This article contains affiliate links which means we receive compensation if you purchase a product through them. Visit our disclosure page for more information.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
If you asked me what my favorite cleaning tasks are the list would probably be really, REALLY short (okay, maybe none existent). Most sane people don’t find cleaning particularly fun but never the less it’s something that must be done. We live and play and go through our day to day routines making messes all along the way (More so if you are a child. Us parents are extra lucky!). I particularly hate cleaning the bathroom.
Let’s face it, a bathroom is a gross place! You know what goes on in there!?! All kinds of body functions germing up the place. I find it kind of funny though how the germiest place in the house is also the place you go to degerm and get clean. Irony at it’s best!
While gross things happen in the bathroom no one wants to go in a dirty one. Think highway gas station bathrooms. Some of those places make you think peeing on the side of the road is a good idea. Yuck!
While I hate cleaning bathrooms I have found what I consider the easiest way to clean your bathtub:
Get Bathtub Dirty
I don’t know about you but I have noticed that taking baths on a regular basis seems to grime up the bathtub more quickly than if you took only showers. My kids regularly take baths (as does my husband) and so our bathtubs get nasty FAST.
It must be something about dirty water just sitting there in the tub for a decent amount of time. You get that prominent ring of dirt and grime. Lovely, I know.
Funny thing is that our bathtub gets nastier than the kids’. Maybe it’s that man grime??
Make The Best DIY Tub Cleaner EVER
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup grease-fighting dish soap
- 1 tsp lemon essential oil (optional)
- empty spray bottle
- 2-cup glass measuring cup
Directions
Place the vinegar, dish soap, and lemon oil in a 2-cup glass measuring cup. Stir. Microwave mixture for 55 seconds. Pour into a spray bottle.
Spray Tub Cleaner All Over The Bathtub
Thoroughly, spray your entire bathtub with this cleaner including faucets, handles, and drains. Okay, I am not going to lie. It will smell kind of bad. The lemon essential oil helps the vinegar smell a bit but not quite enough, unfortunately. Now it’s time to relax. Yes, I said RELAX. Let the tub cleaner do it’s magic while you go watch a TV show or take a nap. Come back in an hour or two.
Wipe Down The Bathtub
After a bit of relaxing, it’s time to do some cleaning. Not hard active, sweat your butt off kind of cleaning. An almost tranquil kind of cleaning. Grab some sponges. I like to get mine at my local Target. It’s the closest real store to my house so I am ALWAYS there.
Don’t just get any sponges, though. Get quality ones like Scotch-Brite™ Brand. I grabbed a few different kinds – the green Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty Scrub Sponge and the blue Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge.
I couldn’t resist the savings so I even bought a Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty Soap Dispensing Dishwand for my kitchen. It’s been a lifesaver on pots, pans, grill racks, tools, tires, and sinks.
I used the green heavy-duty sponge to clean the base and sides of the tub. Not a lot of real scrubbing action was needed thanks to the awesome cleaner but I know that using a product that removes tough, baked-on messes 50% faster than other competitive sponges was the way to go. That grime looked scary and I am all for cleaning tough messes 50% faster! Time is of the essence.
When it came to my oil rubbed bronze faucet, handle, and drain I opted to use the blue non-scratch sponge. I wasn’t about to scratch those babies up! I knew something that was safe for non-stick cookware definitely could safely clean these guys without scratching.
Rinse The Bathtub
Once you have wiped the whole bathtub down with those amazing sponges it just needs a good rinse. Rinse it all away with water. Heck, maybe even take a nice, HOT shower to get the job done. Guilty as charged!
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
Immerse Your Kids in an Open-Ended Tinkering Experience
You are making me think I need to go clean my tubs. I usually use scrubbing bubbles and these sponges but I’ll give your way a shot. 🙂
Hey, I can’t knock those scrubbing bubbles, they work really well! I don’t mind using more natural options from time to time though to take a break from the chemicals 🙂
Cleaning is not my forte, it’s just really not fun at all! It’s always nice to come across posts like this, with an easier solution to everything! Thanks for the tips! It’s going to help a lot!
This is exactly what I use except with regular vinegar and it truly is amazing! It cleans better than anything I have ever used.
Vinegar is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? We use the same concoction to clean all around our home and while it does smell bad, it’s nothing that some scented essential oils can’t fix 🙂
Amazing thanks for sharing this DIY tip with us i am gonna try this I am always looking for a easier way to clean out my tub..Great post!!
The tub is my least favorite thing to scrub down because it’s so hard to clean. This stuff made it bearable! Glad you found it useful!!
I tried this today and I can’t believe how well it worked! Way better than any store bought cleaners. The smell WAS pretty bad (lol), but went away when I opened the window and rinsed it off. So happy I found this, thank you!
I’m glad it worked so well for you! Yeah, the smell can be awful but the great thing is that the smell isn’t trying to fry your brain like the bad chemical smells in some other cleaners. It makes it all worth it in the end! ha! 😉
This is awesome! Thank you so much! I hate to clean my tub. I have pinned this!
Glad you found it useful! Cleaning the tub is a pain, ugh, hate it. 😉
Neat cleaner recipe! Cleaning the tub is my least favorite job when cleaning the bathrooms. Will have to give this a go!
I think I have figured out that most people hate cleaning the tub, haha. It’s just an awkward task.
I will have to try this the next time I go to clean my bath tub. Thank you for sharing these tips.
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Come back and let us know how you liked it when you use it!
I will definitely be trying this the next time I clean my tub.
It works so well. You’ll be happy you tried it!
I will have to try this the next time I clean my tub. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome! Feel free to let us know how you liked it!
Definitely trying this and telling my daughter!
My bath tub is in need of a deep cleaning. But what I need more is someone else to do it for me (haha). I certainly will try this recipe next time.
Now YOU have the right idea! ha!
I agree! Baths always get grimy super fast so I like this apple cider vinegar hack as I have heard my aunty say that it does work x
Your aunty is one smart lady! I won’t ever use anything else.
I actually have all of this at home! I was just looking at the kid’s bathtub and thinking i need to give it a good cleaning, because no matter what I do it has been still not super clean.
I hear you on that one. Kids have this magical way of making things difficult haha!
I am definitely going to try this the next time I clean my tub. It sounds like it works wonders!
You won’t be sorry! It’s truly amazing!
That sounds like it would make cleaning the tub a lot easier! Going to try this for sure!
It makes it a breeze, I assure you! Let me know how you liked it!
I’m totally going to try this! I am always looking for better ways to clean the tubs, because they always seem to need to be cleaned all the time.
Isn’t that the truth?? Especially with boys 😉
Yes – the bathroom IS a gross place. Ick. And I love (not really) cleaning it up for the final results. However, your suggestions are so helpful! And if you’re in the area, do you want to come over and help me out? haha…
haha! Maybe we could trade off. You come to my house when you’re in town and I’ll come to yours 😉
WOW! It looks really clean. I’d love to give this DIY tub cleaner a try. I have everything I need at home anyway. Thanks for the recipe!
I’m glad you found it handy. That’s the best part about this cleaner is that it’s just household products.
Ok I am going to make this! My tub seems to never get clean and I have tried almost everything it seems!
I think there was one point that I sat in my tub for an hour using a little scrub brush to try and get it spotless. This cleaner made that a much quicker process for sure.
I really need to give this a go! Cleaning the bathroom in general is the bane of my existence! anything to make it easier
Anything to get it over quicker, I hear you! It’s the worst part about cleaning.
I’m definitely going to have to give this a go, my bathtub could use all the help it can get, especially in the summer when the kids spend the day covered in mud!
Oh goodness, those days are around the corner, aren’t they? Great time to try it, that’s for sure.
Yes! I agree! I use regular white vinegar but it works just as good. What I have noticed is that is seems to stay clean longer and is so shiny! I love it! I used to hate scrubbing the tub but now it’s a breeze!
You’re right, either vinegar will work. I have found apple cider vinegar to be just a bit stronger which is why I use it. 🙂
I use vinegar (regular one) to clean the windows but I’ve never use to clean up the bath. I definitely will try this next time I clean my bath or the shower. I wonder if the formula works as well to clean the scorched pan.
That’s a great question. I’ve never tried it on a scorched pan before but I’m sure it would work to help remove the tough part.
I love these tips! I try to clean my bathroom once a week, I’m a clean freak haha!
Will you come clean my house then? ha! You are on top of things!
I love the idea of making cleaning products right at home. This way, you have more control over what items go into making them along with what you expose your family to.
That is very true! Some of those chemicals can be a little scary around kids.
Ugh- I hate cleaning. I LOVE products and tips that make it easier though. This would be a huge help to me.
I’m with you on that one, I don’t really enjoy cleaning too much but love using products that make it a quicker process!
I have never tried this! We tend to use baking soda when we need to clean anything, and if it is extra dirty, table salt. I think I will give this a try!
Baking soda is a splendid idea! I love using it to clean as well. Very handy.
My husband cleans our tub. To be honest, I have no idea what he uses or how he does it. All I know is that it is clean when I go to take a shower.
hahaha! Want to loan me your husband just so he can clean my tub?? Just kidding, but really, I need someone who cleans my tubs too. 😉
Your tub looks amazing! Vinegar is an awesome household cleaner, and Ive just discovered that it keeps ants away too!
Vinegar is such a useful tool around the house. I’ll have to keep that in mind about the ants!
I love these sponges! The cleaner recipe always sounds awesome. I will have to try it.
I thought the sponges were awesome as well. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to come back and let me know how you liked the cleaner!
What a great cleaning solution and love the part about a nap in between, ha! Use those same sponges and love them!
A nap always makes everything a little better. 😉 Yes! I love them too!
I can never get my bathtub as clean as I want. I’m definitely trying your ideas. Thanks for sharing this post.
Bathtubs can be the worst to get fully clean. I’m glad you enjoyed it, thanks for stopping by!
I haven’t tried anything like this, and it is so easy and inexpensive, I’m actually psyched and looking forward to clean the tub extra good!!!
Bathtubs always seem to be hanging on to old grime. I was excited to get mine nice and freshly clean as well. Glad you found it useful!
Love the ideas…not one of my favorite things to clean but beats cleaning the toilet!!!!!
Hey, I’ll definitely agree with you on that one! Stinky toilets are the worst.
I’ve tried this ! It really works , does smell bad but shines very nice , I’ve been doing housecleaning for 14 years , this is a very good all natural cleaner that I do recommend ?
I’m glad it worked just as well for you as it did for me! The smell is worth it, isn’t it??
I love how clean the tub looks and I bet it smells wonderful with that cleaning solution. I, too, use Scotch Brite products and love them; even the new dishcloths are great!
I’m glad you love them as much as I do! I don’t know about smelling great but it definitely does the trick and the smell doesn’t linger.
These are some great tips. I hate cleaning the bathroom, even my own, it just grosses me out!
haha! You’re not alone. I think most people share your same sentiment.
These are really awesome tips! Thank you so much for sharing. My least favorite chore!
I don’t know anyone who likes this chore, ha! Glad you liked it!
I’ve tried a lot of mixtures but never this recipe. Your tub looks wonderful! Definitely gonna try this.
Thank you very much! Let me know if you like it!
I like this I’m gonna try it.
Glad you liked it. Come back and let us know how it worked out for you!
I have actually used the same ingredients, but placed them directly into the handle of the scrubby wand and keep it in the shower
That’s a brilliant idea for sure!
Thanks for sharing these cleaning tips. I ‘ll definitely be trying this.
I’m glad you found them useful. Thanks for stopping by!
Mr.clean magic eraser will clean better with no smell.
To be honest I have never tried that product before. Does it work on tile floors well?
Omg my bathtub is sparkling right now! This will be my go to from now on!
I absolutely HATE cleaning my tub! I would rather clean the toilet believe it or not. Maybe if I use this DIY cleaner it will make me not hate cleaning the tub as much. We shall see.
I don’t like either but I probably agree the toilet is usually quicker than the tub
Great ideas, I have these products already and they work great in the kitchen. Who knew we could use them in the tub. 🙂
Yep, they are great for all kinds of messes all around the house 🙂
I squeegee my shower walls, tub and mirrors – even if they steam over right away they stay streak-free. Once/week or once/month I wipe down a bit more. Now, it’s the dingy tub and I’ll see what I try first.
Someone said they’d rather clean toilets? Those are easy if not neglected. I have IBS-D so periodically I clean my toilets every day or more. Fun fun
I appreciate a blogger who doesn’t shop at that horrendous W store. Thanks
Sounds like you have a great cleaning routine down