How to Clean a Fiberglass Tub
Fiberglass tubs are increasingly common in today’s homes. If you have a porcelain tub, you are likely living in an older house or have purchased on at a flea market. Cleaning a fiberglass tub is a bit different from cleaning a porcelain tub. If you do not use a certain amount of care, you may end up with a very scratched or damaged tub. The process of cleaning the fiberglass tub is straightforward and easy. It is also less expensive than you might think.
Avoid Marketing 101
The principle behind a marketing campaign is to make you feel like you need to use one particular product over all others. They make you think that if you do not use this particular product, your life will be harder and people will look down on you for it. This tactic is called instilling fear. Consumer products companies are very good at instilling fear into their customers. Ignore their advice when you are getting ready to clean your fiberglass tub. You can use simple, inexpensive cleaning products that are probably already available in your home.
Wiping pads
Do NOT use a scouring pad. Commercial pads will seriously scratch a fiberglass tub. Instead, find a soft cloth or old rag to do the job. Ideally, the agent should be doing the cleaning and the rag should be cleaning up afterwards. Sure, a few spots may need a little extra attention, but a quick follow-up with a water/vinegar spray should take care of them.
Baking soda 101
There are a few items every home or apartment should have under the sink or in the back closet. Baking soda is one of them. Not only is it all-natural, but is also great for putting out grease fires and, of course, soaking up odor from the fridge. It is also a great cleaning agent. Mix a generous amount of powder with some warm water to make your cleaning agent. You do NOT need to spend a fortune on commercial cleaners. If you encounter a particularly difficult spot, mix a 50 percent vinegar/water solution in a spray bottle and apply it to the problem area. Simply let the solution sit for a few minutes and then wipe it away.
Rinse and repeat
After you have cleaned and scrubbed the entire tub, give it a good rinse. Now the tub should be in fairly good shape. If there are a few tough spots, hit them again with the spray and rinse a second time.
Don’t be fooled
As you are walking down the cleaner isle at the store, think twice before you toss an expensive product into the cart. Ask yourself if you have something a bit more environmentally friendly already at home. Think about some of the stuff your mother used to use. It probably works better and is safer for the environment.