How To Remove Paint from an Acrylic Tub or Bath

An acrylic bathtub is resistant to dirt and can make a beautiful addition to your bathroom.Many chemicals will destroy the material, so be careful.Even though it is one of the hardest materials to keep clean, with the right treatment you can take difficult stains like paint and other hard-drying messes out of your tub without ruining its surface.

Step 1: Take some hot water and put it over the paint spot.

If the paint spill is relatively fresh, you can flush it with hot water to get rid of it.If you have a shower head, you can use it to pour the hot water over the spill.The paint may mix with the water and stain other areas of the tub if you simply turn on the faucet and let it fill.If a lot of paint has been spilled, it's a good idea to first wipe it up with paper towels and then rinse it off.There is less chance for the paint to mix with the water.Don't use cold water to clean, soak or rinse your tub.Warm or hot water will keep messes from taking hold of the tub's surface.

Step 2: The spot should be washed with laundry detergent.

Pour a liberal amount of liquid laundry detergent into the tub after filling it with hot water.Liquid detergent doesn't contain abrasives that can take the finish off your tub.A concentrated sudsy solution will be created by the detergent spread throughout the water.If the stain has dried and set in, let the spot soak in the solution for a few hours or overnight.Laundry detergent is designed to cut through stubborn dirt and stains while acting gently on clothing fibers, making it ideal to treat an easily- damaged material.The solution of sufficient cleaning strength should be achieved by using 1-2 ounces of detergent per inch of water in the tub.

Step 3: By hand, scrub the stain.

You can go over the stain with a soft sponge.If you want the detergent solution to act on the stain as you scrub, drain the tub first.Softer scrubbers are better for use on acrylic because they are less likely to scratch the tub.You might have to scrub the area long and hard since a washcloth won't have the efficiency of an abrasive scrubber.You should be able to get the worst of the stain out by hand if the detergent dissolved enough.

Step 4: Wet the stain with water.

Warm or hot water can be used to wet the area after the initial work-over.To make sure the paint isn't allowed to dry on the tub, the area needs to be moist.Give the tub time to warm up by running the water over the floor.

Step 5: Baking soda can be put over the area.

Baking soda can be applied to the floor of the tub.Use a heavy hand around the stain.Baking soda can stick if the tub is wet.The baking soda will act as a mild abrasive which will help remove set-in stains from the tub.There is a natural chemical compound that will work in the place of baking soda.The paste from the baking soda will loosen the stain on its own.Leave this paste to sit on the stain for a while.

Step 6: Allow the stain to sit while you spray it.

Put a spray bottle with a liquid in it and apply it to the baking soda paste.The baking soda will be activated and a frothy layer will form on the tub.Allow the mixture to bubble for a while.The two will eat away at the accumulated gunk.If you prefer, you can use the sponge to treat the area.The effectiveness of manual cleaning will be enhanced by the reaction of the vinegar and baking soda.

Step 7: Remove the solution.

Again, use a cloth or sponge to scrub the area.Make sure the mixture of baking soda and vinegar has time to work on the stain.If necessary, repeat this process again to make sure that there is no trace of the paint stain.

Step 8: Only non-abrasive cleaners can be used.

You should choose non-abrasive cleaning products to treat your bathtub because it is highly susceptible to scratching and may react negatively when exposed to certain types of chemicals.Ordinary cleaning products that are recommended for bathtubs made of ceramic and other materials will likely be too harsh for use on your tub.The chemicals in the cleaners can eat away at the surface.Good results can be achieved with mild all-purpose cleaners like Kaboom and Scrubbing Bubbles Bathtub & Shower Cleaner.

Step 9: Take a test on your tub.

If you want to use a cleaning product on the rest of the tub, make sure it wipes away before you use it.Use non-abrasive cloths as well as cleanser.Do a little research on gentle cleaning products that are suitable for use on acrylic if you have doubts.If the cleaner you're testing doesn't affect the tub's surface or causes small cracks, stop use immediately and flush the spot with warm water.

Step 10: The cleaner needs to be applied to the stained area.

Allow the stain to sit for a while after hitting it with the cleaner.Most of the original stain should be gone by now.The cleaner will clean what's left.If you don't want the stain to dry, give it a quick wipe with a towel and use the cleaner only if there is no standing water in the tub.You can apply cleaner to the stained area frequently.Even if the stain doesn't come out with the first few attempts, it will continue to fade with future cleanings.

Step 11: Take care of the tub.

You can go over the area with a sponge or cloth.Use small motions with the cloth to get rid of stains.The entire tub should be washed with hot water after you've washed it.You will never be able to tell if the spill happened.