When you want to pamper yourself at home, your bathtub is a great place to do so. You can relax tired muscles and give yourself a deep clean. To properly enjoy your bathtub, you understand you must keep it in good shape, which bathtub reglazers can do. Here are some eight mishaps that can ruin your bathtub and how a bathtub reglazing can help you fix them.

1. A Heavy Object Dropped in the Tub

Be careful with the type of items you store around or over your bathtub. Heavy objects can be something as small as a full shampoo bottle, a hair dryer, or even a large phone. Depending on how high the object falls from and how weak your current tub is, it can result in cracks, chips, or dents on its surface. Luckily, professional bathtub reglazers can fill those imperfections and restore the smooth shine and surface of your tub.

2. Warping From Incorrect Cleaning Solutions

Keeping your tub clean is essential to its lifespan and your home sanitation. It's a good habit to immediately clean your bathtub after using it. After all, you don't want your reglazed finish to be covered by dirt or give mold the chance to sprout. However, if you don't use the proper solutions or techniques, you could do even more damage to your tub than you would by leaving it dirty.

It may be tempting to give your tub a proper scrub with the harshest cleaners and most abrasive scrubbers possible. However, harsh chemicals and techniques could strip away the top protective layer of your tub. If you've already had it reglazed, you could end up undoing those efforts very quickly. Then, you may have to use your touch-up kit a lot sooner than you initially expected.

When the wrong cleaners are used on your tub, it can result in discoloration, peeling, and even warping. They can also leave stains that are hard to remove. A relatively new or refinished tub can begin to look old and dirty before it's time. When it's damaged with warping or additional cracks, it can also affect its functionality. Play it safe and look for nonabrasive natural cleaners from bathtub professionals. Your bathtub reglazers may also have products they recommend.

3. Poor Installations

Are you still using the same bathtub that your home came with, or did you have one installed after you moved in? Be mindful of contractors you use to install any bathroom fixtures like your bathtub as it can affect how long it'll last. According to HomeGuide, bathtub refinishing lasts between 10 and 15 years when properly installed.

Poor installation can make your bath susceptible to water leaks and mold growth. It may also have structural issues that can affect its support. As a result, it can make your tub unsafe to relax or bathe in. With a poor installation, your bathtub can also cause damage to your bathroom walls and floors, especially if it makes those sections vulnerable to water damage.

4. Lack of Support Underneath

If your tub is not supported by a sturdy base or frame, it can sag, crack, or collapse over time. That's a major safety hazard when it comes to you and your family. A bathtub professional will understand how to reinforce the tub with additional support that can prevent a dangerous breakdown.

5. Scratches From Kids and Pets

The bathtub can be a fun source of playtime for kids and pets. After all, you have to make sure they're clean, but they can have a lot of fun with their toys while they're splashing around. Only let children bring their soft toys into the tub, like a ball or a rubber ducky. They may get too excited with some of their harder toys and can cause damage to the tub without realizing it.

Do you have a pup that doesn't like washing? Is it often a battle of the wills, in which your dog is fighting against getting into the tub? Do they continue to claw around and fight to get out once bathing has started? They may inadvertently scratch the bathtub when doing so. You should also consider the size of the pet you're bathing as it can be easier for larger pets to cause more and bigger scratches. Consider using a designated metal bin or doggy tub to properly bathe your animal, so you don't ruin your beautifully glazed bathtub.

When your tub has scratches on its surface, it can decrease its overall beauty. Your touch-up toolkit may be able to cover up some scratches depending on the type of finish you have. Luckily, professionals have the tools to buff and polish your tub.

6. Hard Water

Does your home have hard water? Hard water can result from sediment buildup around your fixtures or piping. That creates water that leaves a film around everything it touches. In other words, you may never fully feel clean when you shower or wash your hair. There may be a film when you wash your dishes. That same hard water can make it difficult to comfortably bathe. Not only will your bathing water not be safe to wash in, but it will also make it hard to clean your tub. That hard water will leave a film on your bathtub even after you think you've washed all the water away. Luckily, you can speak with bathtub professionals for recommendations on how to protect your bathtub from hard water.

7. Fading From Sunlight or Bleach

There's nothing like having a bright, sunny bathroom to wake up to. Be aware of the position of your bathtub, especially after reglazing. After all, direct UV rays in any part of your home can cause features to fade, such as your bathtub. If you use bleach to clean your tub, it can also have the same effect. So, if you want to use bleach for extra disinfecting, dilute it properly. Otherwise, your tub will look old and outdated due to its faded appearance.

8. Temperature-Related Cracks

Be aware of the ongoing temperature and humidity levels in your bathroom. Since your bathroom is often the wettest room in the house due to your showers and bath soaks, it's very easy for humidity to build up and temperatures to rise without proper ventilation. Have you made the mistake of not installing bathroom ventilation such as a built-in fan or a window?

When it gets too hot or cold in your bathroom, the temperature can cause cracks in your reglazed surface. Extreme temperature changes will cause your tub to contract or expand, which will cause it to split or crack. That will create gaps in a tub that allow water to seep through deeper into the tub surface. You can initially prevent the problem from spreading by using your touch-up toolkit to seal smaller cracks that you begin to see.

As you can see, many direct and indirect mishaps can cause problems in your bathtub surface. You may accidentally drop a heavy object, or you may forget about proper ventilation. With the expertise of local bathtub reglazers, you have their trusted toolkit, cleaning recommendations, and ongoing services to keep your bathtub looking beautiful. For a beautiful bathtub you can be proud of, contact Bath Magic today.