How to Clean and Care for a Refinished Bathtub
The first 48 hours, the first month, the weekly routine, the cleaners that are safe and the ones that void the warranty, plus a printable checklist.
Caring for a refinished tub is easy, with a short list of rules
A refinished bathtub — also called a reglazed or resurfaced tub — is cleaned with mild dish soap, a soft sponge and a spray foaming cleanser two or three times a week. Never abrasives, scouring pads, bleach or acids, never a suction-cup mat, and nothing on the surface for the first 48 hours.
A fresh reglaze is a professionally applied coating rather than factory porcelain, and it rewards a slightly different routine. The surface is smooth and less porous than worn porcelain, so soap and dirt do not grip it and it wipes clean with very little effort; what it does not tolerate is a short list of products and habits that wear any coating down before its time. This guide brings together our printed aftercare instructions, the aftercare and warranty sections of our service terms and policies and the cure rules from our area preparation guide. Follow it and a refinished tub stays bright for the 5 to 10 years we publish.
The first 48 hours: leave it alone
Cleaning too soon is one of the most common ways a fresh reglaze gets damaged. Most fixtures are described as ready about 24 hours after coating, but our aftercare instructions ask for the full 48 hours with nothing on the surface, the rule that protects the finish and your warranty.
- Do not use the fixture for 48 hours. Nothing goes on it, especially water: no cleaner, wax, bath mat or bottles, nothing hung over the edge.
- Leave the room as the crew left it. Do not open windows, touch the tub or turn on fans: moving air drops dust into the wet coating. If something falls in, leave it; it wears off within the first month.
- Leave the showerhead bags in place. If a bag fills, replace it and make sure the water is fully off; drips cause divots that damage the finish.
- Keep children and pets away from the tub, and allow at least 5 hours of ventilation before anyone re-enters the home; see is refinishing safe.
- After the cure, remove leftover tape and paper, replace the drain cover and stopper, and re-caulk around the drain, overflow and tub edge only if necessary, never with self-adhesive caulk strips. Hardware and shower doors go back on 48 hours after the reglaze.
The first month, then the weekly routine
Days 3 to 30
For the first month, clean with nothing stronger than mild dish soap and a soft sponge. Any surface dust from the spraying dissipates on its own in three to four weeks with normal cleaning; do not pick it off. Keep mats and rugs out for about a week, and keep everyone off a refinished tile floor for the first 24 to 48 hours.
Every use
- Rinse. A quick rinse with warm water clears soap residue and body oils before they dry.
- Wipe. A little mild liquid dish soap on a soft, non-abrasive sponge is all a normal clean needs.
- Dry. Wiping the tub dry with a microfiber cloth prevents water spots and hard-water buildup, the two things most likely to dull a finish.
Two or three times a week
Clean with a spray foaming cleanser such as Duroklean, Simple Green or Scrubbing Bubbles and a soft sponge. After the first 30 days you can also use a non-aerosol cleaner that specifically states it is a soap-scum remover; trigger-pump bottles from any grocery store, not aerosol cans. That is the whole routine.
Habits that add years
- Never store bottles, cloths or soap directly on the finish
- Hair dye, cosmetics and nail-polish remover off it; rinse spills at once
- No shoes in the tub, no dropped razors or bottles
- Fix dripping faucets; keep the caulk maintained
- No tape, stickers or bath bombs, ever
Approved and forbidden cleaners
The wrong products dull, scratch or slowly eat through any coating, and etching, dulling or staining from a product not approved in our care instructions is excluded from the warranty. The lists below are from our aftercare instructions.
| Product or tool | Use it? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mild liquid dish soap | Yes | Everyday, and the only cleaner for the first 30 days. |
| Spray foaming cleansers (Duroklean, Simple Green, Scrubbing Bubbles) | Yes | Two or three times a week. |
| Non-aerosol soap-scum remover, trigger-pump | Yes, after 30 days | Must state it is a soap-scum remover. |
| Non-abrasive liquid bathroom cleaner labeled safe for acrylic or refinished surfaces | Yes | Trigger-pump bottles, not aerosol cans. |
| Soft sponge, microfiber cloth, soft-bristle brush | Yes | The only tools you need. |
| Abrasive powders and cleansers (Comet, Ajax, Bar Keepers Friend, gritty “soft scrub” products) | Never | Grit micro-scratches the gloss and dulls it over time. |
| Scouring pads, steel wool, magic-eraser pads | Never | Anything made to scrub hard hazes the finish. |
| Bleach and products with bleach (Clorox) | Never | Breaks the coating down and can discolor it. |
| Acid-based cleaners (Lime-Away, Tile-X, Visol, Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner, tile and grout cleaners) | Never | Acids etch the surface; not covered. |
| Windex, oven cleaner | Never | On the avoid list in our aftercare instructions. |
| Drain openers (Liquid Plumber, Drain-O, acid drain openers) | Never on the surface | A spill can stain or etch the finish. |
| Aerosol bathroom sprays | Avoid | Solvents and propellants; choose trigger-pump bottles. |
| Bath bombs | Strongly advised against | Harsh chemicals and dyes that scratch, discolor and stain. |
The simplest rule: if a product is marketed as heavy-duty, extra-strength or abrasive, keep it away from the tub. For a more detailed list, give us a call.
Mats, suction cups and adhesives
One of the most common causes of premature finish failure has nothing to do with cleaners: it is the rubber bath mat. Suction-cup mats, and any mat left lying in the tub, trap water underneath. That stagnant water breeds bacteria and works at the finish, leading to discoloration and lifting; the suction cups pull at the finish when the mat comes up, and most rubberized mats react with the coating under hot water. Our terms say it directly: we strongly advise against suction-cup mats, and damage caused by them is not covered.
- Use a mat without suction cups, so water cannot be sealed against the surface.
- Remove it after every bath or shower and hang it to dry. Never leave a wet mat sitting in the tub. Damage from a non-slip mat left in place between uses is excluded.
- No adhesives of any kind. Non-slip stickers, daisy appliqués, decals, tape and self-adhesive caulk strips damage the surface when they come off; excluded too.
- Want grip without a mat? Our slip-resistant treatment adds texture to the standing area during refinishing.
Hard water, soap scum and standing water
Much of California has hard water, and mineral deposits are one of the main things that dull a finish over time. The defense is the drying step: a tub wiped dry after each use does not develop spots. When soap scum or spots do appear, spray a non-abrasive, non-aerosol soap-scum remover, let it dwell a few minutes, wipe gently with a soft sponge, then rinse and dry. No scrubbing pressure, and no acid descalers such as Lime-Away.
If water puddles anywhere on the fixture, it is the owner’s or tenant’s responsibility to dry the surface after each use, because stagnant water creates bacteria that damage the finish. Damage from standing water, hard-water deposits, leaks, failed grout or caulk, or failure to dry the surface is not a warranty defect. Whether you found us searching for bathtub refinishing near you in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside or San Bernardino counties, or the Bay Area from San Francisco and Marin to Santa Clara, the same care rules apply; our service areas page lists every city.
Chips, dulling and a finish that has worn
Chips. Dropped bottles, razors and hard-edged toys chip a coating, and impact damage is excluded from the warranty. They are not the end of the finish: our bathtub repair service fills and blends a chip, or refinishes the whole surface when the damage is wider.
Peeling, blistering or flaking. If the coating lifts or separates on its own within the warranty period, that is what the written warranty is for: two years on bathtubs, showers, tile walls, countertops and bathroom sinks, six months on kitchen sinks. Report it within 15 days and we will inspect and repair the area; full terms are on the limited warranty and our warranty page.
Dull, stained, worn. If the tub has lost its shine, has stains that will not lift or thin spots in high-use areas, cleaning will not bring it back; every finish has a lifespan. A worn tub is simply refinished again in a single day for $350–$500. Send photos through our free quote form and we will tell you which of the three it is.
Refinished tub care checklist
Simply Reglaze · 1 (855) 450-5335 · simplyreglaze.com/care-and-cleaning
First 48 hours
- Nothing on the fixture, especially water, for 48 hours
- Windows closed, fans off, tub untouched; leave any debris alone
- Showerhead bags stay on; water fully off; no drips
- Children and pets out of the bathroom
- After 48 hours: remove tape and paper, replace drain cover and stopper, re-caulk only if needed
First 30 days
- Mild dish soap and a soft sponge only
- Do not pick at surface dust; it wears off in 3–4 weeks
- Mats and rugs stay out for about a week
Every week, for years
- Rinse, wipe and dry after each use
- Clean 2–3 times a week with a spray foaming cleanser (Duroklean, Simple Green, Scrubbing Bubbles)
- After 30 days: trigger-pump, non-aerosol soap-scum remover if needed
- Never: abrasive powders, scouring pads, steel wool, bleach, acids, Windex, oven cleaner, drain openers, aerosols, bath bombs
- Mat without suction cups, removed after each use and hung to dry; no stickers, tape or adhesives
- Hair dye, cosmetics, perfume and nail-polish remover off the surface; rinse spills at once
- No bottles stored on the finish, no shoes in the tub, no sharp or heavy objects
- Fix leaking faucets; maintain the caulk
Failure to follow these instructions may void your warranty. Full terms: simplyreglaze.com/service-terms-and-policies
Refinished bathtub care questions
Rinse after each use, wipe with a soft sponge and mild liquid dish soap, and dry the surface. Two or three times a week use a spray foaming cleanser such as Duroklean, Simple Green or Scrubbing Bubbles; after 30 days a trigger-pump, non-aerosol soap-scum remover is fine. Never abrasive powders, scouring pads, bleach or acid-based products.
Mild liquid dish soap, spray foaming cleansers like Duroklean, Simple Green or Scrubbing Bubbles, non-abrasive liquid bathroom cleaners labeled safe for acrylic or refinished surfaces, and, after 30 days, a non-aerosol trigger-pump soap-scum remover, applied with a soft sponge, microfiber cloth or soft-bristle brush.
Comet, Ajax, Bar Keepers Friend and any abrasive powder; scouring pads, steel wool and magic-eraser pads; bleach, Clorox and products with bleach; Lime-Away, Tile-X, Visol, Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner and other acid cleaners; Windex, oven cleaner, Liquid Plumber, Drain-O and acid drain openers; aerosol sprays; and bath bombs. Damage from them is not covered by the warranty.
Yes, but only a mat without suction cups, removed after every bath or shower and hung to dry. Suction-cup mats, non-slip stickers and any mat left sitting in the tub trap water against the coating and can lift or discolor it, and damage caused by them is not covered under the warranty.
Prevent them by wiping the tub dry after each use. To remove existing spots, spray a non-abrasive, non-aerosol soap-scum remover, let it dwell a few minutes, wipe gently, rinse and dry. Do not use Lime-Away or other acid descalers; damage from hard-water deposits is not a warranty defect.
A chip from a dropped bottle is repaired, not replaced: our bathtub repair service fills and blends the spot. Impact damage is excluded from the warranty, so keep heavy and sharp objects off the surface and never stand in the tub with shoes on.
We do not recommend it. Vinegar is an acid, and our aftercare instructions and warranty exclude acid-based products. A non-aerosol soap-scum remover does the same job without the risk.
Related: how long refinishing lasts, is refinishing safe, refinishing vs. reglazing, our process, bathtub refinishing, surfaces we refinish, reviews, all services.
Make it look brand new again
Send us two or three photos for a firm price — no site visit, no obligation, no fee.
Mon–Fri 7AM–5PM · Sat 8AM–12PM · Licensed & insured · Written 2-year warranty