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How to Remove Grout, Mortar, and Drywall Mud From a Bathtub

Wiping drywall, grout, mortar out of a tub

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Bathtubs are not meant to be catch-alls for construction debris or building materials. Yet walk into many bathroom remodels or new homes under construction and you will find bathtubs brimming with paint cans, thinset, drywall joint compound (known as mud), grout, and mortar, among other debris.

If you're a do-it-yourselfer, you may have recently re-tiled or regrouted your tub but forgot to mask off the tub itself, and now you have dried, rock-hard blobs of grout or tile mortar stuck to the tub surface.

The good news is that all of these things will come up eventually. It just takes some elbow grease—and some care—to prevent scratches.

Tip

If drywall, mortar, or grout are stuck to a bathtub as part of a bathroom remodel by a contractor, the contractor is liable. Leave this in the hands of the contractor.

How to Remove Drywall Compound From a Tub

  • Drywall compound, or mud, is water-soluble. Unfortunately, the mud is not as water-soluble as you might hope. It will not quickly dissolve the instant water comes into contact with it. You still need to work on it.

    In fact, painters and drywall contractors clean their tools the instant they finish using them, long before the mud can dry. Once the mud has dried, it is still possible to remove but it becomes a lot more difficult.

    1. Fill the tub with soapy hot water and let the water sit for about 30 minutes, then drain the tub.
    2. Gently scrape off the dried blobs of drywall with a plastic paint scraper, the edge of a discarded credit card, or a plastic hotel key. Because drywall compound contains silica, quartz, mica, and gypsum, it is an abrasive material. While it is not as abrasive as grout or mortar, you should still be careful when scraping away the mud. Avoid long strokes that move the mud beyond the affected area.
    3. If the compound remains glued to the tub surface, scrape off the top layer that has been loosened by the water. You can also scrub with a non-abrasive Scotch-Brite pad.
    4. Remove dried pieces by hand so they don't wash into the drain, which can lead to clogs.
    5. Repeat the same process, as needed, to remove all dried mud and residue. Rinse the tub thoroughly.
    6. Restore areas where the mud has dulled the finish by rubbing with a white automotive-type polishing compound, then wax with liquid wax.
    Filling the tub with hot soapy water

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Scraping off dried mud from the tub

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Using a non-abrasive Scotch brite pad to clean the tub

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Removing grout pieces by hand

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Rinsing out the tub after cleaning

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Drying the tub with a microfiber cloth

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Tip

    Scratched tubs can be refinished, either with do-it-yourself methods or by hiring professionals. Refinishing is essentially a paint job for the bathtub, but using rock-hard coatings that won't chip off or scratch.

    How to Clean Grout or Mortar From a Tub

    Tile grout and thinset mortar are cement-based materials and are more difficult to remove than drywall mud.

    Grout and mortar are not water-soluble, so the soak-and-scrape method (as you might do for drywall compound) will not work here. Also, grout and mortar are gritty and can scratch the polished surface of a bathtub. Therefore, in addition to removing the mess from the tub, your aim is to minimize any damage.

    1. Use a wooden popsicle stick or tongue depressor to carefully pop off dried blobs of grout or mortar. You can also use an inexpensive plastic scraper from a paint store or home center.
    2. Collect loosened pieces of grout or mortar as soon as they come free, and be careful not to let them slide across the tub surface, which can lead to more scratches.
    3. Remove all grout and mortar dust and small particles with a shop vac. Do not sweep up the debris, to prevent scratching.
    4. Mix Spic and Span (or a similar non-abrasive cleaner) with water in a bucket. Scrub areas of discoloration with a non-abrasive sponge or scrubber dipped in the cleaning solution. Rinse the area well, and repeat, if necessary.
    5. Polish dulled areas with a white automotive-type polishing compound, then wax and buff with liquid wax.
    Using a paint scraper to remove grout from a bath tub

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Collecting loose pieces of grout

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Vacuuming loose pieces of grout from the tub

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Using a non abrasive sponge to scrub the tub

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Drying the tub with a microfiber cloth

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    Tip

    Acrylic bathtubs can be buffed with an electric car polisher. Start with a clean bathtub. Keep the RPMs low and go slowly. Thoroughly wash off the polishing compound after buffing.

    Removing Tough Grout or Mortar Residue

    The cement in grout and thinset tile mortar can leave set-in stains in almost any surface, including tubs. If you've tried scrubbing with a cleaning solution and a sponge or scrubber, but the discoloration remains, another thing you can try is a commercial grout haze remover.

    Grout haze removers are designed to remove the whitish haze that forms on the faces of tile after the grouting process, but they can also help with grout stains. Apply a grout haze remover according to the manufacturer's directions. Usually, this involves wiping with a paper towel or a clean rag. If that doesn't do the trick, you can try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, along with the remover product.