I had one, if you mean a tub on legs. Utterly miserable to clean behind and underneath. Miserable!

We stayed at a home that had a beautiful free standing tub. What I found with was there was no convenient place to put soap, razor, wash cloth, rubber ducky, etc. I'm sure other people have small tables close by, with this tub there was no where for stuff.

I agree with others that a freestanding tub is difficult to clean around and requires an adjunct table or chest as a place to put your shampoo, soap and washcloth. I love a tub, but not freestanding no matter how many decorators show us the sculptural beauty of them.

Surprising to hear cons about a freestanding tub. :(

I have always loved the look and thought a free standing would be more convenient to a platform tub. Talk about a pain to clean! Not to mention getting in and out of it.

Mine

I would think with installing the tub a good enough distance from a wall, cleaning the opposite side would not be difficult. And choose a model that sits directly on the floor instead of on legs.

Freestanding Freestanding with floor base

And don't forget that there are hanging basket things for the tubs.

Well, this is eye opening. We are building and I was planning a freestanding tub (not one on legs). Several recommendations...including my architect. Hadn't even considered cleaning issues. I have a deck mounted tub now that I love. So do my grandkids.

I have a freestanding claw foot tub and it isn't difficult to clean behind and under at all! I just use my dry swiffer mop & then the wet swiffer just like on the rest of the floor. The walls surrounding it are white painted judges paneling and I just run my swiffer duster along it to remove any dust. (Gah, I sound like a Swiffer commercial! I do love those things, though!) The tub itself is actually much easier to clean than the built in one at our old house. Much easier to access all areas. The bath supplies storage is s real issue...the metal baskets/caddies that hang over the rim were just a twee bit too vintage-y looking for me, so I use a pretty table.

I love the look of freestanding tubs, and have actually wondered how much of a job it would be to remove our deck-mount whirlpool tub and replace it with a freestanding. (It's a new home though, and I highly doubt we could justify something like that at this point.) To me, freestanding tubs have a lovely vintage charm but manage to look fresh and contemporary at the same time. If I had a choice, I'd probably opt for one.

We had a free standing four legged one and I hated it. Yes they have charm but so inconvenient in so many ways that I had it switched out after a year. That's just my experience, they may love it. We're all different in our likes and dislikes.

I think they are stunning and I am a bath person......... at a lovely boutique hotel we stayed at in Haifa, there was a glamorous marble bathroom with freestanding tub. I could not wait to luxuriate. Well I do not know if there re different types but forget about cleaning it--it was not nice to get out of. Getting in was ok, but getting out was not my idea of user friendly or grace.

I do think they are gorgeous, so if you are like most people who don't really prefer a tub but use a separate shower, it's a pretty decor piece. But iin terms of use, for me , it was a no go.

I love my freestanding tub! So much better than our big ugly corner whirlpool tub. It's far enough away from the wall that if I had to get back there, I could with a broom or the vacuum hose. We have a shelf to hold the wineglass or reading material.

i love my freestanding slipper tub i use a table to put my "things" on cleaning under and around it is much easier with an articulated "dust mop" i find this tub much much easier than cleaning the "grout" or tiles around a normal tub i would like a free standing tub in each of my bathrooms, space allowing

Love the look, but not the functionality. I use a lot of junk when taking a bath, so look for a place for the bath paraphernalia

If it is freestanding and easily accessed from all sides, go for it. If it is up against a wall don't. If there is no separate shower don't.

I love the shelves that some of you have buitl on your walls. I'll have to rememeber that if we ever get to build or renovate again.

I am not much of a bath person anymore, but love how they look. And I don't think they are anymore difficult to get out of than my platform tub. I know, I was stuck in one in a hotel, also. :) Took me a few mintues to figure out how to get out. Yes, it was not graceful. Haha

As for my current bathroom, I also considered taking the tub area out, but as mentioned, it was a new build and would have been silly to rip it all out.

How I would love to have a freestanding tub and floor to ceiling built-in storage on either side of the walls. :(

I'm going to be changing out my whirlpool tub for a free standing. The shelves that pp have posted are wonderful ideas. I have bookmarked this thread! Thanks!

We have a free-standing clawfoot and, I agree, they are a pain to clean around. On recommendations here I started using a swiffer and it is better, but it doesn't fit behind in some places so every so often I am down on hands and knees trying to clean. Also, the kids tend to drop soap or shampoo bottles behind and that is always fun to try and clean up.

I do love the look and opted to keep ours when we could have switched out when we were doing our restoration, but we also have another built in alcove tub that we use most often.

Another issue to think about is who is using it. They tend to be deeper and harder to access if any older folks or people with mobility issues are going to be using it.

I love freestanding tubs. They are indeed, quite sculptural. I love baths and I like them to be in a pretty environment; it is not about what is practical. I have two in my primary home and two here at our beachhouse. The beachhouse ones are vintage clawfoot, painted aqua, and the ones at our main house are pedestal; one painted silver and one is white. I also love the gorgeous hardware that goes with them!

My MBA here and in my main house have wooden floors. I have had one from about 5 yrs and one for 2 yrs. TBH I don't do the housecleaning. But I don't see it as a big issue. I did stay recently in an adorable AirBnB cottage where the tub was shoehorned it and it was obviously an issue keeping it clean under the tub; also the floor was painted in checkerboard but they couldn't get all the way under the tub.

I have those pretty brass and nickel trays that fit across the tub for a sponge, soaps, etc. I also like to read a book in the tub; for that I pull up a vanity stool next to the tub.

To me, tubs are for special occasions. For practicality, you use the shower. I have been known to lounge in the tub and then shower off in the shower!

ETA - it may sound silly, but one should always try a tub before you buy it (I mean sit in it). The length and depth and angle can really vary your experience. BTW, too long is not good (and I am 5'9) .. at some point you feel you are floating.

Freestanding tubs tend to be deeper than regular tubs. If your DS and DIL like up-to-the-chin soaking baths, a freestanding tub will be better for them.

We have a freestanding skirted tub that sits diagonally across a corner. Cleaning is not difficult at all.

I love the new freestanding tubs with clean, contemporary lines, versus the old claw foot tubs. I would get one in a hot minute if I didn't have the world's smallest bathrooms.

We have one in the guest bath at our lake home but we use it sometimes. It has a tile ledge to set things on. I think it's lovely and not particularly difficult to clean behind or under. It doesn't really get dirty there, more dusty.

I like the sleek contemporary ones too but this style is better for this place which has a more rustic style.

Lovely, 3katz, and the shelving is great

Thanks everyone! I will pass on your comments to them!