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Cleaner for fiberglass tub


4 Easy Ways to Clean a Fiberglass Tub

Fiberglass is an easy-to-install material often used to make bathtubs and showers. An inexpensive alternative to stainless steel, ceramic, and cast iron tubs, this lightweight material consists of multiple layers that quickly wear down over time without proper care and cleaning. Understanding the best methods for how to clean a fiberglass tub can save you unnecessary repairs and keep the surfaces in your bathroom shiny and clean.

Cleaning a fiberglass tub is relatively simple and doesn’t require the use of harsh chemical cleaners to get the job done. That means you won’t have to inhale any toxic fumes within the close confines of your bathroom.

Instead, we have compiled a list of all-natural, non-toxic cleaning solutions that are perfect for maintaining that sparkling clean fiberglass tub. No matter which recipe you choose, we have a homemade cleaner for fiberglass tubs that’s perfect for you!

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Table Of Contents

  1. Tips and Recipes for Cleaning a Fiberglass Tub
    • Start with Good Old Dish Soap
    • Vinegar: Best Homemade Cleaner for Fiberglass Tubs
    • Use a Vinegar Alternative on Fiberglass
    • How to Clean a Fiberglass Tub with Borax
  2. Some Helpful Tips about Cleaning Your Fiberglass Tub
    • What Should I Avoid when Cleaning a Fiberglass Tub?
    • How Often Should I Clean My Fiberglass Tub?

Tips and Recipes for Cleaning a Fiberglass Tub

Finding the right fiberglass tub cleanser is challenging enough. But add in all the many different cleaning supplies you can use to go with it, and you have a full-scale dilemma.

To make your decision choosing fiberglass cleaning supplies easier, we have put together a list of some of the best items to use as a way to clean fiberglass without harming the material. Note that the same recipes can be used for how to clean a fiberglass shower as you can for a fiberglass tub.

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The best part about using these supplies is that most of them work interchangeably. If you don’t have a scrub brush, then try a squeegee or Magic Eraser tool to get the job done. If you have them all, then you have even more tools available to help you on your fiberglass cleaning journey.

The Magic Eraser can be a particularly effective tool to get rid of rusty bathtub stains. Use a combination of vinegar and baking soda on your sponge for even more cleaning power.

Start with Good Old Dish Soap

If you are looking for a basic bathtub cleaner, one of the best places to start is with a mild soap and water solution. Either dish soap or laundry detergent is an excellent resource when it comes to removing grime and grease. Both should be fragrance-free without any bleaching agents.

The easiest way to clean a tub with dish soap is by filling a bucket up with warm water and adding a few squirts of the liquid detergent. Using a soft squeegee or sponge to soak up the soapy mixture, clean along the surface of your tub or shower floor.

Leave the soapy solution on the surface of the fiberglass for approximately one hour before rinsing with warm water. After you have finished, dry all remaining water droplets with a soft towel to prevent water marks.

Vinegar: Best Homemade Cleaner for Fiberglass Tubs

Another fantastic homemade fiberglass cleaner uses natural agents like vinegar and baking soda to cut through stubborn stains and mildew. When combined, these ingredients form an all purpose cleaner for your bathroom that is perfect for cleaning your tub, shower stall, tiles, and even your tub faucet. This fantastic DIY cleaning solution is easy to make and will also take care of stains and mineral buildup caused by hard water.

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DIY Fiberglass Tub Cleaner

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For how to clean a hot tub with vinegar, start by mixing the solution and apply it to any stains or water spots in the tub. Allow the paste you’ve created to sit for at least one before scrubbing with a washcloth or sponge.

When cleaning tough stains, you may also want to use a soft scrub brush or Magic Eraser to remove the dirt and grime. Rinse the tub and dry when finished. Stubborn stains may also require multiple treatments or trying a different cleaning solution.

Use a Vinegar Alternative on Fiberglass

If you don’t have access to vinegar, an excellent alternative for cleaning your fiberglass shower or tub is lemon juice. There are many ways to use lemon juice, the first being spraying it over the surface of your tub with a spray bottle. This option is also a great way to clean those glass shower doors.

If you only have a lemon and not enough juice to clean the whole tub, sprinkle some salt on top of a halved lemon. Using the lemon as a makeshift scrubber creates an amazing hard water stains remover. Apply the salt sparingly, however, to avoid scratching the surface of your tub.

Another excellent alternative to vinegar is another disinfectant: hydrogen peroxide. This method works exceptionally well on darker stains that vinegar and baking soda can’t lift.

Start by laying down numerous layers of white cloths over the stain you are attempting to remove. Pour several drops of the hydrogen peroxide over top of the cloths, then allow it to soak for several hours, preferably overnight. After enough time has passed, rinse away the hydrogen peroxide and dry with a clean cloth.

How to Clean a Fiberglass Tub with Borax

Borax is another great cleaner for your fiberglass tub. It also works on most surfaces in your bathroom, including tile floors and grout. When making a Borax cleaning solution, you only have to use a little bit to make a huge difference.

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Borax Fiberglass Cleaner

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Mix the ingredients in a small bucket, then transfer to a spray bottle for more comfortable use. Spray the surface of the tub with the cleaning solution, then leave for one hour. Afterward, scrub away any remaining cleaner with a soft sponge, then rinse with clean water. Always dry the tub after cleaning to reduce the appearance of water spots.

Some Helpful Tips about Cleaning Your Fiberglass Tub

Even though you have some of the best tips for cleaning fiberglass right here at your fingertips, you may still be curious about when to use them and what to avoid. These additional cleaning tips will help you with answer those last few lingering questions.

What Should I Avoid when Cleaning a Fiberglass Tub?

Because fiberglass is such a delicate material, using scrubbing tools, harmful cleaning products, or even certain bathroom accessories, can be detrimental to your tub. While many homeowners love having mats on the base of their tubs to prevent slipping, using one with suction cups may leave behind a nasty residue with repeated exposure to water.

This grimy film is difficult to remove and allows mold to collect beneath it. If you love your slipmats too much to part with them, then ensure that you are cleaning under them just as regularly as your tub itself. Other items to avoid when you clean fiberglass bathtubs are abrasive cleaners like bleach or harsh scrubbers.

Bleach discolors the surface of your tub, making it appear dingy or dull over time. Abrasive scrubbers like scouring pads or steel wool will also ruin your basin by scratching the fiberglass. Use a gentle bathroom cleaner, instead, to prevent damage.

How Often Should I Clean My Fiberglass Tub?

Cleaning your fiberglass tub and shower should be a routine in your household. Most homeowners suggest cleaning your bathtub once a week to reduce the amount of soap scum and mineral deposits in the basin.

This practice is a great rule to live by and should be adjusted accordingly, depending on how many people are in your household and the times used each week. For fiberglass showers, it is recommended to wipe down the walls with a soft sponge after every use.

Keeping your fiberglass bathtub or shower clean can be as easy as tossing in some essential ingredients from your pantry and applying a little bit of elbow grease. Now that you have these easy-to-create recipes at your disposal, you know exactly when and how to use those ingredients.

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If you found these fiberglass tub cleaning recipes useful, don’t forget to share how to clean a fiberglass tub with friends and family on Pinterest and Facebook.

How to Clean Fiberglass Bathtubs with Vinegar | Home Guides

By Alicia Bodine Updated October 21, 2021

Fiberglass is one of the most commonly used materials when it comes to bathtubs. Although fiberglass is non-porous and resistant to stains, you still need to use care when cleaning it. According to Home Depot, fiberglass can be scratched when the wrong tools and supplies are used. Of course, you'll also want to avoid using harsh cleaning products when safer options, such as vinegar and baking soda are available to get the job done.

Best Cleaner for a Fiberglass Tub

According to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the second most popular use for vinegar is cleaning (cooking is number one). This is because vinegar is made up of 5 percent acetic acid, which is strong enough to kill most bacteria, as well as break down mineral deposits, grease and grime. Harvard points out that vinegar has actually been in use since 5000 BC. The Babylonians used it for everything from medicine to a preservative.

Start With a Vinegar Soak

If your fiberglass bathtub or shower is plagued with mildew or soap scum, you'll want to give it a soak before you begin scrubbing. Fill a 16-ounce spray bottle with 9 ounces of white distilled vinegar and 4 1/2 ounces of water. Spray the entire surface of your tub and shower with the vinegar/water solution and give it 15 to 20 minutes to go to work on the mildew and soap scum. Afterward, you can move on to cleaning the tub.

Clean the Fiberglass With Vinegar

If you have sensitive skin, you may wish to put on a pair of rubber gloves before you begin. Spray the surface of the tub and shower using the vinegar/water solution if you didn't already apply it earlier for a soak. Grab a lint-free cloth or sponge and begin scrubbing the surface of the tub, working your way from the top to the bottom. Make sure you wipe down the walls, tub ledge, hardware and even the outer portion of the tub.

Detach your showerhead and use it to rinse the vinegar/water solution, dirt and grime out of the tub and down the drain. Go back over the tub with a clean microfiber cloth to make sure you didn't miss any spots.

Tackle Tubs With Textured Bottoms

Some fiberglass tubs are designed with textured bottoms. This provides an anti-slip surface to prevent accidental falls when bathing. You may find that you need a different strategy to give this tub bottom a thorough cleaning. The experts at Upgraded Home suggest creating a paste using baking soda and water. They advise you to scrub the baking soda paste over the textured bottom using a toilet brush, but you could use any other soft-bristled brush that's designed for cleaning.

Once the textured bottom is clean, move on to cleaning the rest of the tub/shower using the methods mentioned above. Avoid using any hard-bristle brushes or steel wool pads when scrubbing the bottom of your textured tub, as these will scratch the surface.

Dislodge any Clogs

Did you know you can also use vinegar to dislodge a clog in your tub drain? Amarco Plumbing recommends removing your tub's drain cover and pouring 1/2 cup of baking soda down into the drain. Follow that with 1/2 cup of vinegar. Place a cloth over the opening to the drain and wait 5 minutes. Flush the drain using a pot of boiling water. Your drain should now be clear of any clogs; however, stubborn clogs may require that you repeat the process a time or two.

References

Writer Bio

Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer specializing in gardening. With more than 13 years of experience, her work has appeared in sites like GardenGuides and eHow Garden.

Acrylic cleaners

When choosing an acrylic bathtub, the buyer hardly thinks about the rules for caring for it. But even the most expensive plumbing equipment quickly loses its appeal with the wrong choice of cleaning agent. How to choose the right acrylic bath product? How to remove plaque and rust from the surface? And why not clean bathtubs? We will talk about all this in our article.

Acrylic bathtub features

Acrylic baths are made from polymethyl methacrylate, a thermoplastic durable polymer. Acrylic products are lightweight, which greatly facilitates installation. Also, such baths are popular due to the combination of consumer properties: smooth surface, variety of shapes and colors, low thermal conductivity and affordable cost, unlike plumbing from other materials. However, the material itself is not very durable or high performance, since the acrylic layer covers the bath only 1 mm from the outside, so it is easy to damage it by mechanical action or the use of an unsuitable cleaning agent.

What should not be used when caring for acrylic surfaces?

Powders with abrasive particles in the composition and caustic chemicals damage the protective coating. The use of metal brushes, sponges and brushes with hard bristles is also excluded. If the rules for the care of acrylic coatings are not followed, scratches, roughness may appear, which over time will acquire a yellow-gray tint.

The composition of cleaning products for the care of polymer plumbing should not contain:

Another important rule when caring for acrylic bathtubs is to prevent the accumulation of dirt, cleaning should always be timely.

Folk remedies - is it always effective?

To remove dirt from acrylic bathtubs at home, a variety of products are used: citric acid, toothpaste, baking soda, vinegar and salt, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. But the use of most of these tools is a rather radical method. There is a risk of damaging the surface, so you need to act very carefully. In addition, such a cleaning process takes a long time. And it is worth noting that at home you can remove limescale, with rust everything is much more difficult, and with old rust you can no longer do without special chemical cleaners.

How to remove scale and rust from an acrylic bath?

For an acrylic bath, you should carefully select a cleaner, which should not contain the substances described above. To remove rust and plaque, you can use CHIMITEK POLYCOR-GEL - a gel-like foamy acid agent. Depending on the task, it can be used in various ways. Be sure to wear gloves before use. For daily or occasional use, we recommend applying a small amount of gel to a moistened sponge or bathroom cloth, lather by squeezing lightly several times in the palm of your hand, and apply the foam to the surface to be treated. Leave the foam on for a few minutes and then rinse with water. The advantage of this cleaning method is that when applied to the surface there will be no smudges and streaks. If it is necessary to remove rust, then it is better to apply the agent directly on the rust stain and leave for 5-10 minutes. Then rub with a bathroom towel and rinse.

The popularity of acrylic bathtubs is due to a significant number of advantages. And so that the product does not lose its original appearance, do not forget about the important rules for caring for it. Despite the many methods for cleaning the bathtub at home, the risk of damaging the surface is very high. Regardless of the method of applying CHIMITEK POLYCOR-GEL to the surface, the agent removes only contamination and does not adversely affect acrylic.

Which is better: gelcoat coated fiberglass or acrylic?

Which is better: a gel-coated fiberglass bath or an acrylic one?

The popularity of a particular product largely depends on a well-executed advertising campaign, the purpose of which is to root in the minds of people the superiority of certain products over others - this is exactly what happened with acrylic bathtubs. What about other types of baths? At the very least, they faded into the background and got lost in the shadow of well-promoted material. But here it is important to understand what is good for domestic use, far from being applicable for daily use in spa centers and sanatoriums that use mineral water for their procedures.

What requirements must a medical bath meet?

SanPin and a number of other regulatory documents impose certain requirements on products that are used to equip medical institutions:

If you compare a fiberglass bathtub with an internal gelcoat coating and an acrylic bathtub, you should immediately notice that these are two completely different classes of materials. Acrylic bathtub was originally created as a product for domestic use with a very low cost. At a certain stage, the appearance of such a material became a good replacement for steel and cast iron bathtubs. However, the properties of acrylic as a material directly contradict the service life requirements of existing standards for professional medical equipment and this must be taken into account.

How acrylic bathtubs are made

Bathtubs, commonly referred to as acrylic, are actually composite products made from several materials. The surface in contact with water and skin is made of 3-6 mm thick acrylic. At the first stage, the acrylic sheet is drawn into a special matrix under the influence of temperature and vacuum, acquiring the final shape of the bath.

The second stage of production is the reinforcement of the outer side of the bathtub, which involves coating it with epoxy resin and fiberglass. The strength of an acrylic bath depends on the quality of the acrylic, its thickness (it becomes thinner when molded along bends) and the quality of the reinforcement.

Benefits of acrylic for bathtubs:

Among the shortcomings of acrylic baths, it is worth noting:

What makes the production of GRP tubs with gel coat different?

GRP is one of the most common composite materials with a wide range of applications. Fiberglass has a very low thermal conductivity (approximately like wood), strength like steel, biological stability, moisture resistance and weather resistance, without the disadvantages inherent in thermoplastics. The fiberglass bathtub is made entirely of fiberglass.

First, a special matrix is ​​prepared, on which the surface is applied with a material in contact with water - gelcoat, approximately 1. 5 mm thick. Then fiberglass is laid out in layers. The thickness of the fiberglass at the bathtubs is 7-8 mm. A fiberglass bathtub is many times stronger than any acrylic bathtub.

In the manufacture of professional bathtubs, a special sanitary or shipbuilding gelcoat is used, which, for example, is used to paint yachts. Naturally, the requirements for such materials are very stringent - these are UV resistance, heat resistance, impact resistance, and chemical resistance. The surface of the products is resistant to solvents containing acetone and polishes well.

Until recently, fiberglass was used mainly in shipbuilding, automotive, space and aviation technology. Widespread use of fiberglass is constrained mainly due to the rather complex production technology. The production rate of fiberglass bathtubs and pools is 2-3 times lower than acrylic ones.

Benefits of gel-coated bathtubs:

Reasonable disadvantages of bathtubs covered with gelcoat

The path of high-tech production of fiberglass baths we have chosen is a very complex process that requires special knowledge and professionalism of employees, the use of modern lines, high-quality equipment and precise tools.

Therefore, when choosing between an acrylic and fiberglass bathtub, we recommend that you make your right choice based on all of the above.

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