Why Does My White Walk-In Tub Look Pink, Yellow or Stained?

If your tub looks pink, has a mauve cast, or seems to be turning yellow, the first thing to do is take clear photos in daylight and send them in. Every current Ella walk-in tub is white, and off-white appears only on occasional clearance listings, so a tint is not a color option and is always something to look at rather than something to live with. A pink or yellow appearance is usually one of three things: a film on the surface that cleaning will lift, a ring left after running the jets, or, more rarely, a finish issue the team needs to see. The full walkthrough is in tub looks pink, yellow or stained.

Likely Causes

• A surface film from soap, bath products or hard water that reads as a tint under bathroom lighting.
• A ring after using the jets, which is buildup being pushed out of the lines onto the walls.
• Colored bath products or dyes that have stained the surface.
• Lighting. Warm bulbs and colored walls reflect into a white shell, so photos in daylight tell the real story.
• A finish concern on a small area, which the team confirms from photos.

What to Check, in Order

1. Wipe the area with mild dish soap or a 1 to 1 white vinegar and water mix on a soft, non abrasive cloth. Never use abrasive pads or powders on the acrylic; the approved products are listed in approved cleaners and chemicals to avoid.
2. If a ring forms after the jets run, run the flush: mix 2 cups white vinegar with 2 cups water, fill to 1 inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the jets 10 minutes, then drain. Repeat until the water runs clear.
3. Look at the tub in daylight, with the bathroom lights off, and compare the suspect area to the rest of the shell.
4. If the tint remains after cleaning, or the surface itself looks dull, chalky or worn (for example the bottom looks different up to a certain height), stop cleaning and photograph it.
5. For a faint dull spot rather than a color change, acrylic surface care and touch up covers the gentle polishing steps.

When to Open a Ticket

Send photos rather than a description. Contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a request at ellasbubbles.com/support, with your model and serial number, two or three daylight photos of the tinted or stained area next to a clean part of the shell, and a note on what you have cleaned it with. The shell and finish carry the Lifetime Limited Warranty for defects, and the team will confirm what they are seeing from the pictures.

Related Guides

• What features should I look for in a walk-in bathtub?
• Can I Order an Ella Walk-In Tub in a Color Other Than White?

Common Questions