Posts

How Cleaning the Tub?

/in /by


Turn on your bathroom fan and open the doors and windows. The fumes from the cleaning agents and bathtub reglazers are dangerous, so it’s important that you ensure your bathroom is well ventilated before getting started. You should also open the doors and windows in the rooms adjacent to the bathroom for air flow.


If you don’t have a fan or a window, be sure to open as many windows in the adjacent room as possible to increase airflow and allow the fumes to exit. Use a box fan to increase air flow. The fan will not only help to ensure air is being circulated through the bathroom, but it will also help to dry the bathtub faster. The tub will need to be completely dry before moving on from a number of steps in the refinishing process.


Place the box fan in the window for maximum circulation. If you don’t have a bathroom window, place it in the bathroom doorway instead. Use a putty knife to cut away the caulk sealing the tub. All the caulk will have to be removed before you can refinish the tub. Most of the caulk will be in the seam where the tub meets the wall and the floor, but there may also be a strip that’s sealing any glass shower doors over the tub.


To remove the caulk, slice into it with the edge of the putty knife lengthwise, like you’re splitting it in half. Continue to slice into the caulk like that until it becomes loose enough to cut out. Once there are a number of slices through the caulk, it will be easier to use the putty knife to pry up and remove the caulk.


Remove any remaining caulk with a razor blade and sandpaper. A razor blade isn’t very effective for large deposits of caulk, but it will do wonders on hard to remove, thin layers than remain after most of the caulk has been removed. Most caulk can be found where the tub meets the wall, but in bathtub showers with glass doors instead of a shower curtain, there may also be caulk where the door fixtures meet the tub.

How to Clean a Shower/Tub the Easy Way?

/in /by


Do you LOVE a sparkling clean shower stall but HATE cleaning one? Me too! I started using this method about 20 years ago out of necessity because I had to clean 6-8 bathrooms a day thoroughly and QUICKLY while working for a residential cleaning service.


Ventilate bathroom and quickly spray soap scum type cleaner on entire shower stall and tub, concentrating spray on the parts that need extra attention (tub ring, etc.) Leave the room and find something else to clean! Let the spray do the work for about 10-15 minutes.


When you return – get the broom just slightly wet under tub faucet – then turn the water OFF. Use the broom to scrub and sweep the scum away working from top of stall walls down to bottom of tub – concentrating of worst areas. You can use the tips of bristles to clean grout and crevices, also great around the faucets and drain.


Run tub faucet using warm water. While water is running rinse the broom. Fill your container of choice with fresh water from the tub and rinse walls and tub several times. Use the broom to rinse walls and sweep the remainder of dissolved soap scum into the tub and down the drain – rinse thoroughly.


Enjoy your sparkling tub and shower stall. After you’ve worn the lemon down, simply grab the other half or cut a new one and keep going over the area until it’s spotless. Just as a precaution, avoid using lemon in conjunction with other green cleaning ingredients like sea salt. Even water-soluble abrasives may be enough to scratch up acrylic.

How Removing Stains from an Enamel Bathtub?

/in /by


Try cleaning with vinegar first. Though it’s a mild natural cleanser, vinegar will typically be potent enough to deal with most stains when applied heavily and given time to set up. Spray the tub down thoroughly, let the vinegar sit for a few minutes, then scrub aray the stains using a sponge or stiff-bristled brush. If you discover that vinegar isn’t having the desired effect, you can move on to more intensive methods. There will come a point when simply adding more and more vinegar won’t suffice.


Use a bleach-free commercial cleaning spray. Products like Lysol All Purpose Cleaner, Kaboom, Shout! and Scrubbing Bubbles shower cleaner are good for eating away at tough stains without damaging delicate surfaces. Since most of these products contain a similar combination of ingredients, any of them will work as well as another. Just make sure whatever product you choose doesn’t contain bleach, as this can severely weaken the outer enamel layer of the tub.


Only buy cleaners that have been approved for use on enamel-coated bathroom surfaces. Be sure to check the label carefully before buying a particular cleaning product so you’ll know you’re getting what you need. If possible, open a nearby window, open the door, and turn on a fan to ventilate the bathroom while you clean with any of these products.


Make your own natural cleaner. If you’re reluctant to go shopping, you can formulate a simple all-purpose bathroom cleaner at home by mixing together warm water, baking soda, Castile soap and essential oils in a spray bottle. All of these ingredients are readily available and safe to use but are quite potent when brought together. Once they’re combined, spray the mixture onto the stained surface and give it a few minutes to take effect before wiping it away.


If you’re having trouble tracking down Castile soap, hydrogen peroxide will make an acceptable substitute. Essential oils like tea tree and peppermint can also act as natural disinfectants. Soak problem areas for several minutes. Mist on the solution and give it a chance to sit. Pay special attention to places with heavy staining and discoloration. The cleaning solution should get to work dissolving these stains right away.

How Cleaning a Bathtub with a Commercial Product?

/in /by

Put on gloves. Some chemicals are harsh, so put on gloves to protect your skin. Clear the tub of debris. Hair and loose dirt will get in the way of your cleaning, so use the shower to wash them down the tub. Hair and debris may clog your bathtub drain, so you may want to remove most of it from your tub using a paper towel. Then, rinse your tub with your shower stream.

Choose a sponge and brush. Don’t pick a sponge that’s too abrasive, such as steel wool. Stick with a scrubbing sponge. Otherwise, you may take the finish off your tub. Additionally, it’s helpful to use a toothbrush or grout brush to get into the nooks and crannies, as well as around the faucets.

Magic Erasers or similar products can be perfect for acrylic bathtubs which scratch easily. Magic erasers are relatively inexpensive and can be bought from local hardware stores or supermarkets. All you need to do to use one is wet the eraser, scrub the tub, and rinse well afterwards.

Pick a cleaning product. You have many options available to you. Which one you choose depends on your preference. For instance, you could use Lysol Bathroom Cleaner, Clorox Clean-Up, or Scrubbing Bubbles.

Read the manufacturer’s instructions. Each cleaner is a little bit different. For it to be the most effective, you need to follow what the instructions say. For instance, you may need to spray or scrub a solution on and leave it for a period of time. Bathroom cleaners can be quite overpowering so make sure the room is well-ventilated and if necessary, leave the room for a time to prevent inhaling any dangerous fumes.