I was so tired of our shower always looking dirty… even after I cleaned it. The issue was high iron levels (in our water) causing orange rust stains on the walls and floor of the shower. I tried everything to clean them. Just when I was about to give up, I found the answer. Learn how to remove rust stains from a shower or bathtub with this easy trick.
When we moved to a home with hard water (high iron levels), we began noticing orange rust stains everywhere; particularly in the shower. In our previous home, I had cleaned the shower with a homemade shower cleaner, but it was no match for these hardy stains. I was determined to figure how to remove rust stains from the shower so it didn’t look so dirty all the time. First, I tried vinegar because I know vinegar removes hard water stains like magic. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.
Then I tried my tried-and-true combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, which cleans grout and whitens porcelain sinks like nothing else. Another fail.
I even tried my DIY stain remover, hoping a little dish soap thrown into the mix would help, but again, it didn’t work.
I was getting so frustrated. How could nothing work?
I was about to give up and just deal with the orange rust stains in the shower when I tried one last thing… and it worked!
What You Need to Remove Rust Stains from Bathtubs & Showers
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This post is not sponsored; just sharing what worked for me.
- Magic Eraser– I used a Magic Eraser specifically designed for bathrooms, but I don’t know if it really matters.
- Cleaning Gloves– I didn’t realize this until after I cleaned my shower (while doing research for this post) that you are supposed to wear gloves when using a Magic Eraser. This protects your skins from the abrasive surface.
How to Remove Rust Stains From A Shower or Bathtub
Prior to using any cleaning product, it is highly recommended that you test it on a small area to make sure there is no undesired change to your finish. Magic Erasers are abrasive and can scratch delicate surfaces. For more, please see our disclaimer statement.
Start by clearing everything from the shower (shampoo, soap, etc.).
Once everything is removed, clean the shower with a DIY Shower Cleaner. This will clean any surface grime off the shower walls, doors, and floors.
Once the shower (or tub) is clean, grab a Magic Eraser and wet it down (do not use Magic Erasers dry!). It is also recommended that you wear cleaning gloves when using a Magic Eraser (which I didn’t realize, but will do in the future). Once wet, start scrubbing any noticeable rust stains. I don’t think you need a tutorial on scrubbing the shower with a Magic Eraser, but take a look at how the orange rust stains come right off onto the eraser!
If you notice the Magic Eraser getting dirty, just rinse it out and continue. I had to do this several times throughout the process.
Speaking of process, let’s take a look at our shower prior to cleaning.
Pretty gross, right?!
Now, let’s look at the same area after I cleaned it with a Homemade Shower Cleaner.
While this shower is actually clean, it still looks dirty because of the rust stains.
Ready to see how well that Magic Eraser worked to remove rust stains from the shower?
Pretty amazing, right?!
Here’s the whole process from start to finish. Notice the huge change around the area where the ledge meets the floor.
While you’re getting those rust stains out, learn how to clean your shower head. (Again with the orange rusty slime. Ugh.)
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Common Questions About Removing Rust Stains from Bathtubs & Showers
Does A Magic Eraser Get Rid of Soap Scum?
Years ago I tried multiple hacks that claimed to remove soap scum; everything from dryer sheets to lemons. Just like trying to remove rust stains from the shower, nothing seemed to work. Then I tried the Magic Eraser. While it didn’t clean 100% of the soap scum, it worked better than any other method.
How Does A Magic Eraser Work to Remove Rust Stains?
Magic Erasers are made of melamine foam. When wet, the surface becomes abrasive and actually scrapes away stains; kind of like a very fine sandpaper. The downfall of Magic Erasers is they wear down rather quickly; much faster than a regular sponge. The upside is they work!
Are There Any Places I Can’t Use A Magic Eraser?
Do not use Magic Erasers on painted surfaces, natural stone, stainless steel, non-stick pots and pans, electronic screens or wood. Remember Magic Erasers have an abrasive surface, so it can scratch delicate finishes. Using a Magic Eraser on a painted surface could mean removing the paint or dulling the finish. Use on stone could remove the sealant and scratch the stone; same with stainless steel. If you use a Magic Eraser on wood, it can, again scratch the surface, leaving a dull area. Always test a small area with the Magic Eraser to make sure it does not negatively affect the finish prior to proceeding with a larger area.
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Thanks for the great information,I didn’t know that magic erasers are suppose to wet to clean with either 😂 well I’ve learned so much from you.
We have well water and it’s calcium build up we get on glassware, some dishes, shower glass, toilet. In the dishwasher we have have to add salt tablets, a cup with vinegar on the top rack along with dishwasher tablet, works well.
Thanks again, Liz Dickerson
Just curious which type of magic eraser you used. It looks like they have several and some have cleaning foam added to the eraser, I imagine any type of cleaner from that brand is going to be highly toxic. They seemed to have one that doesn’t appear to have any added cleaner, but I’m not entirely sure of that. Amazing job on your shower though, we just cleaned ours and unfortunately it looks almost as bad as before, SO frustrating! Until I saw your email, I was almost ready to find some toxic crap to throw at it, but you saved the day, thank you!