Fiberglass tubs are an affordable and lightweight option for your home. The downside is that they mostly come in white and stain easily. You may be facing this problem, but don’t worry! We have researched to deliver you precise information.
The primary remedy for a stained fiberglass tub is baking soda and water. Cover your tub in baking soda paste for at least an hour. Rinse and wipe clean afterward. This should lift the stains from your tub.
If baking soda and water can’t whiten your fiberglass bathtub, you must consider other options. You may be tempted to use strong chemicals and cleaning tools, but these will cause damage to your bathtub. There are different ways to whiten your bathtub! In this post, we will teach you how to make your fiberglass tub white again. Read on!
How Can I Make My Fiberglass White Again?
Fiberglass tubs will turn yellow over time as the glaze is exposed to scum and minerals in water and the environment. Unlike ceramic or acrylic, the fiberglass glaze will stain and break down. While there are ways for you to preserve the whiteness, you will still end up having to clean off stains eventually.
More often than not, baking soda should be enough to whiten stained fiberglass. This is because baking soda is an alkali. An alkali is a strong base that can whiten things, similar to how you would use bleach for whitening. Baking soda oxidizes on the fiberglass surface, making it appear white.
If baking soda doesn’t work, you can try other alternatives. For example, some might recommend using vinegar or citrus in addition to baking soda. This is the opposite of baking soda since vinegar or citrus are acids.
Vinegar whitens and brightens, typically used in laundering clothes for these properties. It cleans up the scum and sediments which causes the staining and discoloration in your fiberglass bathtub. You may even want to use it alongside the baking soda, but doing so will neutralize them.
Can I Use Baking Soda And Vinegar At The Same Time?
As much as possible, only opt to use either baking soda or vinegar, but never both at the same time. Because they have opposite pH balances, their cleaning powers will not be as effective when mixed. You are better off either using just baking soda and water or vinegar and water.
Be careful when using baking soda. It is corrosive to the skin but mainly harmless to handle for a short period. The same goes for vinegar. If you have sensitive skin, do not use either product with bare hands. Use safety gloves and even goggles if you must.
Both baking soda and vinegar also have disinfectant and antibacterial properties. Baking soda will significantly cut through grease, so you can also use it regularly for cleaning your bathtub.
Can You Make A Fiberglass Tub Look New Again?
Whether or not you can make a fiberglass tub look new again depends on how much the discoloration and damage are. The darker the stains and the more frequently you use your tub, the harder it is to make it look new. Regardless, you can still get it to look as clean as possible with some effort.
The homemade approach uses either a vinegar solution or a baking soda paste. You could also try mixing dish soap to help get out particularly tough stains and gunk. Use a cloth or sponge to scrub. Do not scrub too much to avoid damaging the fiberglass surface.
After scrubbing with your preferred cleaning solution, rinse the tub thoroughly. This may be a slippery and hazardous task, so be careful not to injure yourself. Aside from cleaning fiberglass tubs, these cleaning solutions will also work for shower stalls, sinks, toilets, and walls.
To make your fiberglass bathtub look brand new again, you can finish it with a polishing compound. Once your bathtub has dried, polish your bathtub using a fiberglass gel coat.
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Can You Bleach A Fiberglass Tub?
Fiberglass is made by turning glass into tiny filaments to mold it into the desired form. It is also combined with resin. This makes fiberglass lightweight compared to regular glass. While durable, the use of harsh chemicals like bleach will break it down way quicker.
When cleaning a fiberglass bathtub or trying to whiten it, avoid bleach, which will scratch the surface. Do not use scouring powders, either. Instead of steel wool, use dish sponges or cloth.
Aside from being harmful to your bathtub, bleach will also damage plumbing. It is also a health hazard. When cleaning a fiberglass bathtub to make it look white again, you will have to use many cleaning products and leave it to soak. This leads to long periods of bleach exposure.
Even bleach disposal may cause damage to your plumbing system should you rinse it out. The safest way to dispose of large amounts of bleach is by taking it to a disposal facility. This can be tough to do if you are using it for your tub. You could dispose of bleach down your toilet, which can pose risks.
Some of the ways bleach will cause damage to your home is by corroding pipes. Bleach may even release toxic gases into your home from the sewage system. If you really must flush down bleach, do so in small amounts and with a lot of water to dilute it.
However, cleaning something as big as a bathtub would need too much bleach. Long periods of bleach exposure will cause skin irritation, blurred vision, and breathing hazard. Be careful when using bleach as a cleaning product, and do not use it for your fiberglass bathtub.
How To Maintain A Fiberglass Tub
A fiberglass tub should last for around 10 to 15 years. To make your bathtub last this long, you must care for and maintain it throughout its use. Aside from cleaning your tub regularly, here are tips on improving the lifespan of your bathtub.
- Do not use harsh cleaning materials, like bleach or steel wool.
- Avoid using dyes to prevent staining.
- Do not expose to extreme temperatures to avoid breaking down the fiberglass components.
- Reglaze or refinish your fiberglass bathtub every three to four years.
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Though you can take good care of your bathtub, it can still be irreparable at some point. For example, when there is an enormous crack or leak in your bathtub. In this situation, the best action is to replace your bathtub completely.
Repairing a damaged bathtub may be pricier compared to just replacing it altogether. However, sometimes the problem is in your pipes and plumbing rather than the tub. While maintaining your bathtub, you must also care for your plumbing system. Here are some ways to do that:
- Use a drain guard and clear it out regularly. These keep pieces of debris from getting stuck in your pipes.
- Clean the drain regularly using drain cleaner or home remedies.
- Avoid using too much water pressure. This can burst the pipes.
- Has your plumbing system been checked every once in a while to catch problems before they start?
If you need help with your plumbing, drainage system, or bathtub, you can always call up a professional. Trying to DIY a repair job beyond your skillset will lead to more problems and is a hassle on your part.
Is A Fiberglass Bathtub Better Than An Acrylic Bathtub?
Both acrylic and fiberglass bathtubs are made of plastic reinforced with fiberglass. Both are lightweight, last for up to ten years, and are pretty durable. They are also easy to install. Between the two, acrylics are a little pricier up fron but don’t require as much maintenance as fiberglass.
The main difference between acrylic and fiberglass tubs is that you have more customization options with acrylic. It cracks and fades less and is also less susceptible to staining. It is also more mold and mildew resistant compared to fiberglass.
With regular cleaning, however, you can still keep your fiberglass bathtub clean and white for longer. Fiberglass is also the more affordable option. You can weigh the pros and cons of each material to see which one is right for you.
Wrapping Things Up
You can make your fiberglass bathtub white again by cleaning it with baking soda. Vinegar is another good option for stain removal but never use bleach. Regularly cleaning your tub also ensures it will stay white for longer, and reglazing helps keep its shine.