Fiberglass showers are made strong enough to handle everyday wear and tear. But for them to last longer and serve you well, you need to ensure they’re clean and well maintained. The showers pick up soap scum and mineral deposits over time, which may interfere with their aesthetic appeal.
Thankfully, cleaning a fiberglass shower is not as hard as many people imagine. You need to get the right tools and products for cleaning such as vinegar, water, a sponge, and a spray bottle. If you’re wondering how to clean your shower floor effectively, you’re in the right place.
Here are essential tips for cleaning the shower floor that you should understand.
Clean Fiberglass Shower Often
To avoid excessive buildup, you should clean your fiberglass shower often. Weekly cleaning can be enough to remove dirt, mildew, and soap scum from your shower.
Your fiberglass bathtub is often exposed to mold and mildew due to moisture, and if you don’t clean, the problem can worsen over time. You might end up with rust which can damage your fiberglass.
You should also ensure you remove moisture from your bathroom to avoid the accumulation of mildew, mold, and rust. Let the bathroom receive good air circulation by leaving the window open.
If your bathroom has an exhaust fan, make sure it runs during and after showers to get rid of moisture. Keep the bathroom door open to allow fresh air circulation.
Wipe Off While Still Hot
Most of the time, you’ll notice that your shower floor and wall get dirty from grime, dust, and various materials. These are easy to clean but only when you do it when your bathroom is still warm. The heat and water vapor have a natural way of softening the heavy stain, making it easy for you to wipe off.
If you’re not one of those people who scrub the shower walls immediately after taking a shower, you can still use another method. You can run the shower while hot for about five minutes. The warm water and the steam will work wonderfully to remove all the soap and other materials before becoming a nightmare.
Use Natural Methods for Cleaning
Before introducing any harsh chemicals to clean a fiberglass shower, make sure you try the natural methods first. If the natural methods don’t work, then you can move to tougher ones for stubborn stain. Natural cleaning methods are safe for you as well as your shower material.
Another advantage of using natural cleaning methods is that they’re readily available. These substances are usually products you already have in your kitchen. Baking soda and vinegar are examples of cleaning products available in your kitchen.
Here are the natural products you can use to clean a fiberglass shower.
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Baking Soda and Water
One of the most common and easily available products for cleaning your fiberglass shower is baking soda and clean water. This combination works perfectly to remove soap scum and leave you with a shiny fiberglass shower.
Form water and baking soda paste, and then apply on the stained areas of your fiberglass shower floor. You can also use a spray bottle directly when applying the mixture. Once done use warm water to rinse your shower several times.
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Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar is widely known for its disinfecting properties as well as its ability to offer natural cleaning methods. A mixture of baking soda and vinegar provides a more effective cleaning method that’s gentle on the surface.
To use vinegar and baking soda for washing your shower floor and walls, sprinkle a few drops of baking soda on the surface of the fiberglass shower, then spray white vinegar on top. This will cause the vinegar and baking soda paste to foam. Use a non-abrasive sponge to scrub the surface gently.
Don’t forget to protect yourself while cleaning. You should wear rubber gloves always whenever you’re doing your cleaning with vinegar.
Once you’re done washing and sure that you’ve done an excellent job, rinse away the solution from your floor with clean water. Allow water to drain completely from your tubs. You can also use white vinegar to wash shower fixtures, like handles and showerheads. Always rinse properly and wipe to unveil the shine of your floor and walls. This same method can be used to unclog bathtub drains and kitchen sinks.
Don’t forget that baking soda has a short shelf life. So once you open it, ensure proper storage or use all of it for its many household uses.
Use Stronger Agents for Tough Stain
Natural cleaners only work well if you clean your fiberglass shower floor regularly. If you don’t, the shower floor may accumulate grime over time, turning into tough stains. For soap scum, and mineral buildup, you’ll need stronger chemicals and more aggressive methods. Here are some stronger products you can use to clean your bathroom.
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Bleach or Bleaching Agents
You can use bleach directly or a product that contains bleach to remove tough tints from your fiberglass shower. Make sure you mix full-strength bleach with enough water. Before you start cleaning, wear rubber gloves to protect your hands because bleach is harsh on the skin.
Use a sponge to spread bleach on the stained fiberglass surfaces. You can also spray using a spray bottle filled with the solution and let it stay for a few minutes before rinsing with cold water.
Don’t rely so much on bleach as it’s not only harsh on your skin but your internal organs as well. If you expose yourself to high concentrations of bleach, you’ll feel itchy and have red eyes. In extreme circumstances, you might pass out.
Bleach is also dangerous on fiberglass as it can ruin the resin. Avoid scrubbing on your tubs or bathroom walls if you don’t want to deal with scratches.
You can only use bleach when all other substances don’t work and give the expected results. You should wash your shower often so you don’t end up with dirt that will force you to use bleach.
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Hydrogen Peroxide
This is one of the best cleaners you can use on your showers for tough stains. Using this solution is much better than using bleach because it’s gentle on the surface and more natural. Hydrogen peroxide is easily available at your nearest drugstore, and a 3% mixture is enough for clearing the stains.
This is an effective method for removing stains that will leave your shower pan and fiberglass tub spotless. If you have dark and deep tints that seem not to go away with other methods, try hydrogen peroxide.
To use this cleaning process, cover the affected area with a clean cloth and pour the solution over it. Let it sit for few hours or leave it overnight. Once you’re convinced that the stain is soaked enough, rinse with clean water and dry.
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Truck Degreaser
The material used for making fiberglass showers is the same used in many cars. A product that gets off grease from cars can as well work on your fiberglass shower. If your room has oil, a truck degreaser can be a good option.
The product works perfectly to remove the stubborn oil from your bathroom almost instantly. All you need to do is soak the grimy scum and allow it to wipe off on its own. You don’t need to put in much scrubbing effort.
If the stains are tough, you can let them sit longer before wiping them off to achieve better results. When working on steamed-up shower walls, you can make your work easier by using a spray bottle directly on the surface.
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Acetone or Thinner
Acetone is an ingredient present in nail polish remover. Just the way it clears nail polish, it can also work well in removing tough soap stains. This product works well for cleaning fiberglass shower stalls.
Pour the acetone on a piece of cloth and run on the stained area until you can’t see any patches left. Don’t get used to this product often, as it can damage your sink materials over prolonged use.
Use Non Abrasive Applicator
While cleaning your fiberglass showers, be careful not to cause damage by scratching them off. Many people get tempted to use tougher products like steel wool and only end up with scratches all over the floor.
Use gentle tools such as a soft cloth, sponge, and brush made of polyester, polyethylene, or nylon. Avoid using abrasive tools to avoid leaving scratch marks on the floor and walls. Don’t use abrasive powders, scouring pads, or steel wool.
Don’t Combine Commercial Products
While it’s safe to mix natural and household products, you cannot do the same for store-bought products. The products come in a mixture of several ingredients that react badly when they come into contact with each other. Some can become extremely toxic or can even cause explosions.
If you must use a mixture of some solutions, make sure it’s a mild acid and mild alkaline. Such chemical mixture forms a fizzy foam that’s safe for your surface. Don’t allow the mixture to stay for long after mixing as it can fizz and fade away.
Bottom Line
Many people prefer using fiberglass in their showers and bathtubs because it’s cheap and beautiful. It's among the long-lasting tub materials than acrylic, natural stone, or enamel. The problem comes when you need to clean a fiberglass shower floor because it can be exposed to a lot of dirt and needs a lot of care.
You should never allow mineral deposits and soap scum to accumulate and make your tub appear ugly and unsanitary. You can use natural cleaners like vinegar for simpler stains and more aggressive cleaners to remove stubborn tints from your shower floor and wall. Don't forget to rinse your room well and drain all the water no matter the method you use.
