Thursday, May 01, 2008

TTUB UGLY...

So, anyhoo.
One of my big pet peeves in home design: that embedded non-slip surface on the floor of bathtubs. Grrrrr.
(that's not my tub in the photo, btw)

It doesn't matter how fastidious you are, eventually, that stuff will turn a dookie-esque, mealey-mouthed gray color and it's a bear to get clean again. I HATE that. yeah, I understand the principle, but it seems so filthy to me. I'd rather have a handicapped rail in the stall than that crap on the floor of the tub. Hell, give me Rubbermaid Daisies. I'll take my chances on busting my lily-white arse. Even in nice hotels you visit, you see that nonslip stuff and it always seems on the grimy side to me- like there's no getting ahead of the dirt.

Anyway, getting settled into the new place, but I want a proper bath, but the tub has that grid of the yuck of former residents. I got some Mr. Clean bleach scrub pads and scrubbed and scrubbed. Well, at least they are a lighter gray now. Anyone know how to get those really clean?

Next house I have, I don't care if it's a tar-paper shack or a van down by the river, first thing I'm going to do is go out and get a proper bathtub and install it (myself, if I have to, with some hired muscle). If you ask me, being able to take a decent bath is the very mark of civilization, and one of the only consistent restoratives available to humankind. Of course, by "decent bath" I mean with an endless supply of hot water and a selection of bubbly soapy products that smell all nice and flowery.

Check out this tasty 1960s Calgon commercial:


19 comments:

HollyB said...

Just give me a Jacuzzi in my tarpaper shack and I'll be the happiest [and Most Powerful] Woman in the Universe!

phlegmfatale said...

Then You shall have your Jacuzzi, oh mighty MPWITU!

none said...

I just pour pure bleach on those sticky flowers n shit.

Actually they never come clean..

Anonymous said...

Have you tried taking a SOS pad wrapped in cloth to scrub the bath tub? I use the cloth to keep the pad from scratching the tub. Works for me every time.

A toast to happiness and many blessings in your new home.

Mauser*Girl said...

You could always call the "Bath Fitters" people who run all those annoying commercials on our TV, and have them put a nice new tub over the grimey old one.

Beyond that, unfortunately, I have no suggestions. We've just moved (as you know) and had one of those things in our old place. I scrubbed it with every cleaning product known to man, including Oxy Paste and Tilex Mold and Mildew and it still didn't look completely clean. As a matter of fact, they tried to charge us $75 for a "dirty tub". (But as they could not produce pictures of said dirty tub they will not be getting that. Especially after I spent HOURS cleaning it!)

John R said...

If the bleach didn't get it, you might try CLR.

Ann diPomazio said...

I can relate to the tub-a-doo-doo. Someone genius who previously owned my house re-finished it himself. What I do is alternate between filling the tub with water and bleach then soak for some time, and I also use those scrubbing bubbles.

Christina RN LMT said...

Yeah, Baby!
Calgon, take me away!

Christina RN LMT said...

Oh, and you might want to let the bottom of the tub soak in straight bleach for a while, see if that works.

Anonymous said...

Have you tried bleach? About 1/2 inch of water and a gallon of bleach might do the trick. If all else fails just get enough mats to cover the bottom of the tub.

breda said...

We bought a house with NO BATHTUB. I miss taking long bubble baths accompanied by a glass of wine and a book. =(

NotClauswitz said...

Love the old Alfa Romeo, Calgon-Girl oh baby!

Buck said...

Dang, dirtcrashr, ya beat me to my comment! An old Alfa in Ol' Blighty...that's how and where I wanna be, right NOW.

I don't have a bath tub, either, Breda. And there are times I really miss one, too. As a matter of fact, I want a full Japanese-style bath, with a deep, deep soaking tub and endless hot water...

Buck said...

Dang, Phlegmmy... I just noticed your reverse-spelling pun! SO subtle, you are!

fuzzbert_1999@yahoo.com said...

True...once those kind get stained it's there forever!

Kelly said...

Soak your tub with about a 10% bleach solution. It will smell like hell, but it should work.

Until then, if you ever need a soak in a huge tub, you know where I live. And you've seen the size of my tub, baby!

FHB said...

I guess I always figured as long as I didn't get some sort of rot on the feet it was ok. Nasty lookin', but OK.

Lin said...

It was those built-in scum holders that put me off soaking in baths for good.

Look for a product called ZUD. It is getting harder than hell to find but worth it. Old neighborhood hardware stores might still carry it. Then use one of those iron-shaped brushes to scrub it around. It's a powder like Comet but muy more macho. What ever you do, don't combine these products with bleach or you will be joining the Japanese detergent suicide craze accidentally ... and gas your neighbors in the process.

LBJ said...

You're lucky to get a decent sized coffee pot in a Lear 24 model.. .

bet that water splashed all over with the 20 degrees nose up that climbs at. . haha.

Calgon take me away.