Fiberglass Showers: Tips On Cleaning And Maintenance

New home construction makes good use of fiberglass showers now days. Builders have found that prefabricated shower units come in a mind-boggling variety of colors and choices, and are very affordable, too. You can buy them as a single piece unit that essentially reminds one of a little room with fiberglass walls, or as a set with three walls and a base.

Homeowners like fiberglass showers because they are sturdy, holding up well through years of daily usage, and easy to clean if you do it daily. But, if you've allowed your fiberglass shower to go a little too longer between cleanings, you'll find that a grungy scum has built up on the walls and also on the shower door. This scum is really hard to get off, especially of the fiberglass is textured, unless you choose the right cleaning products.

Ingredients In Your Kitchen

You don't have to spend a whole lot of money on special fiberglass cleaners. Some of the best cleaning agents known to man are probably already in your kitchen. They do an excellent job at cleaning that scummy build up, along with a little of your own elbow grease.

The main thing to remember is never choose a cleaner that could scratch the fiberglass. Once scratched, grime will settle in the scratches and make your fiberglass shower look dirty even right after you've cleaned it. It's much better for the environment and also cheaper to use simple items like liquid dish soap, full strength white vinegar, inexpensive shampoo, borax, and baking soda. All are better for the environment and your bank account as well!

Why It's Tough To Clean

The grungy-looking scum you see is actually dead skin cells mixed with soap scum and skin oil. Human skin contains protein, so this is one reason why this is such a difficult cleaning task. You really need a cleaning product that is able to cut through the oily protein mixture. Sometimes, you will get the best results by mixing two of the above products together.

Homemade Cleaner

Shampoo and vinegar work well because the shampoo helps the vinegar to spread across the fiberglass more evenly. It also helps to keep the vinegar from drying as fast. Place the mixture in a clean spray bottle and clean away! Baking soda and vinegar work very well together, too.

Whichever products you choose to use, pour a small amount of it onto a wet scrubber sponge of the sort used for washing dishes. Wipe the walls and floor of your fiberglass shower gently but firmly, and the soap scum gunk should start to disappear almost like magic! If your shower is really in need of a good cleaning, it may take more than one application to get all the gunk off.

To keep your fiberglass shower stall from ever getting quite so dirty again, keep that spray bottle of cleaning solution handy. Every time you finish taking a shower, grab the bottle and spray down the walls really well. If you have a hand-held shower, it's perfect for rinsing off the cleaner. Then,you can take a towel and wipe down the shower from top to bottom. This doesn't take nearly as long as it sounds, and you will be rewarded with a shower that always looks - and is - fresh and clean.