Cleaning a ‘plastic’ tub/shower unit?
Hi..I have a fairly new tub & shower surround unit made of a molded plastic type material-not fiberglass & it reminds me of PVC…it’s shiny white…
I clean the whole danged thing thoroughly and daily but it seems nothing I use gets some of the shower gunk (from soap & body oil, dirt ) off…it’s clean but when I run my fingers over certain areas I can feel the soap scum and in some spots on the tub it looks dingy…I have been careful not to use anything harsh as I don’t want to strip the shine or damage the material, but I am used to ceramic tiles that clean so easily (this item my hubby had installed before I married him & moved in so the disorganized dear that he is he lost the paperwork that came with installation & care).
Anal as I am it’s driving me nuts…any suggestions as to what I can try? As crazy as it seems I’m even considering denture cleaners as I figure it shouldn’t harm the finish….it’s a synthetic material molded to look like a tiled shower enclosure with a matching tub thanx!
we have the same type of tub and use lysol bathroom cleaner and it works well for us
September 21st, 2009 at 5:42 pm
There are many cleaners in the market that will be suitable for your situation. I have a built in shower stall with 3 tiled walls and sliding plastic type doors. I use a spray call Viacal which might not exist where you are. It is especially good for removing salt residue and leaves my shower doors spotless without having ruined them.
The only other thing that comes to my mind and which I use a lot in cleaning, is a non-chlorine bleach which cleans but does not harm anything. Perhaps you can add some white vinegar to your cleaning detergent which is bound to remove all lingering oil films.
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September 21st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Using some bleach and water mixed in a spray bottle would work well, and I doubt would ruin the plastic since people use bleach to clean plastic toys too. You could always just test it on a small area just to make sure. Have you also tried scrubbing bubbles? I swear by that stuff, and you could use it with an Ocelo scrub sponge, they don’t scratch.
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September 21st, 2009 at 6:29 pm
we have the same type of tub and use lysol bathroom cleaner and it works well for us
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September 21st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
It is probably limescale that is on the surface. Any proprietary linescale removing bathroom cleaner will be OK - look on the pack first to see if it is suitable for platic/acrylic bathroom fixtures. My bath is acrylic and I have no problems using these types of cleaners and it still shines (once the limescale is off).
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September 21st, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I use a Mr Clean Magic Eraser ( heavy duty variety ) and Octagon soap. It’s a bar soap sold in the laundry aisle of some supermarkets.
A friend who had one of those tub surrounds recommends Spray ‘n’ Wash. I haven’t tried it but she says it works wonders.
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September 21st, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I’ve heard Spray N’ Wash leaves the bathroom sink sparkly too.
For the tub surround, try an old washcloth and cheap shampoo, baby or any other type. Wet the washcloth, put a spot of shampoo on and start rubbing in a circular motion. This should not harm the plastic at all. Try it in a small spot where you can feel the soap scum, then run your hand over it. It should feel nice and smooth after you are done. It should have a nice shine as well. The best part is you can do this while you are still in the shower if you are so inclined. Good luck!
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September 21st, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I have a fiber glass shower also. I live in an area where the water is very hard plus leaves rust residue. I use The Works for toilet, not bath on it. Works like a dream! Should you remove the shine you can use paste wax to bring that back.
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