You’ve moved into your new place, and you’re so excited. Everything looks amazing. You’ve got your own bathroom, your own sink, and your own shower…stained brown from the previous tenants.
Uh-oh.
You don’t have to shower with a dirty floor. Fiberglass shower floors aren’t difficult to clean; you just have to know how.
If you don’t know how to clean your shower floor, we’ve got all the details. Let’s get you showering without those flip-flops.
How Do I Clean My Fiberglass Shower Floor?
There are a few methods to this. Before we get to those, however, here are a few things you should keep in mind.
What Should I Use?
Sticking to non-abrasive cleaners and tools is essential. Fiberglass is a sturdy material, but once you get micro-scratches in the surface, it’s difficult to keep the fiberglass looking clean.
You’ll need to have a non-abrasive cleaning tool like a regular sponge or plastic bristled brush. You can use cleaning products like basic dish soap. In fact, blue Dawn is one of our favorites. All-purpose cleaners and soft scrub products are good, too.
If you need to disinfect the floor, white vinegar is a great product to use. It won’t damage the surface or leave any kind of film that can make your floor look dingy.
What’s Off-Limits?
Abrasive cleaning tools such as steel wool are terrible for your fiberglass floor. No matter how grossed out you are by the shower floor, resist the urge to go at it with something abrasive.
You should also avoid any cleaners with abrasive properties. Scouring powder and ammonia can cause serious damage (to you and to your shower floor).
Cleaning Fiberglass Step-By-Step
And now for the good stuff. Let’s get your shower floor clean.
Basic Cleaning
For a mild to moderately dirty floor.
You’ll need:
- a non-abrasive cleaning tool such as a sponge
- a non-abrasive cleaner such as dish soap
- water
- Apply your cleaner to the floor of the shower.
- Add water if you need to.
- Wet your sponge or other tool and gently work the cleaner around in circular motions being careful not to scrub too hard.
- Rinse and enjoy your clean shower.
Cleaning Tough Grime
For first time cleaning or cleaning after a long time.
You’ll need:
- two tablespoons of baking soda
- enough water to form a paste
- your sponge or another tool
- Mix the baking soda with water until it forms a thicker paste. If you want, you can add a drop or two of dish soap to help the mixture.
- Begin to work the paste around in small circles gently. Baking soda is much gentler than other abrasives, but you should still be mindful to scrub very gently.
- Once your floor is clean to your satisfaction, rinse off any excess paste.
- If you want, you can follow up with the basic cleaning steps.
Disinfecting with Vinegar
For floors that need a deeper clean (not for use every time)
You’ll need:
- white vinegar
- your cleaning tool
- Pour your vinegar over your problem area or over the entire surface. If you want to allow it to sit, saturate a rag or towel with the vinegar so it won’t drain and leave it for ten minutes or so.
- Scrub it gently with your sponge or another cleaning tool.
- Rinse the area and follow up with the basic cleaning steps.
Removing Set In Stains
For serious stains.
You’ll need:
- hydrogen peroxide
- a white rag
- Soak the rag in the hydrogen peroxide and place it over the stain.
- Leave it on for at least eight hours or overnight.
- Remove the rag and rinse the area with water.
- Follow the basic cleaning steps.
How Do I Maintain My Shower Floors?
Fiberglass is easy to clean if you don’t get too behind with it. Clean your showers at least once a week to help keep soap scum and mildew at bay.
You can also try drying the floor of your shower with your towel after you use it. Drying the floor can help reduce the time mold, and mildew has to grow. Then, when you clean during your once-weekly cleaning, you won’t have nearly as much to scrub off.
If the thought of using your towel to dry the floor, you can still avoid the majority of your issues by cleaning the floor once a week and removing stains as soon as you see them appear. You might keep a soft sponge in your shower to help rub off any mildew while you’re showering to prevent stains.
You may consider a floor wax made specifically for fiberglass or other types of surfaces if your shower floor is particularly scratched. It doesn’t matter how much you scrub, once your floor is severely scratched, it’s always going to look dirty.
Make sure you follow directions on the container and allow it to dry completely before you use the shower. If you can’t find a floor wax, you might consider a car wax that matches the color of your shower. Test a small spot before you cover the entire area to make sure it’s the right product for your floor.
Final Thoughts
Fiberglass is an excellent surface for your shower, provided you take the right precautions. A soft sponge can get into the grooves of a textured floor easily, and it’s nice to know that you don’t need a special product to get the floor clean.
There’s no need to wear your camp flip flops in your own home. Getting your gross, dingy shower floor clean is as simple as finding things you probably already have at your house. With regular maintenance, your shower should stay fresh and clean for a very long time. Now take off those flip-flops and get comfortable.
Do you have trouble with mold and mildew in your fiberglass shower? What are some other ways you help keep your shower looking brand new? Let us know in the comments below.
