The Secret Hack To Cleaning Rings Around Your Bathtub That's Hiding In Your Kitchen

No matter what you do, that ring around your bathtub just won't stay gone. It keeps coming back like a gnat hovering around a backyard barbecue. When it comes to cleaning products, you've tried just about everything from vinegar to diluted bleach solutions. But cleaning a stained bathtub doesn't have to be an impossible chore. There is one natural stain-fighting cleaner that you may not have considered, and it's one that's right in your kitchen and possibly even your refrigerator: Grapefruit. Yes, the big cousin of oranges and tangerines can work wonders on your bathtub's relentless dirt ring.

The secret to grapefruit's amazing cleaning ability when waging war against soap scum is that it contains citric acid, which is known to effectively break down dirt and grime. The ring around your tub is typically caused by a combination of hard water, body oils and residue, bath products, and in some cases, mold and mildew. Over time, it forms a sticky film that can be hard to remove. 

The cleaning properties in citric acid make it a formidable agent that can break up soap scum and remove stains, which is why lemons are so commonly used in natural cleaning solutions. With grapefruit, not only do you have a simple cleaner that can typically be purchased at the grocery store, but it's also an all-natural option, which may be ideal if sustainability is important to you when choosing cleaning products for your home. So the next time you deep clean your bathroom, try grabbing a grapefruit (and a bit of coarse salt) instead of your normal chemical spray.

You'll often see salt used in combination with the citrus fruits such as grapefruits, oranges, and lemons. The reason behind this is that salt acts as a gentle abrasive, giving the citric acid more scrubbing power to break up and lift tough stains. The salt also creates a polished surface, helping to keep soap scum from sticking to your bathtub. 

So to combat the unsightly ring around your bathtub, start by pouring ¼ cup of coarse salt into a bowl, then grab your grapefruit and a scrubbing pad or brush. Next, cut the grapefruit in half and sprinkle salt on top of it (a generous amount). Run the hot water for 2 to 3 seconds, just to wet the stain and loosen up any dirt. 

Then, take the remainder of your salt and sprinkle it across the tub. Now it's time to put a little elbow grease into the stain. Start by rubbing the salt-encrusted grapefruit all along the ring, making sure you leave some juice on the stain, and then go over it with your scrub brush. Letting the salt and pulp sit on the surface for a few minutes before scrubbing again is also helpful, especially for tough stains. For really stubborn stains, you can even leave the solution on them for an hour or more. After successfully removing the stain, rinse the tub thoroughly to remove all traces of pulp and salt. As a bonus, your bathroom will now smell fresh and clean, too!