Restoring the sparkling look of your fiberglass shower can feel like a losing battle if soap scum, grime, and mineral deposits have left you with a dingy finish. But even though it does take some elbow grease to get it nice and shiny once more, it’s worth it. Here’s how to clean your fiberglass shower:
Prepare the shower by removing accessories that may cover or reintroduce dirt. Rinse away loose grime and debris, then ventilate the room. Apply the cleaning product on the shower surfaces. Let it sit for a while to penetrate stains, then scrub gently and rinse the shower thoroughly.
Cleaning your fiberglass shower regularly is a crucial part of its maintenance routine. However, since fiberglass is coated in plastic resin, you’ll have to scrub it gently to avoid scratching and dulling the surfaces. Let’s get into the details so you know how to clean yours safely and maintain it properly.
Materials You’ll Need to Clean a Fiberglass Shower
- Clean spray bottle (on Amazon)
- Distilled white vinegar
- Fiberglass cleaner (on Amazon)
- Gentle dish soap, like Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid
- Microfiber cloths (on Amazon)
- Baking soda
- Non-abrasive sponge (on Amazon)
- Soft-bristled brush
Ready-to-Use Cleaners
You can turn to commercial cleaners if home remedies aren’t your thing. Remember, natural cleaners only work well if you clean your fiberglass shower regularly.
If you don’t keep up with the cleaning, the floor will accumulate grime over time, and it could grow into tough stains. Here are some stronger ready-to-use products you can rely on to clean your fiberglass shower:
- Bio-Kleen Fiberglass Cleaner (on Amazon)
- Flitz Multi-purpose Polish and Cleaner Liquid (on Amazon)
- Star Brite Ultimate Fiberglass Stain Remover Gel Spray (on Amazon)
DIY Cleaning Solutions
Before introducing harsh commercial products to clean your fiberglass shower, you might want to try natural methods first. A lot of these are effective on tough stains and safe for use.
Here are the DIY cleaning solutions you can try:
Distilled White Vinegar & Baking Soda
Distilled white vinegar (on Amazon) is efficient at removing soap scum, mold, and mildew stains. But a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda is even more effective at clearing the dingy appearance on your shower surfaces.
To use vinegar and baking soda, wet the shower floor and walls, then sprinkle some baking soda on them. Next, spray the vinegar and let the fizzing stop before spreading the mixture evenly. Use a non-abrasive sponge to scrub the surfaces gently, then rinse thoroughly.
You can also use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the stained areas in repeated, gentle circular motions. To clean fixtures like showerheads and faucets, spray the vinegar on a microfiber cloth and wipe the fixtures.
Baking Soda and Water
The mild abrasive power of baking soda makes it effective at removing tough stains and grime from your fiberglass shower.
Mixing it with water to create a paste makes it work perfectly to remove soap scum, makeup smudges, and oily messes, leaving you with a shiny fiberglass shower.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is just like bleach, but even better. It doesn’t smell nearly as harsh as certain bleaching products, nor will it ruin your surfaces. It will cut through tough stains on your fiberglass shower and disinfect it.
A word of caution, though — you’ll want to wear safety gloves and goggles when handling hydrogen peroxide as it could irritate your skin and eyes in case of accidental exposure. Here’s how to use it:
- Wet your tub adequately with clean water.
- Create a solution with 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 2 parts water.
- Apply the solution liberally on the fiberglass surface.
- Let it sit overnight to dislodge stains.
- Spray hot water on the shower surfaces and rinse with a squeegee.
- Scrub the tub with a soft brush and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Wipe the surfaces dry with a clean microfiber cloth to eliminate streaks.
Citrus Rub
Citrus fruits like lemons are cheap and smell great, unlike some of the other chemicals we’ve discussed. They contain citric acid, a mild yet powerful natural cleaning substance that will remove hard water minerals and soap scum from your fiberglass shower.
Cut an adequate number of lemons in half and squeeze their juice into a cup. To use the lemons fully, sprinkle baking soda on their halved faces and rub them gently onto the most affected spots on your fiberglass shower.
Soak a microfiber cloth in the lemon juice and use it to wipe down the stains. For tougher spots, brush gently with a soft brush and rinse the excess lemon juice with hot water. Rinse the surfaces with a squeegee and dry with microfiber towels.
How to Clean a Fiberglass Shower
Here’s how to clean your fiberglass shower:
Step 1: Prepare the Shower Area
Remove all bottles, soap, razors, and other accessories from your shower. Wipe them to remove any grime and put them in a safe place before transferring them back to the shower.
You also want to take out the shower curtain to prevent it from catching water splashes.
Step 2: Rinse Away Loose Dirt and Debris
Splash water against the shower walls and floor to dislodge and rise away loose grime. You can also use a handheld showerhead and turn on the shower fully to spray the water with adequate force.
Step 3: Ventilate the Bathroom
Open your bathroom door and windows to prevent moisture buildup. You also want to turn on the exhaust fan if your bathroom has one.
Step 4: Apply the Cleaning Product to the Shower Surfaces
Apply the cleaning solution to the wet shower surfaces and let it sit for a few minutes. This allows it to cut through dried soap scum, mildew stains, and hard water mineral deposits.
Step 5: Work in the Product With a Sponge or Soft Brush
Use a sponge or soft-bristled brush to scrub lightly on the affected areas and work in the product. Apply additional cleaning solution as needed and spread it well.
Step 6: Rinse the Shower Thoroughly
Use a cup to splash cold water against the shower surfaces, thereby removing the cleaning product residue and grime. You can also use a handheld shower head for this part. Use a squeegee to wipe away the water and dry thoroughly with a microfiber or terry cloth.
How to Remove Stains From a Fiberglass Shower
Follow these steps to get rid of tough stains from your fiberglass shower:
- Fill a spray bottle with 1 ½ cups warm water and add two tablespoons of gentle dishwashing liquid.
- Spray the shower generously with soapy water.
- Wipe the stained surfaces with a damp sponge in a circular motion.
- Rinse the walls thoroughly. While at it, turn on the shower to rinse away as much soap as possible.
- Mix ½ cup baking soda with water to make a paste. It should be thin enough to spread but not so much that it runs.
- Spread the paste over stubborn stains with a damp sponge.
- Let the paste sit for 30 minutes.
- Gently scrub the paste into the stain with a sponge or soft brush.
- Rinse your shower thoroughly by splashing it with a cup of water. If you have a handheld shower head, use it instead.
- Use a microfiber cloth to wipe away any baking soda residue and dry the shower.
Tip: To prevent future stains, you should wax the shower with automotive wax.
How Often Should You Clean Your Fiberglass Shower?
You should clean your fiberglass shower at least once a week to prevent excessive buildup of grime, mildew, and soap scum.
Since the shower is often exposed to moisture, it could encourage the growth of mold and mildew, and the problem could worsen over time. It’s also not uncommon to end up with rust.
Therefore, you should include cleaning your fiberglass shower among your weekly chores. And while at it, don’t forget to clean the shower head.
Moreover, you want to leave the window open once you’ve cleaned or used the shower to ensure good air circulation and eliminate excess moisture. It’s also good practice to run the exhaust fan during and after showers if your bathroom has one.
Fiberglass Shower Maintenance
Fiberglass showers are strong enough to handle everyday use, but you must clean them well and maintain them properly so that they stay in good shape. You don’t want anything taking an unnecessary toll on their aesthetic appeal.
Follow these crucial tips to keep your fiberglass shower in good working condition and promote its longevity:
- Wipe off the shower surfaces while still hot to dislodge stains before they harden.
- Never combine commercial cleaning products, even if they’re meant for fiberglass. The chemicals can react badly and damage your shower or cause personal injury.
- Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or strong bleaching products on colored fiberglass showers to avoid discoloring them.
- Rinse off your shower thoroughly and dry the surfaces with a terry cloth to remove the residue of cleaning products.
- Once in a while, wipe the surfaces with a microfiber cloth moistened with distilled white vinegar. This helps prevent stains from dulling.
- Squeegee the walls and floor to wick away moisture and prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
- Run your bathroom exhaust fan during and after showering to circulate fresh air and reduce moisture.
Which Products Should Not Be Used on Fiberglass?
The products to avoid using on fiberglass include harsh aerosol cleaners, bleaches, and solvents. You should also avoid using steel wool, wire brushes, and abrasive scouring pads that can scratch and dull the fiberglass surfaces.
Stick with non-abrasive sponges, soft microfiber cloths, and brushes with polyester, nylon, or polyethylene bristles. But even when you use mild cleaning agents and non-abrasive applicators, be sure to scrub gently.