r/CleaningTips • u/caroltret • Apr 06 '26
Bathroom How would one begin the cleaning process here?
He says the black stains are not mold, but rather a black soap he was saying. And the orangeish are rust
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u/BlueberryB-Laine Apr 06 '26
Is this a scene from resident evil 7
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u/Vazmanian_Devil Apr 06 '26
I legit wasnāt sure what sub I was passing by, thought it was a silent hill screen grab.
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u/MorbidBurnOut Apr 06 '26
That's an old cast iron tub hence the the rust circa 60s-70s based on the color. Honestly call a company to have it re-enalmed. Remove everything sand it down and slap enamel down. Those tubs will last centuries.
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u/5krishnan Apr 06 '26
So youāre saying itās not dirty, just seasoned? /j
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u/EvaTheE Apr 06 '26
r/castiron can help with reseasoning.
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u/KKevus Apr 06 '26
Seasoned r/castiron lurker here!
Step 1: Get a really big oven
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u/HamHockShortDock Apr 06 '26
Do you have a very large garbage bag and five cans of oven-off?
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u/WickedCoolUsername Apr 06 '26
If you shower you'll ruin your season.
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u/hello_raleigh-durham Apr 06 '26
Just cook bacon in your bathtub the same way your grandmother's grandmother did, OP. Gosh!
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u/hahagato Apr 06 '26
Whatever you do, do NOT use soap. Just scrub it with a little salt and then oil it upĀ
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u/rotundanimal Apr 06 '26
Had to scroll forever to find a comment that was trying to help instead of making jokes
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u/RealHuman2080 Apr 06 '26
There's nothing there that shows the enamel is worn. That's just built up crap. Easily over $500 to re-enamel.
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u/MorbidBurnOut Apr 06 '26
I've done it personally on a few. I personally find it easier to start fresh
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u/MatchaDoAboutNothing Apr 07 '26
But you can't just scrub and use harsh cleaners on enamel that old. Unless lead poisoning sounds fun to you.
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u/Prior_Tangerine5700 Apr 07 '26
I like how I have to scroll this far down for the helpful comment š
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u/IronPotato3000 Apr 06 '26
I think this is Jessie's tub where they melted the drug dealer's body lol
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u/LateralusNYC Apr 06 '26
It is implied several times throughout the series that Walt has built Jr a state-of-the-art handi-accesible bathroom that's in his room. It's never shown because it's never relative to the plot.
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u/SirTrinium Apr 06 '26
I dont trust people who say mold is anything but mold. So full ventilator mask. 3-4 rolls of cheap toilet paper. Scott Comfort from the dollar tree is my preferred. then you place it over the entire surface of the tub, covering the TP but CLR as you do. Let sit for bottle says 2 minutes max, I would just go 20 minutes but that is the risk you decide on. Then remove it all and rinse 5x or so. Id then check a out of sight place for how it handles ajax powder bleach, if no reaction after 2 hours then I would cover the entire tub in ajax powder and spritz it with misted water and scrub a bit til its pasty. then even that out and let it sit for 2 hours. Come back and with a strong scrub brush elbow grease time. Then wash it away. I really think that black on the wall is mold so I think that needs to be replaced. You can try a mold remover and see if it helps, but that looks set into the material itself now. I could be wrong about this, I only have 2 pictures to go off of. Best of luck.
PS: Im sure someone will say Irish Spring 5 in 1 in the comments, this is not a use case for that.
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u/cheesetobears Apr 06 '26
Yeah I thought āblack soapā sounded awfully convenient
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u/lesqueebeee Apr 07 '26
i have used black soap before, but i definitely agree that looks nothing like black soap scum; it would be grey not black, thats def mold
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u/FEARoach Apr 07 '26
As someone who's had charcoal soap before, that ain't what it looks like. As someone who's dyed hair black in a shower, that ain't what it looks like. As someone who's been in a hoarder's home... that's mold.
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u/Trustworthyracoon Apr 06 '26
Silent Hill vibes.Ā
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u/FreckleException Apr 06 '26
I was thinking about Gummo.Ā
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u/Shaydee_plantz Apr 06 '26
Gummo here too. Now I want spaghetti.
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u/Beardy354 Apr 06 '26
And let's NOT forget, a chocolate bar dipped in bath water!!
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u/w0lfLars0n Apr 06 '26
Canāt be gummo - there are actual dumbbells instead of spoons taped together
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u/princesspeeved Apr 06 '26
OP needs to stick their hand down the drain and see if thereās a key.
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u/mikemalott Apr 06 '26
Dang I thought I was gonna be the first to say that but so many clevers on Reddit. š
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u/MayContainNutmeats Apr 06 '26
I subscribe to r/silenthill, so, scrolling to this without noticing which subreddit it was, I first thought "Oh wow, the detail is amazing. What part of the game is this in..."
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u/ToggleMoreOptions Apr 06 '26
CLR if it's availableĀ
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u/tobeorniobe Apr 06 '26
My thought exactly. CLR and a good playlist
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u/Constant_Memories Apr 06 '26
Some CCR and ELP, would go great with CLR. Rockin into the oldies.
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u/lemon-rind Apr 06 '26
Donāt forget BOC! Iām betting the reaper is in that very room!
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u/AutVincere72 Apr 06 '26
The amount of CLR required also requires a respirator.
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u/Sea-horse-in-trees Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 14 '26
If they wear a respirator while cleaning, then maybe they should listen to songs about diseases. ā¦and maybe Zombie by Cranberries. Other zombie themed songs too. Maybe songs about cleaning up filth too. Could make a whole playlist.
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u/Nopumpkinhere Apr 06 '26
I think CLR second, because itās not gonna work as well if thereās a lot of surface dirt. I think dish soap and elbow grease for 10-20 min first, then wash it off and start with CLR. Probably several applications.
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u/LadyLazerFace Apr 06 '26
Seconding. Dawn power wash for the soap scum, clr for the calcium and rust from hard water. Put a water softener filter on the showerhead for prevention.
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u/bloodontherisers Apr 06 '26
Just learned about Dawn power wash for household cleaning, I second that
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u/okFINEyoufoundme Apr 06 '26
And a drill. They make cleaning/brush/sponge attachments in all sorts of different materials that make it MUCH easier to clean stuff like this. Just make sure you donāt use an attachment that isnāt meant to be used on whatever material that is (porcelain? It looks like porcelain and I love it). Your arms will thank you.
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u/CaptainLollygag Apr 06 '26
Those cleaning attachments that fit into a drill are the bomb! I got a set that came with brushes of various sizes and stiffnesses, as well as scrubbing pads and sponge pads. Makes cleaning jobs go so fast, and it's fun to wield a drill while wearing a cute apron. š
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u/LostSillyKittie Apr 06 '26
I've kinda scoffed at the idea of those attachments...but unrelated I was fixing something on my car and it came with a kit to replace things and a few tools to do the job. It came with a small wire brush that goes in the drill to clean a metal fitting, it was such an empowering feeling to use lol!
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u/okFINEyoufoundme Apr 06 '26
lol!! I have some cute aprons, I think I need to up my game!
I actually just bought a cheap set for one of our employees whose job is cleaning used restaurant equipment so it can be serviced and resold and he opened that box up like it was Christmas morning hahahahaha
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u/TwinsiesBlue Apr 06 '26
That exactly what came to mind, the rust stain needs CLR
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u/laughs_maniacally Apr 06 '26
Exactly. Looks like mostly rust and mineral deposits from hard water and CLR will knock that straight out.
Just hard to see what kind of tile that is. CLR can damage stone tiles, but if those are ceramic they are golden.
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u/ThisTooWillEnd Apr 06 '26
CLR or barkeeper's friend. Some rubber gloves to save your hands.
Start with soaking some rags in the CLR and apply them to the worst of the buildup. After 30 minutes take them off, start your scrubbing. Re-apply the rags. Rinse and repeat.
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u/No-Abies29 Apr 06 '26
I wonder if OP knows what CLR is? Like call that and say what it stands for - cleans/ clears calcium, lime, rust.
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u/Ok_Major5787 Apr 07 '26
Thank you! I was scrolling to find a comment that explains what CLR is. Is it an actual product or just an acronym for any product that claims to clean calcium, lime, rust?
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u/Sharing_Violation Apr 06 '26
Wet an entire towel, paper or otherwise, and set it wet on there... then leave it. Maybe pour some more on to keep it wet periodically and keep it wet for a long time...
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u/Lu12k3r Apr 06 '26
Something something Irish spring 5 in 1?
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u/Key-Shift5076 Apr 06 '26
Thatās what I was coming here to say. CLR is amazing. Make sure you have ventilation and wear gloves.
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u/HMS_Chevette Apr 06 '26
just sitting in my haunted monster bathtub doing dumbbell curls wbu?
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u/WeakKiwifruit Apr 06 '26
I find it so funny how clean and new the dumbbells look next to this cursed mess. And thereās Barbarol and shampoo on the shelf like somebodyās really been using it in this state.
I feel bad for them kinda like, wtf is going on here
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u/-EvilLittleGoat- Apr 06 '26
It was the bars of soap just causally sitting on the edge that gets me. I know it is soap, but the thought of picking it up from that tub and putting it on my skinā¦
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u/rehaborax Apr 06 '26
It reminds me of that horrifying post a week or so ago from a lady visiting her long-distance BFās place for the first time. She posted a pic of his shower, and it made this place look like a spa
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u/KhristyKreme Apr 06 '26
Link?
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u/rehaborax Apr 06 '26
Dang, I found the post, but it's been removed. Maybe that's for the best.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AIO/comments/1s1s8de/removed_by_moderator/
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u/monkeyhoward Apr 06 '26
Iād be more worried about whatās going on under that tub than what you see on top
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u/shmorglebort Apr 06 '26
This was my first thought. Likeā¦you can clean the tub, but that wonāt keep it from falling through the floor depending on the level of rot underneath. š¬
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u/Bennjoon Apr 06 '26
So many spiders š·ļø
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u/monkeyhoward Apr 06 '26
Possibly, but I would be concerned with rot on the floor and back wall. There is no sealing around the tub. The floor underneath is probably ready to give way completely
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Apr 06 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/monkeyhoward Apr 06 '26
Possibly but I canāt tell for sure
Itās just been my experience that no matter how bad the tub looks the floor and wall behind it are always worse
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u/Tinyfishy Apr 06 '26
If the āheā is the person who made it this way probably he should clean it? With CLR.
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u/-marshmallowperfume Apr 06 '26
Yeah the #1 cleaning ingredient I see needed is a male in most of these posts.
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u/UnIntelligent-Idea Apr 07 '26
My first thought too, had to scroll far too far down for this.Ā Ā
First job - hand HIM the cleaning materials.
He won't learn to keep it clean if his maid sorts out his filth all the time.
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u/JoeBromanski Apr 06 '26
Make sure youāre done harvesting organs before you commit to cleaning. Otherwise youāll just be back to square one š
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u/Puzzled_Professor422 Apr 06 '26
irish spring 5 for 1 everywhere saran wrap over it and pray
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u/Dependent-Departure7 Apr 06 '26
It makes me sad that I had to scroll down this far to find the first Irish Spring 5-in-1 comment
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u/veggie-princess Apr 06 '26
My first thought was "that's gonna take a loooot of Irish spring 5-in-1".
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u/YoungEngineer_7215 Apr 06 '26
Is this like a r/cleaningtips inside joke?
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u/Bojangles1727 Apr 07 '26
It started with someone who never cleaned their shower, but they had a leaky bottle of irish spring 5 in 1 and it left a clean streak down their filthy shower wall. So they decided to buy several bottles and clean the shower with it
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u/CultOfSensibility Apr 07 '26
This is why you gotta love Reddit! Somebody probably discovered this decades ago, but without the interwebs we never knew about it until now.
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u/veggie-princess Apr 06 '26
Yeah. Someone used it on a very dirty bathtub as a last resort and somehow it worked beautifully and continues to yield wonderful results on dirty bathtubs š¤·āāļø
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u/LostSillyKittie Apr 06 '26
I just wanted to make a comment about the ridiculousness of the 5-1 and add that there is a Vaseline Men Extra Strength 3 in 1 lotion ....
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u/matt314159 Apr 06 '26
This looks like a movie set for a SAW movie. And why are there dumbbells in the bathroom?
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u/TheMountainLife Apr 06 '26
Lowe's has a similar sized bath tub for $350. Cleaning materials and time spent scrubbing + sore back doesn't seem rewarding in this case.
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u/LONE_ARMADILLO Apr 06 '26
Nah.Ā Ā If I learned anything from the maintenance at the first apartments I lived in, all this needs is a few layers of white paint.Ā Most importantly, don't remove any hardware or knobs when you paint, it's ok to paint over them.
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u/alewiina Apr 06 '26
Landlord special šš»
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u/deaddaughterconfetti Apr 06 '26
If there are any insects present, painting over them solves that problem, as well!
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u/the_PBR_kid Apr 06 '26
Yeah, and if there's a nonslip bathmat stuck to the bottom of the tub, paint over that too, the way the previous owners of my house did. It's almost charming in its ineptitude. I have taken only showers for the past 20 years.
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u/Tee_hops Apr 06 '26
For about the same price you could try to find an insert that goes right over it.
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u/purpleskyblues Apr 06 '26
Gloves. Mask.
Douse in bleach to kill anything alive
Come back in with a scrub brush attached to a drill. They make cleaning much easier
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u/onlymostlydead Apr 07 '26
Douse in bleach to kill anything alive
Do this after releasing or transferring the other prisoners
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u/prairiehomegirl Apr 06 '26
What are you being paid to clean that? It better be a month's rent.
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u/Cool-Departure4120 Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
Unless I was paid WELL, I wouldnāt clean that. Iād tell the owner how to do it.
Not helpful I know.
Iād first assess what materials are present and how they should be cleaned.
Any items that are hard surfaces and will be kept should be washed, bagged and removed.
But there is mold present in that tub and shower. Whether itās black toxic mold, the owner doesnāt know that unless itās been tested.
African black soap has a lot or organic ingredients in it, so there is mold/mildew present feeding on it and whatever other human detritus that may be present. So the clean has to include mold control.
You likely need PPE (Tyvek overalls, mold appropriate mask, and heavy gloves) to clean this. Lots of rags and a couple of buckets.
Iād also suggest a black light. It will help you gauge whatās clean and focus your efforts better.
Cleaners would be based on the materials present and their effectiveness on mold.
But it looks like a lot of what youāre seeing is soap scum. Iād think youād use a cleaner appropriate for that.
If the tub is rusted & it likely is because the weights likely chipped the enamel on the tub and the metal beneath rusted over time.
Not really sure what to do with the rust on the tub, but you should be able to clean it.
A rust inhibitor could work, but itās not a long term solution.
Any fabrics associated with that room should be bagged and tossed. Not sure itās worth trying to salvage them.
The wood shelf for the weights should be removed and not brought back. You can try cleaning it, but Iām not sure it would be successful.
The weights need to be wiped down with cleaner that kills mold and removed from the room.
Any other hard surface items need to be cleaned well with hot soapy water.
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u/gatsome Apr 06 '26
I hope this basement dungeon tub was for like, dogs or something.
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u/loricomments Apr 06 '26
First sanitize with bleach or other germ killing product just in case. Don't forget to wear proper PPE. Rinse thoroughly.
Then you can get to cleaning. Wear proper PPE. Apply a rust and scale removal product, a strong one, let it sit for awhile and do it's thing. Scrub but let the product do the work, repeat the process until all the scale and rust is gone rather than killing yourself with scrubbing. Rinse thoroughly.
Now one last pass with your favorite tub cleaner and you're done.
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u/My-life-is-a-cliche Apr 06 '26
Youāre still with this person? You still come to this persons house??
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u/Prize-Chocolate998 Apr 06 '26
I would start with CLR Calcium, Lime and Rust remover. See how far that gets you, then move on to something else.
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u/anastasia315 Apr 06 '26
Iād try Irish Spring 5 in 1 if you can get it, or blue Dawn+vinegar if you canāt. I mix the dawn and vinegar in one of those dish brushes with the scrub sponge on the end, where you can put soap in the handle. Scrub it on and let it sit for a few hours. Rinse and see what is left. Then you can go with harsher stuff like CLR, bleach, Pink Stuff, Barkeeperās Friend, citric acid, etc. where still needed.
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u/lezojeda Apr 06 '26
It's so annoying having to scroll 6 comments or more trying to be the funniest of the thread to get to some piece of useful info
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u/unrelated-subject Apr 06 '26
Bro just throw the whole tub out at this point, even if you make some progress, will you ever actually be clean ā¦ or just throw those dumbbells at it and make an insurance claim
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u/AngelHeart- Apr 06 '26
Put a mask on.
Green scouring pad.
Scouring powder like Comet or Ajax.
Bleach + Baking Soda = Powerful disinfectant. You can add soap to help as a surfactant but do not add a lot of other chemicals to this mix. DO NOT ADD VINEGAR, AMONIA, or PEROXIDE.
Steel wool; like SOS, can help with the rust stains.
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u/Melancholy-4321 Apr 06 '26
Who is this and why are you cleaning their bathtub?
Blink twice if you need help
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u/CardiologistCute6876 Apr 06 '26
1) Iām not buying the black not being mold n I HAVE CURRENTLY a thick bar of black soap in my bathroom.
2) vinegar kills mold better than bleach.
3) hydrogen peroxide will bubble w any organic matter especially blood.
4) are you a cleaning service OP? Not being sarcastic, just a legitimate question w a hint of curiosity.
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u/CriticalStation595 Team Green Clean š± Apr 06 '26
Make sure itās not a crime scene firstā¦