Keep Your Porcelain Bathtub Looking New

A porcelain bathtub is made of a much better material than others you may find on the market. Your porcelain bathtub will last a lot longer than tubs made from plastics, fiberglass and even metal. A porcelain bathtub resists mold and mildew and will not rust, but it can become quite dirty. It will retain oils from dirt and general grime. Over time, they will discolor and look unsightly if they are not properly taken care of. The article that follows will show you how to take care of your porcelain bathtub properly so that the problems mentioned above will not become a problem for you.

Step 1–Safety

Using bleach to clean a porcelain bathtub is a great idea but also one that involves some risks. Bleach is a very caustic substance that will burn your eyes, burn your chest and cause breathing problems to form. Prolonged exposure can permanently damage your health. When working with bleach, wear the rubber gloves and your face mask. If there is an exhaust fan in your bathroom, make sure it is on. If you have a window that you can open, then open it to allow for some airflow.

Step 2–Preparation

A roll or two of paper towels and a bottle of bleach is all that will be needed to clean all of the soap scum, dirt and grime off the surface of the tub. Begin taking off pieces of paper towels and placing them in the bottom of the tub. It is fine to overlap the pieces of paper towel as needed. Use the same process for the sides of the bathtub. It is usually a good idea to use large sheets of paper towels so you do not have to worry about individual pieces of paper towels falling down the sides of the tub. You can overlap the pieces up the sides as you did with the bottom of the tub.

Step 3–Bleach

Once the paper towels are inside the tub and layered, you can add the bleach. Slowly pour the bottle of bleach in the bottom of the tub. Make sure that the drain in the tub is closed. Put on your mask and watch the bleach. The weaves in the paper towels will soak up the bleach, and it will begin to climb up the sides of the tub. Leave the bathroom and close the door.

Step 4–Finishing

Don't leave the bleach in the tub longer than three hours, or else the paint on it will begin to be eaten away. Put on rubber gloves and a mask and enter the bathroom. The bleach will have climbed up the paper towels. Remove the towels and throw them away. Inspect the bathtub for cleanliness and then begin to rinse it with water, using the cup. Wipe down the tub with a sponge, soap and water and then rinse the soap out with clean water.