How can I get the stains out of my tub?

Candace Green
by Candace Green
The tub is old and the stains make it look like the tub is dirty. It look like the paint has come off.
  8 answers
  • Linda Linda on Mar 10, 2018

    You dont say what material the tub is made of. If it was painted previously maybe sanding and a tub refinishing kit is whats needed. If just surface dirt I love baking soda and white vinegar for cleaning. Baking soda has a low grit and can scrub without scratching. You might also try peroxide which might help whiten and disinfect. Good luck!

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Mar 10, 2018

    This method will take about $10 in supplies and about two hours of hard work. But it is a process that might take years of wear off the tub, or prepare it for reglazing.


    I would start with a good scrubbing with powdered Ajax or Clorox and a scrubber, not a soft sponge. After rinsing thoroughly, my second step would be to clean the drain, starting with a pint of Drano gel drain cleaner. Follow directions and timing carefully, and don’t let the cleaner splash on the tub.

    When the deep drain has been cleaned, wear rubber gloves and clean the top few inches of the drain with a scrubber. Reach in with your fingers, an old toothbrush, and the scrubber and clean all the funk and soap and shampoo from the sides and lip of the drain. I usually run the water while I’m doing this so the stuff goes down the clean drain. (This is a good time to put a new strainer on the drain, or polish the old one with an old toothbrush.)


    Now back to the tub. If there are still stains, use a soft sponge, and clean the whole tub with vinegar and baking soda. Vinegar helps dissolve soap scum and water deposits. The baking soda is an abrasive that scrubs off what has been dissolved. If you can tell that paint has come off, or the stains remain, you can consider having the tub reglazed, or doing it yourself. Best wishes ☺️

  • Gina Barnes Bebart Gina Barnes Bebart on Mar 10, 2018

    You can put paper towels down and soak them in bleach. Leave it for at least and hour.

  • Cindy Cindy on Mar 10, 2018

    Hi Sabrina, We watch a lot of the Home and Garden channel on TV. There's a show on there called Rehab Addict. It's a young girl rehabbing very old houses. When she has bathtubs that won't come clean, she sends them out to be reglazed. They look brand new when returned. I would not spend a lot of money on kits or expensive cleaning supplies. Put the $$ towards reglazing. If there's hardware involved, like pipes or handles, soak them overnight in a crock pot filled with water. Use an old toothbrush next day to scrub. I hope this info helps you. Best wishes.

  • Ken Ken on Mar 10, 2018

    If this is a porcelain coated tub, I recommend Kohler Cast Iron Sink Cleaner. Worked wonders on my cast iron tub.

  • Dina Dina on Mar 13, 2018

    Use Magic Erasers (or get the generic brands from amazon) before you invest in high priced options. They did wonders on my son‘s Tub