If a lot of paint has been spilled, it might be safest to first wipe up as much as you can using paper towels, rinsing immediately afterward. This way, there will be less chance for the paint to mix with the water. Never use cold water when cleaning, soaking or rinsing your tub. This can actually cause grime and stains to set in faster, whereas warm or hot water will keep messes from taking hold on the tub’s surface.
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 like acrylic. 2-3 ounces of detergent per inch of water in the tub should result in a solution of sufficient cleaning strength.
Since a washcloth won’t have the scouring efficiency of an abrasive scrubber, you might have to scrub the area long and hard. The detergent should have dissolved enough of the stain to allow you get the worst of it out by hand.
A natural chemical compound like powdered Borax will also work in the place of regular baking soda. The wet baking soda will form a paste and will start to loosen the stain on its own. Leave this paste to sit on the stain for 5-10 minutes before adding the vinegar.
If you prefer, you can soak a sponge in vinegar and use it to treat the area directly. The vinegar and baking soda will begin to react as you scrub, enhancing the effectiveness of manual cleaning.
Look for cleaners that are non-acetate, as well, as these chemicals can eat away at an acrylic surface. [7] X Research source Mild all-purpose cleaners like OxyClean, Scrubbing Bubbles Bathtub & Shower Cleaner, Fantastik and Kaboom have been shown to produce good results cleaning acrylic bathtubs. [8] X Research source [9] X Research source
If the cleaner you’re testing has no effect on the tub’s surface, or if it causes small cracks or discoloration, discontinue use immediately and flush the spot with warm water. [11] X Research source
While you don’t want the stain to dry, give it a quick wipe with a towel before using the cleaner so that any standing water left in the tub doesn’t dilute the chemicals. You can and should reapply cleaner to the stained area frequently. Acrylic tubs need regular cleaning, and even if the stain doesn’t come out with the first few attempts, it will continue to fade with future cleanings.
