Apparently they do not exist. One reason I am keeping my old builder grade enameled steel tub in my remodel. Apparently we are too dumb to put down a bath mat or other non slip solutions when showering/bathing so the nanny government has decreed this. However did past generations survive?

Well there were lots more slips in the tub that's for sure. Happened to me when I was 10, broke my front tooth.

The strips are not uncomfortable. But kind of a sick joke as they are impossible to clean (if someone knows how please post.) Why would every manufacturer use something that can't be cleaned??

To clean the non-skid strips in a tub, sprinkle baking soda liberally, then spray well with vinegar. Let the mixture sit for a while. Then scrub with a rag. Works pretty well, though it does still take a bit of elbow grease. I do this with our cast iron tubs.

They can be cleaned. Our tubs have been in use for a few years now and they're still perfectly clean, including the no-slip grips. Regular (weekly or biweekly) cleaning with Lysol Bathroom cleaner (aerosol) is generally all that is needed. If we've been walking around barefoot for example, the grips can get a bit grimy. "Scrubbing" them lightly with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser cleans them up good as new.

My Duravit tub is acrylic, which you don't want, but it came without any preexisting non-skid strips. Maybe because it's German? It only took one shower for me to realize that I'd be risking a nasty fall if I didn't put something down. I got some very nice translucent strips and they work great, stay stuck, do not feel bad under my delicate butt and don't look grungy after 9 months of showers.

Go ahead and take your chances on the slick surface.

Doesn't look like I'm going to have a choice (to take my chances). No one has showered in that bathroom in 8 years. Not saying the shower component will never be used but it's not likely unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Cat mom I tried the Mr. Clean eraser --actually worked! thanks

crl and cat mom, I didn't see your posts earlier. Thanks for the tips on how to clean the non slip strips. I just see this being a nightmare for our situation. DH is in construction and gets DIRTY!!! And when he's not working, he's outdoors doing something else (gardening, hunting, fishing, camping) that causes a big mess in the tub. Then there's my physical issues (back and FM) that make cleaning tubs one of the hardest of chores. I'm tempted to have the enameled steel tub we have refinished but that has issues of it's own (sigh)

@monicakm... So he can garden, hunt, fish, etc., but you, with the bad back and FM, has to clean up his mess? Something's wrong with this picture. Just saying .....

Are these strips somehow a part of the tub or can they be removed if the tub does not have a shower and only used for baths. I haven't seen ones that aren't removable, haven't really gone shopping for a tub recently though.

vlthdude, from what I've seen, no, they can't be removed.

The non-slip part of our tubs cannot be removed. FYI, I googled because I had heard somewhere that magic erasers can damage the finish on a tub, making it harder to clean. To my surprise, the results I found also said that kohler does not recommend using vinegar to clean cast iron because it is acidic. I don't know that I'm going to change what I do because the tub does have to get clean somehow! But I feel compelled to let people know that they should do their own research and risk assessment before using vinegar.

@monicakm, your husband sounds like a great guy; sorry for jumping to conclusions.
@Linelle, where did you get the translucent strips? I have an ancient cast iron tub without any type of non-slip surface. I use a rubber mat with suction cups, but it doesn't always grip and I've slipped on more than one occasion. Being 71, I'm freaked at the thought of breaking a hip.

beanie, I got them on Amazon (see link). I bought two packs, thinking it would be good to have extras. I ended up using both packs and really have great coverage. Someone recommended them last year in this forum. I cleaned my tub really well, may have rubbed with alcohol, but forget. Made sure it was super dry. Then I laid out the strips in a pattern I liked and applied them. Quick, easy on the budget, and they don't look bad at all.

Non-Slip-Safety-Shower-Treads

Thanks so much for the link. i plan to order them.

Has anyone tried R.O.G. 1 cream? Two of my tubs are Kohler Villager cast iron tubs with no-slip bottoms. I have tried just about everything, but those areas never seem to get as white as the rest of the tub. Somewhere I read that Kohler specifically recommends this stuff for that tub, but I've only been able to find it online and am reluctant to spend $40 on something that might not work.

Errant, I saw that mentioned on retro-renovation. I'm reluctant to spend that much even on something that does work! If you decide to try it, please let us know how it works.

I thought cast iron was supposed to be nearly indestructible. All these surfaces have to be cleaned with non abrasive cleaners and/or special cleaners. I have a Bain Ultra air tub that recommends Gel Gloss. It does a great job but it's quite a routine to apply, let sit, wipe, let dry and BUFF. Scrubbing Bubbles works better than any cleaner I've used (and my 33 year old enameled steel tubs shine like new using it) but it's considered "abrasive" :( A spray foam cleaner is abrasive?? You'd think these manufacturers could make tubs with a coating embeded in them that repels dirt and soap scum and allows it to just slide right off :)

crl_, I'm pretty sure I'm too cheap to try it. Maybe I'll give it a go when SS moves out and I can finally de-funk his bathroom.

I realize this is an old thread but I used to have a cast iron tub with those stupid strips. I, too, sprinkled baking soda with a bit of water and let it sit but I did not use vinegar. After a while, I used a scrub brush and elbow grease and it cleaned up really well. Not the easiest, hence the elbow grease, but it was cheap, non-toxic and worked!

The tub in question not quite two years old yet and so far so good. We use Scrubbing Bubbles. Our large-ish dog gets bathed in it too. And I'm having to use it as well. Knee issues are keeping me out of my nice air bubble soaking tub (sigh) so I'm having to use the shower. Now I'm glad we have the stupid non-slip strips (g) They aren't as obtrusive as I thought they'd be and clean up nicely (so far).

Hi to everyone. I recently had a house fire and fortunately had great insurance, the whole house is to be re-done. Just yesterday, my GC asked me what kind of tub do I want... steel/porcelain or fiberglass. I opted for the steel. I was reading about the non slip surface and about how it recommended to clean with Bar Keepers Friend. Have any of you tried this? I was very excited to have the non-slip surface as the other tub was older and very slippery... but now I read how hard it is to keep clean. oh well. I say I'd rather not me or my elderly parents fall than have a sparkling tub. Of course, I'd rather both.... like the baking soda... I used to use that on the darker tile and hard water stains...baking soda and vinegar to be exact. Worked wonderfully. So - anyone try BarKeepers Friend?

I bought a cast iron tub and it has those darned non-slip strips..I hate them..my butt is raw cuz I regularly take LONG baths. We have red clay dirt and they are always rust iron color. I wish they still made abrasive Ajax!!! I half heartedly made attempts to clean...I think elbow grease and comet is probably the way that will work(with a brush!). Anyone know how to cover the damned rough patches so my bottom can recover? Am researching epoxy kits and paint.