A fiberglass shower can be the most attractive element of a bathroom. However, you need to know how to clean a fiberglass shower to keep it looking fresh and new.
Key Takeaways:
Fiberglass shower floors can quickly get covered in shampoo residue – rinse and wipe with a sponge first to remove any debris. Using a non-abrasive cleaning product and tool, vent the room and scrub deeply before rinsing. Natural ingredients such as white distilled vinegar give back a great sheen without causing damage. For tough stains, use bleach – always ventilate, wear gloves, and rinse thoroughly.
Easy Steps for Cleaning a Fiberglass Shower Floor
Fiberglass showers can stand up to daily use, but you need to clean them correctly to avoid abrasions and dulling and to deal with stains. You can opt for natural cleaning agents or use stronger cleaners such as household bleach. You can also polish your fiberglass shower floor to give it a like-new shine.
How to Prepare to Clean a Fiberglass Shower Floor
Fiberglass shower floors usually have soap and other residues on them. There is nothing you can do to avoid this because it comes from using your shower. When you start your cleaning process, you should rinse the floor with hot water and wipe it with a sponge to remove any surface residue.
Depending on the cleaning agents that you plan you use, you may wish to ventilate your bathroom. This step is critical if you use stronger cleaners such as those containing ammonia or bleach. You can open a window if the bathroom has one, turn on the exhaust fan, or place a fan in the doorway to draw fresh air from other areas of the home.
If you use potent cleaners such as bleach, you need rubber gloves so that the liquid does not come into contact with your skin.
What Types of Cleaning Tools Should You Use?
The first rule of cleaning a fiberglass shower floor is to avoid scratching the surface. Even small scratches can damage the floor and cause it to lose its shine. Because of the danger of scratches, you should only use non-abrasive cleaners and tools. For example, you should opt for a sponge or cotton or polyester cloth instead of a scraper or an abrasive cleaning implement such as steel wool.
You might be tempted to use these heavy-duty tools on tough stains or mineral buildup. Don’t give in to this temptation. It is far better to opt for a stronger cleaning agent and still use a cloth or sponge, which will not scratch your floor.
Try Natural Cleaners First
You can start your cleaning routine by using natural cleaners, and move on to more-potent cleaning agents if these options do not work.In most cases, these substances and mixtures contain items that you already have in your kitchen. For example, baking soda and vinegar both work on soap scum and other common shower floor problems.
How Baking Soda and Vinegar Cleans Your Shower Floor
After you have rubbed the soda over the surface, you can leave it there without further scrubbing for several hours. Then, rinse it off with clean water and wipe the surface with a clean rag.
Another option is to spread dry baking soda over the entire shower floor. Using a spray bottle, you spray the dry powder until it gets moist. You should not use the showerhead to moisten the soda because it will get washed down the drain before it has a chance to work its magic. After a couple of hours, you can use the shower fixture to wash the soda down the drain.
You can also use vinegar, which has cleansing and disinfecting properties. In this case, you spray vinegar from a spray bottle directly onto the floor. Usually, a mixture of vinegar and water will be sufficient for a light cleaning to remove soap scum and mildew buildup.
You should keep the vinegar on the floor’s surface for 10 minutes or so before scrubbing and then rinsing with clean water.
You can use both baking soda and vinegar treatments as part of your regular fiberglass floor cleaning routine.
How Do I Deal with Tough Stains on My Fiberglass Shower Floor?
If you clean regularly, natural cleaners may be sufficient to keep your shower looking spotless. However, if you have stains, mineral buildup, or soap scum that won’t come out quickly, you can use bleach or a product that contains bleach and other cleaning agents.
You should mix full-strength bleach with water. Wearing rubber gloves, you then spread the bleach with a sponge. You can also use a spray bottle. Let the bleach sit for a few minutes before rinsing it thoroughly.
Other chemical products such as CLR Calcium-Lime-Rust remover and Bar Keeper’s Friend are safe for use on fiberglass.
Hydrogen peroxide is a more natural alternative for people who do not want to use bleach. You can get a 3% hydrogen peroxide mixture from a drug store. You soak a rag in hydrogen peroxide and place it over the troublesome area.
Since this liquid does not have the same strong smell as bleach, you can leave it in place overnight or during the day while you are at work. When you wake up or return home, you can remove the rag and rinse the area with clean water.
How Often Should You Clean a Fiberglass Shower Floor?
You can clean your shower weekly to avoid an excessive buildup of dirt, soap scum, mildew, and other unwanted substances. A quick baking soda paste and vinegar scrub may be sufficient.
Moisture can cause mildew, mold, and other problems worse. If this is an issue in your bathroom, you can increase the circulation in your bathroom. If you have a window, make sure that you open it during or after showers, weather permitting.
Many bathrooms also have an exhaust fan, which you can run during and after showers to remove moisture. Leave the bathroom door open when the room is not in use to allow fresh air to flow through the room and out the window or exhaust vent.
With regular cleaning, you can maintain your fiberglass shower floor and keep it looking like new.
