First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Rinse the spot with plain water now.
- Blot up any cleaner that's still sitting on the surface.
- Don't scrub harder if the stain doesn't move; check your tub's material first.
Whether the tub is fiberglass, porcelain or cast iron changes which cleaners are safe, so the material comes first. Water is safe on most tubs, but dull or scratched acrylic has to go back to the manufacturer for repair. Set-in rust or discoloration can need several passes, with a rinse between each one.
If you're removing stains from a fiberglass bathtub, skip the scouring cleanser, since it can leave fine scratches. A porcelain tub can handle a hard-water remover for mineral film, so use one only if the mark is chalky. If yellow bathtub stains won't budge after a second try, stop and check the tub material again before going stronger.
Before you start
What this material 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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- Soft sponge or clothWipes the tub without scratching the finish. (opens Amazon)
- Mild soapUsed in the wipe-down on vitreous china. (opens Amazon)
- Warm waterUsed for the wipe-down and for every rinse.
- General-purpose cleaner labeled for your tub materialOnly for heavy soil, and only the type listed for your material. (opens Amazon)
- Soft dry clothBlots the tub dry after the final rinse. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Test the cleaner on a hidden spot
Pick a spot that won't show, like the inside of the tub near the drain, and test any cleaner there first. Rinse that spot and look at it once it's dry, because the finish should match what it was before. If you don't know what the tub is made of, use only water and mild soap until you've checked the care label.
Step 2 of 5
Wipe the tub with a damp cloth
Dampen a soft sponge or cloth and wipe the whole tub, working from the stain outward so you don't spread it. On vitreous china, add mild soap and warm water to the cloth for this pass.
Tip. Rinse the sponge often so you aren't dragging grit across the finish.
Step 3 of 5
Use a general cleaner for heavy soil
If the wipe-down doesn't lift the soil, use a general-purpose cleaner listed for your tub material. Apply it only where the soil is, not across the whole tub, so less of it lands on surfaces you didn't mean to clean.
Tip. On acrylic, choose a general-purpose cleaner labeled for acrylic.
Step 4 of 5
Rinse right away with water
Rinse the tub completely with water as soon as the cleaner is on the surface, rather than waiting for it to dry. Rinse any overspray off the nearby walls, fixtures and surfaces too.
Careful. Don't let cleaners soak on the surface, so never leave one sitting while you do something else.
Step 5 of 5
Blot the tub dry
Once the tub is rinsed, blot it dry with a soft cloth. Blotting is gentler than wiping, so no leftover grit gets dragged across the finish.
Tip. Use a fresh, dry cloth for the last pass.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best stain removers for bathtubs
Pick a general-purpose cleaner labeled for your tub's material, and a cast iron cleaner made for enamel only if you have marks on enameled iron. Read the label to confirm the material before you buy.
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.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Know the stain? Use its own guide
Every stain on bathtubs
Water, rust & minerals4
Paint, glue & adhesives3
Dye & color4
Discoloration & marks5
Mold & outdoor3
Food & drink1
Ink, marker & crayon2
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
A clean tub looks even when it's dry, with no streaks, cloudy patches or dull spots where the stain was. If the mark is lighter but still there, the finish is fine and the stain needs the heavier treatment below. If the finish looks dull, rough or scratched, stop and check the material before you do anything else.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your bathtubs
Fiberglass bathtub
Fiberglass isn't one of the materials the main rules are written for, so use the gentlest version of the method. Start with the hidden-spot test and a soft, damp cloth, and add mild soap and warm water only if the stain still shows. Check the manufacturer's care instructions before you try any general cleaner, because fiberglass finishes differ.
If the care instructions don't name a cleaner, stay with water and mild soap rather than guessing. Once you've confirmed a product is safe for fiberglass, the same rinse-and-blot finish applies.
Porcelain, enamel, and cast iron
Vitreous china takes mild soap and warm water, and the wipe-down is enough for most marks on it. Enameled cast iron has its own mark cleaner: a cast iron cleaner made for enamel removes marks and restores shine when you use it as the label directs.
For the heavier stains on these two, the treatment further down is the next step, but it stays off the rest of the tub. Rinse right after each application and blot dry at the end.
Yellow, orange, and discolored tub
Yellow and orange marks can be rust, especially on enameled cast iron. Before you choose a cleaner, look at where the color sits and whether it's on enamel or a different finish.
Discoloration that isn't rust on acrylic or china starts with the gentle wipe-down, then the general-purpose cleaner for heavy soil if the soil stays.
Acrylic, white, and other tub materials
Acrylic needs the gentlest hand of any tub, so start with the hidden-spot test and a soft cloth, and reach for a general-purpose cleaner labeled for acrylic only when the soil is heavy. White isn't a material, so check what your tub is made of, since white tubs can be acrylic or vitreous china.
Dull or scratched acrylic can't be cleaned back to shine, and the manufacturer repair route covered below is the right answer. Any other material you can't identify should be checked against its care instructions before a stronger cleaner goes on.
Rust, copper, mat, grout, and floor-of-tub marks
Rust on enameled cast iron is the one case where an acid is allowed, and that means a rust and iron stain remover made for enamel, used as the label directs. Acid never goes on acrylic or vitreous china, so check the material before you open the bottle.
Copper, mat, grout and floor-of-tub marks don't have a specific treatment, so start with the wipe-down and a general cleaner for heavy soil. Check the label before anything stronger goes on.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old stain has usually bonded into the finish, so one wipe-down won't lift it. On vitreous china and enameled cast iron, a soft abrasive cleaner used sparingly, always with water, is the stronger step. The stain may need several light passes rather than one hard scrub.
A stain that has dried gets the same treatment, one short pass at a time. Rinse with water after each pass so the cleaner never sits on the surface, then blot dry and look again before you repeat.
If the stain is still there after the steps and this treatment, it may be set into the finish, and a lighter stain is a realistic result. Rust on enameled cast iron is handled separately by its own treatment further down, and dull or scratched acrylic needs repair rather than more cleaning.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on bathtubs?
Most home remedies were written for fabric, counters or other surfaces, so each one needs checking against your tub. Mild soap is the only remedy the tub needs, and every other one is either unneeded or not allowed on it.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use abrasive cleansers on acrylic
Abrasive cleansers scratch and dull acrylic, and that damage stays in the finish. Stick to the gentle steps on acrylic every time, even when the tub looks dirty.
Don't use steel wool on cast iron
Steel wool, wire brushes and abrasive pads scratch the enamel on cast iron, so keep them away from the tub. A soft cloth and the cleaners made for enamel do the job without that damage.
Don't use ammonia or full-strength bleach
Don't use ammonia on vitreous china, since it can damage the finish. Airjet acrylic can't take full-strength bleach or ammonia, so if you can't tell whether a tub has airjets, don't use either one.
Don't use solvents on your tub
Solvents are not allowed on acrylic, cast iron or vitreous china, which covers most bathtubs. Skip any solvent-based product, even if its label says it cleans bathrooms.
Don't spray aerosol cleaners on acrylic
Aerosol cleaning products are a poor fit for acrylic, and the spray can drift onto surfaces you didn't mean to clean. Put a small amount on a cloth instead and wipe.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The stain returns soon after cleaning
Rinse and wipe the tub dry after each use. Regular wiping keeps film from rebuilding.
An acrylic tub looks dull or scratched
Stop scrubbing. Contact the manufacturer's customer service, which handles repairs for dull or scratched acrylic.
Grime sits in the textured tub floor
Work a fully water-soluble cleaner into the texture with a soft nylon brush, then rinse thoroughly.
A cast iron tub has lost its shine
Use Kohler Cast Iron Cleaner to remove marks and restore shine, then rinse and dry.
When to call a professional
Dull or scratched acrylic can't be cleaned back to a shine, so contact the manufacturer's customer service about repair. For enameled cast iron, improper care and cleaning can void the warranty, so read the warranty terms before you use any stronger product.
Questions
What's the best way to clean stained bathtubs?
Start with the gentlest method: test a hidden spot, wipe with a soft damp cloth, and rinse right away. Move to a general-purpose cleaner labeled for your material only when the soil is heavy. Identify the tub's material first, because that decides how far you can go.
What types of stains can bathtubs get?
Most bathtub stains are everyday soap, soil and product residue, and the wipe-down handles them. Rust is the stain with its own treatment, and yellow or orange color can be rust, so identify the stain before you choose a cleaner.
Why do bathtubs stain so easily?
Soap, dye and grime stay on the finish when they sit there and dry, and that's why stains build up over time. Rinse the tub after each use and dry it with a soft cloth to keep that from happening.
What cleaner should I buy for bathtub stains?
Buy a general-purpose cleaner labeled for your tub's material, and keep it for heavy soil rather than every wipe-down. For marks on enameled cast iron, a cast iron cleaner made for enamel is the product type to look for. Scouring powders are abrasives, so they belong only on china and enamel, and only with water.
Can I clean my bathtub naturally with vinegar?
The natural approach for a bathtub is the gentle wipe-down above, not vinegar. Vinegar is an acid, and acids need extra care on tub finishes, so skip it and test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
How do I clean bath bomb or hair dye stains?
Start with the wipe-down, then add a general-purpose cleaner labeled for your tub's material if the dye is still there. Rinse thoroughly right after, because dye left on the surface is what sets into the finish.
Why won't my bathtub stain come out?
Old or dried stains have usually bonded into the finish, so they need the heavier treatment described above instead of more of the same wipe-down. Expect a lighter result on many old marks, since full removal isn't always possible.
Related
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.