How to Clean a Fiberglass Shower? – The Ultimate Guide

how-to-clean-a-fiberglass-shower

It’s not too challenging to clean fiberglass showers as long as you have the appropriate cleaning products and the knowledge, both of which we will discuss in this article. Soap residue, cleaning products, mineral build-up, and mildew can make your shower look unclean and unsanitary, which is why we will demonstrate how to eliminate these stubborn stains using commonly found cleaning substances in this guide, resulting in a dazzlingly clean shower.

Best way to clean a fiberglass shower a Natural methods

What you’ll need:

  • Soft sponge
  • Dry cloth
  • Cleaning agents like baking soda, vinegar, and dishwashing liquid
  • Spray bottle

There are two ways of cleaning your fiberglass shower naturally using readily available cleaning agents. One of them is using vinegar and baking soda. Vinegar not only brightens the fiberglass surface but also disinfects the shower floor as it possesses anti-bacterial properties. Here is how you should go about it;

  • Pour white vinegar into a spray bottle, a small amount of it
  • Premix baking soda and water to form a thick and spreadable paste
  • Spread the baking soda paste on the stains before spraying some vinegar on it
  • Leave the paste to penetrate the stains for about 15 minutes
  • Gently scrub the stain off with a soft sponge, be careful not to damage the fiberglass surface
  • If the stains are stubborn, leave the paste for a while longer
  • Rinse the floor with lots of water afterward
  • Then, dry it with a dry cloth

N/B Be sure to wear rubber gloves when handling vinegar as it is corrosive when handled with bare hands.

Removing tough stains with lemon and borax

There are some tough stains like grime that just won’t go away, no matter how hard you try to scrub them off. You might end up damaging your fiberglass shower surface trying to scrub them off. In this case, you need to use a borax-lemon solution which is more potent than vinegar-baking soda solution when removing tough and challenging stains. Here is how;

  • The borax-lemon solution can be found in most stores, so you don’t have to premix anything
  • Pour the solution on the tough stains and leave it to penetrate them for 30 minutes
  • Gently scrub the stains off with a soft sponge or a bristle brush
  • Rinse it with lots of water after you are satisfied with the results

Dry with a soft cloth to leave your fiberglass shower sparkling clean

How do you clean hard water stains?

Hard water contains excess calcium and magnesium minerals which when used over time during showering, may cause staining of your shower floor surface. Hard water stains are difficult to clean because they build up over time causing tough grime. The only solution is a chemical battle with the stains. That’s the reason why you need to clean your shower floor weekly to avoid the build-up of hard water stains. Here is how you should do it;

Things you’ll need

  • Paper towels
  • Sponge
  • White vinegar
  • Clean cloths
  • Baking soda
  • Spray bottle

Steps

  • Pour some undiluted vinegar into the spray bottle, and spray it over the fiberglass shower surface
  • Let it sit for 10-15 minutes for it to penetrate the hard water stains
  • Using a sponge, gently rub off the hard water stains
  • When satisfied with the appearance, rinse the floor with lots of water
  • Dry with the clean cloth and you’re done

How to clean fiberglass tub with oven cleaner?

When your fiberglass shower develops tough stains and grime, and you’ve exhausted all the cleaning agents’ options, then, it’s time you try the oven cleaner. Oven cleaners remove even the toughest stains and grime, which have accumulated over time. It is advisable to use the fume-free oven cleaner because oven cleaners produce some fumes during their mode of action which can be toxic. Here is how you should go about it;

  • First, open all the windows or ventilation outlets in your bathroom
  • Secondly, you need to be careful when handling the oven cleaner that’s why you need to wear hand protection equipment
  • Spray the oven cleaner evenly on the fiberglass surface in your shower from the bottom
  • Don’t let the oven cleaner touch any metal finishing as it would corrode and damage them
  • Leave the cleaner to penetrate the stains or tough grime for about an hour
  • Using a soft sponge or cloth, wipe off the stains gently to remove the resulting residue of the oven cleaner and the stains
  • When satisfied with the results, rinse the surface with lots of water
  • Lastly, dry the surface with a dry cloth

How to clean a fiberglass shower with vinegar?

Vinegar is one of the best cleaning agents when it comes to cleaning fiberglass shower floors. It is not only cheap and readily available, but it also possesses anti-bacterial properties and it rids your shower of harmful bacteria. Another thing to note is that you can source some cream of tartar and mix it with vinegar to improve the scrubbing power. Cream of tartar can be sourced easily in your local stores. Here is how you should go about it;

  • First, add a small amount of vinegar to a spray bottle
  • Spray it directly on the stains and leave it to penetrate them for about 30 minutes
  • Scrub the resulting residue with a soft bristle brush or a sponge
  • Rinse the shower floor with lots of water

Lastly, dry the floor when it is sparkling clean

How to restore shine in your fiberglass shower?

  • Over time, you will notice that your fiberglass shower floor starts to fade and turn yellow. This occurrence is due to the build-up of minerals and soap scum. It becomes unappealing due to the discoloration. Well, several reagents can restore shine to your fiberglass shower floor. Here are a few; Baking soda mix baking soda and water till it forms a spreadable and thick paste. Apply the paste to the discoloration or the stain and leave it to settle for about 15 minutes. Gently rub off the stain with a soft cloth or sponge.
  • White vinegar: Pour undiluted white vinegar on areas where the stains occur and leave it for an hour. Then, wipe off the stains with a soft damp cloth before rinsing with lots of water. Dishwashing liquid  You only need to mix an ounce of this liquid in a gallon of water. Wet a sponge in this mixture and scrub off the stains gently.
  • Acetone: If the stains are caused by pigments or dyes, then you can’t use the above cleaning agents, what you need is turpentine or acetone. They help dissolve tough stains from dyes and paints. Pour a small amount of acetone on a cloth and wipe the pigment or the dye off gently. This solvent restores and whitens your shower.
  • Lemon juice:  Lemon juice contains considerable amounts of citric acids that dissolve the stains caused by minerals and soap scum. Scrub off the stains gently with a damp cloth and rinse with lots of water.
  • Automotive wax and cream: When your fiberglass shower becomes faded due to aging, you can restore its shine by applying automotive polish or wax and polishing its surface with automotive cream. This polish penetrates the porous holes in the fiberglass and helps restore it.

The best product to clean a fiberglass shower?

The main cause of stains in most fiberglass showers is mineral deposits due to hard water in addition to soap scum. That’s why in this guide we highly recommend the Bring it on Cleaner and Stain Remover which is more effective at removing hard water stains, stubborn soap scum, and rust stains. One of the reasons why this stain remover stands out is because it contains oxygen bleach, which is non-toxic and more powerful than chlorine bleach. It’s safe to use around pets and kids, plus it removes even the toughest grime and stains found on your bathroom floor.  Plus it makes your bathroom smell fresh and nice because it is mint-scented.

Suggested Reading: Our analysis on 10 Best Fiberglass Shower Cleaners

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use bleach on a fiberglass shower?

Bleach is particularly effective when controlling mold, mildew and some bacteria since bleach is a disinfectant, and that’s why most commercial cleaning agents incorporate bleach in their products. Follow these steps when using bleach to remove tough stains on your fiberglass shower floor;

  • Step 1; Bleach produces fumes during the mode of action, that’s why you need to ventilate the shower by opening all windows.
  • Step 2; Fill a gallon of water then add one cup of bleach. You must wear protective clothing like safety eyeglasses and rubber gloves to protect yourself.
  • Step 3; Wet a sponge or brush with the mixture and scrub the fiberglass surface gently.
  • Step 4; you may leave the solution on the surface for about 15 minutes for it to kill all the molds and bacteria.
  • Step 4; lastly, rinse your shower surface with water and dry with a towel.

Can you use a magic eraser on fiberglass?

Magic eraser is particularly effective when removing tough grime, mineral, and rust stains. You only need to pre-mix it with water and pour three to four squeezes on your fiberglass shower floor and scrub gently as soon as the bubbles start to form. Plus it comes with three scent options meadows, rain, and febreeze which leave your shower smelling fresh and nice. However, there were speculations that magic eraser contains harmful toxins and chemicals. These allegations were not debunked and none are conclusive. In our opinion, it is best to stick to the natural methods we listed above.

How do I get rid of shower grime?

Grime is a tough stain that won’t budge unless you have the right cleaning agent. The best cleaning agent, in this case, will be white vinegar. Here is what you need to do;

  • Pre-mix ½ cup of hot water and ½ cup of white vinegar
  • Wet a soft sponge in the solution and rub it gently on the fiberglass surface
  • Leave the solution on the surface for a few minutes then scrub gently
  • Rinse the surface with lots of water before drying it with a towel because leaving the surface wet may cause mildew and mold to form, further staining your fiberglass surface

How do I get rid of black mold in my fiberglass shower?

Mold normally infests the drain/plug hole and removing it is pretty easy. Follow these steps;

  • Pre-mix a solution of 2 parts water and one part bleach
  • Pour this solution into a spray bottle
  • Spray the bleach on mold-infested areas
  • Leave the solution to act for 10 minutes
  • Using a coarse brush, scrub the infested areas gently to remove the mold residue
  • Rinse the surface with lots of clean water before drying with a towel

Alternatively, you can use baking soda in place of bleach. Here is how to go about it;

  • Mix water and baking soda to form a thick paste
  • Spread the paste on the mold-infested surface like the drain pipe
  • Leave the paste for about 10 minutes before scrubbing it gently with a nylon brush
  • Lastly, rinse with lots of water

How do you clean a yellow fiberglass shower?

The main culprit causing the yellowing of your fiberglass bathroom floor is soap scum. If left to accumulate, they may build up and become difficult to remove. Fortunately, you can use a combination of cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide to successfully remove the yellow stains on your fiberglass bathroom floor. Here is how;

  • Pre-mix 3 ounces of hydrogen peroxide with an equal measurement of water, and add 6 ounces of cream of tartar
  • Pour the mixture on the yellowish stains on your fiberglass shower floor
  • Leave the mixture to dry, and then use a non-abrasive brush to remove the residue
  • Rinse the surface thoroughly with lots of warm water and you are done

Final Verdict

The best way to clean and restore your fiberglass shower floor is by using natural methods, if the stains are persistent, you may use conventional cleaning agents like Bring it on Stain Remover. We highly recommend the use of white vinegar and borax, because borax forms a paste that sticks on the floor surface to effectively clean your fiberglass surface.