How to Care Your Clawfoot Bathtub

Now that you have your elegant cast-iron bathtub from Simply Bathtubs installed in your bathroom, how do you go about maintaining it's pristine condition? Before you go out to the store to buy any products, you must first understand that treating a cast iron tub is radically different from treating an acrylic one. Find out what yours is made out of and then you can proceed with this guide.

Cast Iron Clawfoot Bathtubs
In cleaning your cast iron clawfoot bathtub, you must absolutely avoid scrubbing it with anything abrasive such as a silicon sponge or sand paper. These materials would cause a rapid deterioration of even the most thick layers of enamel coating. Because the porcelain finish of a cast iron bathtub is difficult to penetrate, use a household cleansing paste. You would apply the paste to the surface of the tub and let it set in. Aferwards, lightly scrub the interior of the tub with a soft cloth to remove any build-up. If you don't think you need such an extensive clean, you may simply use mild soap and a soft cloth. Care for the exterior of the tub is similar to the interior. Depending on how soiled it is, you can use a mild soap or a paste. Whatever you do, do not aggressively scrub any part of the clawfoot bathtub as it could lead to a dull finish. In extreme cases, especially with very old bathtubs, you may have rust stains on your porcelan interior veneer. You should use a mild cleaner such as a solution consisting of one part muriatic acid (can be found in any hardware store) and one part water. 

Acrylic Clawfoot Bathtubs
Like the cast iron clawfeet bathtub, acrylic tubs require that you refrain from using abrasive scrubs. It is also recommended that you don't use cleaners containing chemicals because they will destroy the acrylic surface. When in doubt, simply employ mild soap and water. Should the acrylic inside the tub scratch, you can buff the affected area with a polishing compound. If this doesn't work, you can break the "no-abrasive cleaner" rule by using a sandpaper gently with a bit of water to sand off the scratch. Afterwards, apply a polishing compound.

Finally, after you are done cleaning your clawfoot bathtub, remember to dry the surface of your tub--inside and out.