The luxury and the sparkling look of your bathtub make it hygienically safe to use regularly. However, spending more time cleaning tough stains could be both challenging and a daunting task to many.
Hence why we use brilliant cleaning hacks like toilet bowl cleaner to clean your bathtub straightforward while leaving it sparkling and shining.
In truth, toilet bowl cleaners are efficient, convenient, and pretty quick when it comes to eliminating and cleaning thoroughly the yellowish layers on your bathtub.
Due to this, it is very tempting to use them in your bathtub, but as the matter of fact, you should refrain from using them.
Here are the facts you need to know before using bowl cleaner in your bathtub.
Can You Use Toilet Bowl Cleaner on A Bathtub?
No. Toilet bowl cleaners are not safe to use on your bathtub because they contain active harmful chemical ingredients that can ruin your bathtub and are toxic to your skin.
Let’s break down the ingredients used to manufacture toilet bowl cleaner to help you understand why they are not safe to use in a bathtub.
What Is The Active Ingredient In Toilet Bowl Cleaners?
Toilet bowl cleaner is made out of hydrochloric acid, bleach, and ammonia. These ingredients are active in removing tough stains while capable of disinfecting your bathtub. However, in the long run, they can ruin your bathtub and are not healthy for your skin. For instance;
1. Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrochloric acid is the main ingredient that quickly fights and removes stubborn stains that builds up the yellowish mineral layer on your bathtub. Nonetheless, it is also efficient in unclogging the drains and pipes.
However, hydrochloric acid is extremely strong and corrosive which is why with time it will permanently damage the delicate glossy surface of your bathtub and eat away the bathtub grout.
In addition, it can also cause burns if it gets in contact with your skin and produces toxic corrosive fumes. The corrosive fumes may irritate and burn the inner lining of the nose, throat, windpipe, and lungs resulting in respiratory infections and diseases.
2. Bleach
The bleaching agent in the toilet bowl cleaner restores the sparkling new look of your bathtub after cleaning it. That’s because they contain whitening properties and on top of that, they are capable of killing germs.
However, they are harsh and active enough to attack the surface of your bathtub as well thus causing it to lose its shiny and smooth finishing.
Due to this, it can cause irreversible stains on the surface after eating away the protective coating on your bathtub. Nevertheless, bleach is also extremely harmful when ingested or inhaled.
3. Ammonia
Ammonia is a weaker base but is made out of active ingredients with disinfecting qualities and is effective at removing stains, mold, and mildew. Like bleach and HCL it can damage the protective coating of your bathtub.
The main downside of ammonia is that it leaves behind residue which can easily attract more dirt resulting in discoloration of your bathtub. Nonetheless, the residual effects of ammonia may also cause skin irritation and allergic symptoms because it contains aquatic toxicity.
Friendly Alternatives to Toilet Bowl Cleaners For Cleaning Bathtub
Instead of using toilet bowl cleaner to clean and restore its luxurious shiny look, we strongly recommend you to use these friendly alternatives. They include;
- Vinegar and Baking Soda
- Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda is an old method, yet effective and convenient in cleaning the bathtub without destroying it.
Follow the how-to guide below to help you clean your bathtub with vinegar and baking soda:
Step 1: Clear out unwanted items
Clear out unwanted items or material in the bathtub and wet it thoroughly especially on the stains and mildew. If there are any excess soap or shampoo drips use hot water to rinse away.
Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda and Scrub the Tub
Then sprinkle the baking powder all over the bathtub and sprinkle more where you spot stains and mildew. After sprinkling, allow it to sit for like 10 minutes, and then use a scrub brush to scrub all over your bathtub while ensuring you get into the corners as well.
Do not rinse the baking powder paste after finishing with scrubbing.
Step 3: Break out the Vinegar
Wear gloves and deep your scrub brush into the vinegar to scrub the tub. The reason for using vinegar is to disinfect the bathtub and it also helps to activate baking soda for deep cleaning purposes.
Step 4: Rinse your Bathtub Using Hot Water
Use hot water to rinse away the baking soda and vinegar paste after brushing your bathtub thoroughly.
When rinsing the bathtub make sure you confirm if there is any mildew or spots left behind.
Step 5: Removing the Dark Spot Leftovers
If there are any mildew or dark spot leftovers on your bathtub after rinsing, start the same way as the steps above. However, it would be good to add dish soap to easily lift the hard spots. When you are done rinse thoroughly with hot water.
Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
You can also make your homemade all-purpose cleaner using essential oil-microbial oil, vinegar, and water. Simply take a liter of distilled water, add a substantial amount of vinegar and then add some essential anti-microbial oils inside the mixture.
Because vinegar is mildly acidic it can successfully remove tough stains on your bathtub and grouts without discoloring and corroding the protective coating on your bathtub.
The significance of adding anti-microbial oil is to kill germs and bacteria and leave a lasting smell in your bathtub.
See Also: 7 Tips On How to Remove Old Bathtub Sticker Residue
Wrap Up
Besides being efficient and convenient in removing stains, we strongly advise you not to use toilet bowl cleaner due to the above-mentioned reasons.
Therefore, if you want the luxurious look of your bathtub to last longer, it is advisable to use friendly alternatives to clean your bathtub.
That’s because they are also effective, convenient, and health-friendly, but make sure you wear gloves while cleaning your bathtub for hygienic reasons.
