Can I Use An SOS Pad On My Bathtub?

What every homeowner wants is a bathroom that sparkles. The shine factor is how they know it's clean. Unfortunately, soap scum and stuck-on grime can hinder your tub's shining moment, so it's understandable when homeowners are looking for hard-hitting ways to clean tired, old tubs. When getting out the heavy hitters, though, don't turn to SOS pads or other tough-scouring products.

Steel wool can be incredible on pots, pans, grills and other metal-surface products, but it's murder on anything with a painted or glazed finish. If you take steel wool to a tub or other bathroom fixtures, you'll be taking off the enameled finish, not the grime. Steel wool is designed to be abrasive, but that's not what you want. You want a tough-scrubbing product, not a scratching one!

Instead of steel wool, look for scrubbers that are designated safe for nonstick cookware. If it's good enough to keep your cookware safe, then your tub will be fine too. There are lots of options out there beyond SOS steel wool pads.

Nylon scrubbers exist in many styles and are quite affordable, though sometimes not long-lasting. Fans of the Dawn Poly Mesh Scrubbers say they'll last longer and do a great job, all without scratching anything. Others swear by the long-lasting Scotch-Brite Dobie Cleaning Pads. Both of these cost more than some cheaper alternatives, but their regular users testify that they don't smell after use and they take a long time to wear down, so you get what you pay for.

The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser really does feel like magic sometimes with how well it can take off stains and bust grime. But they're so, so, so good that it's conceivable they could damage old tubs whose enamel is reaching the vulnerable stage in life.

With Magic Erasers, pressure makes a big difference as you rub, so use the eraser more gently and in an inconspicuous spot to see if it's all right on your tub. Proceed cautiously, though, because your tub's condition could vary in spots.

If you haven't got special scrubbers in the house and you're itching to get started, microfiber cleaning cloths and nylon brushes can certainly do the job too. What you might want to consider is changing up your cleaning routine, because it might be that your cleaning products are your problem.

Instead, consider doing what many professional house cleaners swear by and give household vinegar and baking soda a try. Vinegar is an acid, so spraying it on a tub, undiluted, can help loosen scum and grime. Let it sit and then try to use the products combined to tackle the grime.

With baking soda and vinegar, you can make a paste of the two for scouring with a cloth or nonabrasive scrubber. Another option is to skip the vinegar and go straight to baking soda, but you can't go wrong with adding vinegar to the routine when stains are really stubborn.