
Why does cold water come first?
Poop is treated as a protein stain, and cold water is the recommended first rinse for protein. Warm water comes only after the solids and loose matter are gone.
Is vinegar safe for a poop stain in the tub?
No, skip it on the tub. Acid can make protein stains harder to remove, and it's unsafe on stone and cement grout.
Can I scrub the stain with steel wool?
No, not on acrylic or enameled cast iron. Steel wool, wire brushes and abrasive pads can scratch the surface and leave it dull. Use the cloth or sponge from the wash steps instead, and keep the cleaning gentle.
What if the poop has dried on the tub?
Scrape off any crusted solids, then repeat the wash and rinse. Dried stains often take several rounds, so expect to repeat the steps.
Do I need gloves for this job?
Yes. Wear rubber or disposable gloves while you lift the solids and wash, and wash your hands with soap and water afterward.
Can I use hydrogen peroxide on the tub?
No, peroxide isn't a good fit for this stain. Its best-supported use is for blood left after enzyme and water treatment, so it isn't a good fit for this stain.
Poop 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.