Getting Hair Dye out of a Bathtub

While it’s a bit of a secret for some of us, the fact is that many people use hair dye- even men! It helps cover up the inevitable signs of aging we go through.

Unfortunately, a dye can create some issues when it’s being washed off. Many people complain about stains in their bathtub caused by hair dye. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at how to remove hair dye from your bathtub. These methods will work successfully if done properly, so be sure to read the whole article to get your bathtub nice and clean! 

Removing Hair Dye Stains From Your Bathtub 

It’s common for hair dye to create stains in the bathtub. By following the steps below, you should be able to efficiently and effectively get your bathtub sparkling clean. Though it will depend on the kind of bathtub you have. 

Getting Hair Dye out of Fibreglass and Acrylic Tubs 

These two forms of bathtubs are the more expensive and high-end types on the market, so they’ll need specific advice for getting rid of stains. 

Using Denture Tablets 

First, pour boiling water into the tub. Be sure that all the stained areas have water covering them. 

Grab about six of the tablets and place them in the water.

Leave them for at least 12 hours so the tablets mix in. The stains will soften over this time. 

After this time has passed, let the water out of your bathtub and wipe it down. Just like when cleaning dentures, the tablets will have removed the stains! 

Using Borax

Grab a few pinches of borax. This can be purchased at most department or hardware stores. 

Pour in a cup of water. Mix it around. 

Using a scrubber, attack the stain for a few minutes. Don’t be afraid to use a bit of elbow grease! 

Rinse the area with clean water. Repeat this process if necessary. 

Using Baking Soda 

Grab a cloth and wet it with clean water. Use a cloth that you don’t mind getting filthy! 

Place baking soda on this cloth. Rub it a little to mix the baking soda in. 

Rub the baking soda onto the stain. 

Rinse the tub with fresh water. 

This simple method could work. But there is a chance it might not be successful, so try a few times or move on to another method if required. 

Using Bleach 

This will be the harshest method available, so only try this method after doing one or two of the other options above. 

Take a spray bottle and fill the bottle about one-quarter with hot water. 

Add bleach and mix in with the water. 

Spray directly onto the required areas of the bath, leave for about three minutes then rinse off. 

Removing Hair Dye off Tubs Made From Porcelain or Cast-Iron 

The methods above are also viable ways to clean porcelain or cast-iron tubs. But you have more options available if your bathtub is porcelain or cast-iron. Let’s take a look: 

Denture Tablets 

Crush two or three of the denture tablets. Put in just a couple of drops of boiling water. Stir this together and you should have made a fine paste. Apply this paste to the affected areas and leave them for about a half-hour. You can then wipe it off with fresh water. If you notice some small impact has been made, repeat the process a few times. 

Liquid Cleanser 

The easiest option available is to just use some liquid cleanser. Apply with a sponge and scrub away. Then use freshwater to clear the area. 

Getting Rid of Red Hair Dye Bathtub Stains 

Red hair dye will create a specific issue that you’ll also need to address. It will also be necessary to add some hair bleach to the necessary areas to get rid of the red stains. If you don’t have any access to hair dye bleach, you can just try nail polish remover. 

Summary 

The above options should give you a few weapons with which to attack the stains on your bath. Depending on the severity of the stain, you may need to try a few different options more than once. Using denture tablets should have the most success since the enamel in fake teeth is very similar to the material on your bathtub. 

Try one or two methods, and chances are good your bathtub will be stain-free and sparkling new in no time! 

If you notice that none of these methods are working, it may be time to try a more powerful method. Usually that will involve bleach, but be warned! Bleach could damage your bathtub permanently. So before using bleach, test it out on a small area of your bath. If you notice any damage or wearing of the enamel, bleach is unsafe for your bathtub and cannot be used.