How to Care for a Refinished Bathtub

How to Care for a Refinished Bathtub

You’ve invested in a new finish for your bathtub. Don’t ruin it with harsh cleaners and scouring pads. The Tub Guys are experts in keeping your newly refinished tub in perfect shape for years to come. Here is a closer look at how to care for a refinished bathtub.

1. Understand Your Tub’s New Surface

Your tub’s new surface is an aliphatic acrylic polyurethane enamel. In other words, it’s a high-tech polymer coating that is hard, long-lasting, and durable. The technology we use on your tub was invented by NASA to protect the exterior of spacecraft.

Now, your tub isn’t taking off for the stars anytime soon, but it does require a hard, durable surface to protect it against scum and hard water. While your new tub surface is tough, it’s not invincible. Harsh chemicals and hard scrubbing can create tiny abrasions in the surface of the finish. Over time, those abrasions harbor grime, scum, and hard water stains. This is why it’s important to avoid these products and opt for effective, gentle methods.

2. Do the Mirror Check

Put simply: If you wouldn’t use a cleaner or a scrubber on your mirror, don’t use it on your refinished tub. Generally, products that are safe for use on glass or porcelain are safe for your refinished tubs. Yes, that means tossing the Ajax, Comet, Soft Scrub, SOS pads, and green scrubbies. These are much too harsh and can damage your tub’s surface.

3. Choose Effective Products

So, what can you use on your refinished tub? We recommend a microfiber cloth or soft sponge and an all-purpose cleaning spray. Use these products on your tub weekly to keep it looking its best (and safe and healthy for your family).

4. Allow Your Tub to Dry Out

Moisture is the cause of many gross tub issues. Avoid these problems by allowing your tub to dry out completely between uses. Open up the shower curtain and run the fan. Air flow helps dry out your tub and keep it fresh.

5. Move Your Products Around

Picking up and putting down shampoo and body wash bottles day after day, year after year in the same spot can cause premature failure in the coating under the bottles. Try to rotate where you store your products.

6. Ban the Bath Mat

No suction-cup bath mats, ever! They can pull on the finish and harbor moisture, both causes of premature failure of your tub’s new surface. If you want to improve traction in your tub, we can add texture to the refinished surface for just $35.

7. The Dad’s Car Test

If you’re wondering if you can or can’t use a product or otherwise use your tub for non-bathing tasks, ask yourself this one question: Would you be willing to do what you’re about to do to the paint on your dad’s car? Stand on it with socks? Sure! Stand on it with boots? Carefully. Prop a ladder up in it? Nope!

At Tub Guys, we stand behind our process and want you to be able to enjoy it for years to come. We offer a five-year guarantee on the product and craftsmanship in owner-occupied homes. Want a quote for your tub refinishing project? Request a quote from the Tub Guys today.