Bathtubs and showers are made from different materials ranging from the conventional porcelain enameled cast iron and steel to the more contemporary fiberglass acrylic and man-made material such as cultured marble. Usually, any of these can be cleaned up with hot water and soap or special cleaners available at grocery stores designed for them. In any case, never use abrasives on any because they likely will scratch. But each also can present special challenges.

If you have a porcelain enameled fixture with rust from a dripping faucet or high iron content in your water, try scrubbing the stain with lemon juice and salt; if scrubbing doesn’t work, saturate a rag with a juice/salt mixture and lay it on the stain for a few hours and then scrub again, If this doesn’t work, check your local hardware store or home center for a commercial rust remover.

To restore a fiberglass finish, get a cleaner recommended by the fixture manufacturer, probably readily available through your hardware dealer, home center or marine products store.

Cultured marble can be routinely cleaned of mineral deposit and soap scum with liquid detergent. Use turpentine, denatured alcohol or paint thinner to remove hair spray, paint, tar and other difficult stains – but be sure to keep these cleaning liquids away from hydro-jets in a spa or plated fittings to avoid damaging plastic coatings on them.

For the most part, then, you can care for your tubs and shower enclosures with readily available cleaners but never use any abrasives, scouring pads or scrapers on them.