How to Remove Stains from an Acrylic Bathtub

After a long day at the office the idea of relaxing in a warm bathtub, surrounded by scented candles, sounds absolutely dreamy. 

But hang on… there are stains plaguing the tub! 

Stains occur regularly in bathtubs, and they’re usually unsightly and unwelcome guests. So, how do you remove stains from an acrylic bath, so you can get back to unwinding and taking it easy in the tub? 

Keep on reading and I’ll tell you how to eradicate those pesky stains.

What Type of Stains Do You Have?

The first step to take when removing a stain(s) from an acrylic bathtub is to decide what type of stain(s) you’re actually going to be dealing with. Doing this can prevent you from wasting a lot of time and energy going through methods that may be ineffective from the start. 

Below you’ll find a list of the most common stains that occur in acrylic bathtubs:

• Yellow – These stains are usually caused by hard water, iron issues (for example, if your pipes are old they may be a little corroded) and any dyes that occur in products that you use.  
• Rust – This orange-like stain forms because there is iron content in the water.  
• General dirt stains – This includes soap residue, hair dye and excess shampoo and conditioner marks.  

 

Do This When Cleaning Stains Off an Acrylic Bathtub

Before you start cleaning your stains away, it’s worth taking note of these dos: 

• Use soft tools and pads to clean your bathtub’s stains as this will prevent the tub from becoming scratched and damaged.
• Use neutral and homemade remedies to clean your stains away is a safe option. Products like white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are fairly harmless to use around the house.
• Keep air flowing around you when you’re cleaning. Open all the windows and doors. 
• Test products before you use them. 
• Wear old clothing when you clean the stains away, as some items can damage and discolour your clothes.
• Rinse your bathtub down several times when you’re done cleaning it. This will remove any excess product, it’ll also put an end to any dangerous chemicals that you’ve used, and any slippery substances will be washed away.
• Clean all the stained crevices too. 

 

Avoid This When Cleaning Stains Off an Acrylic Bathtub

Here are some don’ts that you need to avoid when cleaning your stains away:

• Avoid using tough scourers to clean your bathtub because these pads will mark the surface.
• Don’t use harsh chemicals to clean your bathtub’s stains if you have a septic tank, not all products are suitable, so you should check before you start cleaning. 
• Don’t use harsh chemicals to clean your stains away because this could damage the bathtub.

 

How to Remove Stains from an Acrylic Bathtub

There are multiple ways you can remove a stain, or multiple stains, from an acrylic bathtub. You can go down the DIY route and create your own potions at home, you can buy in a specialised cleaner or you can call in professional help. 

Generally, stains can be removed by using natural products found at home, but I’ll let you decide what method to work with. 

Method 1: White vinegar and water

White vinegar is a very natural cleaner, which is why it’s the go-to item for lots of people. Although vinegar doesn’t give off a nice smell, it does, however, work wonders when it comes to removing stains. 

What you need:

• Spray bottle
• Warm water
• Cloth
• White vinegar

Steps to follow:

1. Clear your bathtub – remove any shampoo bottles and soaps that are on the side.
2. Open a window for ventilation. 
3. In a clean spray bottle mix two parts of white vinegar with two parts of warm water. 
4. Give the spray bottle a quick shake. 
5. Spray the contents of the bottle onto the stained area.
6. Wait 20 minutes.
7. With a damp warm cloth wipe the stain down. 
8. Continue to do this until the stain has been removed. 
9. Wash the bath down with warm water when you’re done.
10. If this method is not strong enough, move onto Method 2. 

Alternative: Some individuals prefer to fill their bathtubs up with hot water and pour 3-4 cups of white vinegar into the water. They then let it sit like this for a few hours and finally they drain the water away. 

This sometimes works, but it won’t work so well if your stain isn’t within the water’s reach. Plus, you may still need to go back and treat the stain following the guidance in Method 2, to make sure that the stain has actually gone completely.

Method 2: Bicarbonate of soda, white vinegar and water

Bicarbonate of soda is also another natural cleaner, and it can remove tough stains in just a few minutes! Pair it with white vinegar and the pair will sizzle and pop, and together they’ll break down the hardest of stains in your tub. 

What you need:

• Spray bottle
• White vinegar
• Warm water
• Bicarbonate of soda
• Soft toothbrush
• Cloth

Steps to follow:

1. Remove all the products from your bathtub.
2. In a spray bottle mix two parts of white vinegar with two parts of warm water.
3. Grab some bicarbonate of soda and place some of it over the stained area in your bathtub.
4. Spray the white vinegar and water mixture onto the bicarbonate of soda. 
5. Wait for the bubbles to appear – the potion is now working its magic! 
6. You then need to grab a soft toothbrush, or cloth, and rub at the area until a paste-like consistency forms on the surface. 
7. Allow the paste to rest like this for 20 minutes. 
8. Wipe away the paste and rub a little harder at the surface if need be. 
9. Rinse the bathtub down when you’re finished. 
10. If this method still hasn’t worked for you, continue onto Method 3.

Method 3: Bicarbonate of soda and hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a strong chemical that should be used with great care. When using this product, you should make sure that there are no kids and pets around you, always keep a window open and wear protection.

Note: On some forums people have noted that hydrogen peroxide has damaged their acrylic tubs, so if you choose to try this method you do so at your own risk. Always stick to the measurements!

What you need:

• Bowl
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Bicarbonate of soda
• Cloth
• Spoon
• Gloves/eye protection

Steps to follow:

1. Pop some gloves and eye protection on. 
2. In a clean bowl add one part of hydrogen peroxide to two parts of bicarbonate of soda.
3. Stir the mixture around until you get a paste-like consistency. 
4. Move to an unseen part of your bathtub and try this mixture out. If all works out, continue with this method. 
5. Spread the mixture you’ve created all over the stained areas in your bathtub. 
6. Allow the mixture to rest like this for 30 minutes.
7. Dab at the area with a damp warm cloth to remove the mixture. 
8. Rinse the bathtub down and repeat the steps above if you do not see the desired end results.

Method 4: Specialised cleaners 

If creating your own cleaning solution isn’t for you then you can buy a specialised cleaning product to do the job.

There are multiple products available to buy today, but you must make sure that you purchase a cleaner that is suitable for acrylic bathtubs. Failing to choose the correct cleaner may result in you damaging your tub, which could be costly to repair.

Keep in mind that while some products work well for some people, it doesn’t always mean that they will work for everyone. Every stain is unique, and how old the stain is impacts how well a cleaner will work. 

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Cramer Acrylic Shower Tray and Bath Cleaner – This cleaner can clean away general dirt caused by soaps and limescale in acrylic tubs. It’s very easy to use, you just spray it onto a surface, wipe it down and rinse any excess product away. Further to this, it’s also eco-friendly and has a nice odour, so it’ll smell a little nicer than white vinegar!   
2. Mellerud – Acrylic Clean and Care – If you’re looking for a longer lasting product then Mellerud’s Acrylic Clean and Care is ideal! This item can also be used to clean away oil, limescape and soapy residues from bathtubs. And again, it’s very easy to use. 

Always follow the instructions on the packaging, so that you use the product of your choice correctly.

Method 5: Professional help

If you’ve just moved into a new house and the bathtub is a mess, you may be tempted to call in a professional to help you clean all the nasty marks away!

It’s not unheard of to do this, but I’d advise you to thoroughly research this option before agreeing to professional help. 

Here are some tips to consider: 

• Ask plenty of questions.
• Find out what you’re paying for.
• Choose someone near you.
• Pick a reputable company. 

Of course, if the bathtub is beyond repair you may be advised to get a new one by a professional. 

 

How to Keep an Acrylic Bathtub Clean

Here are a few tips to help you keep your acrylic bathtub clean: 

• Wipe and rinse your bathtub down after every use – removes any soapy residue.
• Clean your tub at least once a week with a natural cleaner. 
• Keep a spray cleaner handy, so you make a habit of cleaning the tub.
• Don’t smoke around the bath because this will cause yellowing.

 

How Do You Remove Rust Marks from a Bathtub?

Rust isn’t a pleasant sight to see in a bathtub, so the quicker those hideous orange marks are removed the better. So, how do you do it without breaking the bank?

Follow the steps below:

1. In a bowl create a paste from Borax Substitute and water. (Keep adding small amounts of water to the bowl to achieve the correct consistency).
2. Do a patch test to make sure your bathtub doesn’t react badly with the paste. Continue if all is okay. 
3. Go to the rust marks on your bathtub and spread the paste you’ve created over the stains. 
4. Wait about 25 minutes. 
5. With a clean damp cloth start dabbing at the stained area.
6. Remove the excess paste and rinse the area.
7. Repeat the steps above if necessary.  

 

How Do You Remove Hard Water Marks from a Bathtub?

Hard water marks are caused by hard water flowing into your bathtub. And while this is quite a common problem in many households, it can look a little distasteful. So, it’s better to remove the stains as soon as they appear. 

Here’s how you do it:

1. Fill a medium sized bowl with white vinegar. 
2. Add paper tissue to this bowl and allow it to be saturated by the white vinegar. 
3. Place the soaking wet paper towels onto the hard water marks in your bathtub.
4. Leave the paper towels to sit like this for two and a half hours. 
5. In a separate bowl create a bicarbonate of soda and vinegar paste mixture. 
6. Remove the paper towels and spread the bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar paste all over the hard water marks.
7. Rinse the bathtub down and repeat the steps above, if need be.