Natural Remedies for Bathtub Rings

Baking Soda

• Baking soda is good for making biscuits, but it is also good for scouring. It is a mild abrasive that absorbs odors and grease. Sprinkle plain baking soda on the bathtub ring, wet a sponge, ring it out and scrub. Baking soda should not dull a shiny finish on tubs, but do a test in an inconspicuous area first to make sure. For stubborn bathtub rings, combine 1/2 cup baking soda with 2 to 3 drops Murphy's Oil Soap and add water to make a paste. There will be a harmless chemical reaction as the mixture foams. Place the paste on a sponge and scrub the ring away.

Vinegar

• Vinegar is a de-greaser and removes scum and mineral deposits. It has the added advantage of being a deodorizer too. Use white distilled vinegar and combine it with baking soda for a super cleaner. Apply vinegar to the ring with a sponge, then apply baking soda with the same sponge and scrub. Vinegar also does a good job on rust or iron stains.

Lemons

• Lemon juice is acidic and whitens or bleaches. Lemon juice works well on hard water or rust rings. Either cut a lemon in half and rub the cut side on the bathtub ring or use lemon juice rubbed into the ring. Sprinkle the ring with salt first and squeeze lemon on the area. Let it sit for a few minutes to a couple of hours and rub it out. Test on an inconspicuous area first to be sure it doesn't scratch the surface. Sea salt is very abrasive but table salt is a bit gentler.

Hydrogen Peroxide

• Hydrogen peroxide whitens and it is also an antiseptic. It may bubble and foam a bit when applied, but that just means it is working. Put a few tablespoons of cream of tartar, found in the spice section of the grocery store, in a bowl. Add enough peroxide to make a paste. Apply the paste to the ring and scrub with a soft scrub brush.