6 Ways to Get Your Bathroom Shower, Tub, and Grout Extra Clean
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I have good news and bad news. The good news is: By the end of the day, your shower, tub, and jets will be looking flawless. The bad news is: There’s no effortlessly easy way to get it done.
It brings me no joy to report that the secret to a super clean shower and tub is just good, old-fashioned elbow grease. That said, if you’re unhappy with the way your bathroom looks, I bet there are a few tricks you haven’t tried yet.
In the spirit of spring cleaning, let’s try something new to get that really deep clean you’re after in the shower and tub…
Day 7: Scrub the shower, tub, and grout.
You probably already clean the shower and tub on a schedule (or whenever it gets too dirty to ignore). And you’re probably left at the end of that effort thinking, “I wish I could get this cleaner.” Well, now’s your chance.
To start off, I’ll say step one is to scrub your shower stall (if you have a separate shower and tub, you can do both or focus on one today — dealer’s choice!). If you’re happy with what you typically do, then go for it. If not, here are a few things to try:
- The classic way to clean your bathroom: One classic bathroom cleaning combo is a “tub and tile” bathroom cleaner and a scrub brush. Just squirt or spray, then scrub all over.
- An alternative cleaner: Dish soap actually works great in the bathroom. Try squirting your dish soap on the shower and tub surfaces, then scrubbing.
- An alternative tool: If your scrub brush isn’t working for you, try grabbing a synthetic-bristled broom. The bristles aren’t any different than a cleaning brush, and the extended handle makes quick (non-back-breaking) work of the whole thing.
The “deep cleaning” part is what comes next. For this phase, you’ll want to focus on the details — the dingy grout lines, mildewy caulked corners, streaky glass, and other imperfect aspects of your bathroom. How you do this depends on what problem you’re facing, but here are some tips that might help with the most common problems.
- For grout: There is nothing better for getting grout super clean than mixing baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Mix, apply, and use a grout brush to scrub.
- For caulk: The baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can help clean your caulk, too. But if your caulk is routinely a problem, it might be time to replace it and recaulk your tub (it’s not as hard as it seems).
- For shower glass: A mix of water, dish soap and vinegar is great for cleaning shower door glass. But if you have lingering soap scum or mineral deposits tainting your glass, try something abrasive, like a powdered cleaner or even a magic melamine sponge.
You’re in the driver’s seat here, so you can decide how much time you have to spend getting your shower and tub spotless today, and how much energy you want to dedicate to deep cleaning. And remember: progress is better than perfection — so if you have time to do something, I really hope you try!
If you’re not getting the results you want when you clean your shower and tub, switch it up! Don’t be afraid to use products or tools from other rooms, like dish soap, baking soda, or a melamine sponge.
More ways to participate in the Spring Cleaning Cure:
- Sign up for email updates
- Visit the 2021 Spring Cleaning Cure page and catch up on assignments
- Save or print your own Spring Cleaning Cure tips workbook
- Download the Spring Cleaning Cure calendar
- Join the Apartment Therapy Cure Facebook group
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