Cleaning the Floor of the Fiberglass Shower

[Madelaine Amee]

I have the fiberglass shower with the pebbled floor. Has anyone found anything that cleans that pebbled area without spending hours scrubbing on your hands and knees?

[Uptown Girl]

This sounds weird, but you might try an overall scrub with a shampoo designed for oily hair. Follow it with a scrub of full strength vinegar and then hose it down.
At least it won't harm the finish of the floor, and it shouldn't take long to do. (don't buy a shampoo with added hair conditioners- go cheap.)
Another thought would be toothpaste and a good, flat scrub brush.

Once it looks the way you want it, you can use regular shower floor products.

I do our tile like this maybe once a month, as my darling hubby enjoys using artisan bar soap- which over time, leaves residue, especially on the floor. My own hair conditioner does, too.
I have even used harsh shampoo to pre-wash away hairspray speckles on the tile floor in our bathrooms. Most floor cleaning products leave those speckles behind.

[scooterpoo]

Try some type of blue toilet bowl cleaner. Let it set for a few minutes, then scrub it.

[mikeandnancy1112]

Spread Suave shampoo, any shampoo but Suave is cheapest, all over the shower floor and sides if needed. Let stand several hours, then wash it out, with very little scrubbing. You will be amazed!

[philnpat]

Spread Suave shampoo, any shampoo but Suave is cheapest, all over the shower floor and sides if needed. Let stand several hours, then wash it out, with very little scrubbing. You will be amazed!

I agree...
I spilled some shampoo on the shower floor and didn't notice it right away. When I rinsed it off, the shower floor looked brand new. No scrubbing!

[TVMayor]

I agree...
I spilled some shampoo on the shower floor and didn't notice it right away. When I rinsed it off, the shower floor looked brand new. No scrubbing!

Almost perfect timing, I wish I would have read this 2 days ago.

[Madelaine Amee]

A huge thanks to everyone for their suggestions, definitely going to get some cheapo shampoo and definitely going to try the toilet bowl cleaner - like that smell.

On this subject, I have just inquired about the fairly new acrylic shower enclosure - walls, floor and no surround glass door. It looks absolutely gorgeous, but around $6,000+ it should!

[Halibut]

Magic Eraser is the only thing we've found that works. Tried straight bleach, Ajax, various scrub brushes, that spray-on cleaner that you leave, shampoo, white vinegar and baking soda, Barkeepers Friend, and an expensive ROG kit that's made for tubs/showers.

Our shower wasn't heavily stained, but the Magic Eraser took out the ground-in dirt that nothing else would budge. Now it's my job to clean -- I step on the sponge and swish it around the floor after I shower so nothing gets built up.

[Madelaine Amee]

Magic Eraser is the only thing we've found that works. Tried straight bleach, Ajax, various scrub brushes, that spray-on cleaner that you leave, shampoo, white vinegar and baking soda, Barkeepers Friend, and an expensive ROG kit that's made for tubs/showers.

Our shower wasn't heavily stained, but the Magic Eraser took out the ground-in dirt that nothing else would budge. Now it's my job to clean -- [/B]I step on the sponge and swish it around the floor after I shower so nothing gets built up.[/B]

I step on the sponge and swish it around the floor after I shower so nothing gets built up. That's the secret to that pebbled finish, clean it every time the shower is used, which in our case is a couple of times a day, sometimes more - what a pain!

[deano_hoosier]

I did a test yesterday afternoon. Shampoo vs a blue toilet bowl cleaner. The shampoo made a "dent" in the dirt. The blue toilet bowl cleaner---wow! It really worked.

In the past I've religiously scrubbed the floor with a stiff brush and a soft gel abrasive cleaner coupled with scrubbing the floor while taking a shower. Never really got the floor area clean.

The thing I noticed about the toilet bowl cleaner approach is that if you miss covering an area, it will definitely show after rinsing out the shower. I wonder if there is way to ensure more even coverage?

I'm sold on the toilet bowl cleaner approach.

[Uptown Girl]

I did a test yesterday afternoon. Shampoo vs a blue toilet bowl cleaner. The shampoo made a "dent" in the dirt. The blue toilet bowl cleaner---wow! It really worked.

In the past I've religiously scrubbed the floor with a stiff brush and a soft gel abrasive cleaner coupled with scrubbing the floor while taking a shower. Never really got the floor area clean.

The thing I noticed about the toilet bowl cleaner approach is that if you miss covering an area, it will definitely show after rinsing out the shower. I wonder if there is way to ensure more even coverage?

I'm sold on the toilet bowl cleaner approach.

Sounds like the winner to me! :pepper2:
Maybe the tbc would disperse evenly through a spray bottle….. ?

[Madelaine Amee]

A word of Caution - if you use the blue/green cleaner use rubber gloves - which I did not do. I now have blue/green finger tips and no nail polish left on my nails!

[Didiwinbob]

Comet has always been my "go to " product and it does great with the add elbow grease. I going to give some of these suggestion a try. Thanks

[scooterpoo]

I used a long handle stiff bristle brush. Saves wear and tear on the old back and hands. I used the brush to spread the toilet bowl cleaner around the shower floor. Let it set for awhile, then scrub. Hope this helps.

[HappyVillager]

I did a test yesterday afternoon. Shampoo vs a blue toilet bowl cleaner. The shampoo made a "dent" in the dirt. The blue toilet bowl cleaner---wow! It really worked.

What brand of "blue toilet bowl cleaner" did you use? How long did you leave it on before rinsing? Did you have to scrub at all?

I have also tried just about everything...bleach, Dawn, Scrubbing Bubbles....all getting on my hands and knees scrubbing with a stiff brush for what seemed like forever. I have a huge container of Kirkland Bathroom and Toilet Bowl Cleaner that I got from Costco. It probably worked the best but I wasn't overly impressed with the results. That's why I'm asking about the exact brand that worked for you. And how long you left it on.

Another issue I'm having is that my shower enclosure seems to have been installed in sections. And where the sections meet, there is black algae or mold growing. Its impossible to reach even using a brush. I'm trying to spray chemicals (bleach products) into the cracks but this seems like a design flaw. Wondering if anyone else is noticing that issue.

[Madelaine Amee]

What brand of "blue toilet bowl cleaner" did you use? How long did you leave it on before rinsing? Did you have to scrub at all?

I have also tried just about everything...bleach, Dawn, Scrubbing Bubbles....all getting on my hands and knees scrubbing with a stiff brush for what seemed like forever. I have a huge container of Kirkland Bathroom and Toilet Bowl Cleaner that I got from Costco. It probably worked the best but I wasn't overly impressed with the results. That's why I'm asking about the exact brand that worked for you. And how long you left it on.

Another issue I'm having is that my shower enclosure seems to have been installed in sections. And where the sections meet, there is black algae or mold growing. Its impossible to reach even using a brush. I'm trying to spray chemicals (bleach products) into the cracks but this seems like a design flaw. Wondering if anyone else is noticing that issue.

Anywhere there is a join in these older fiberglass shower units you will get some build up. Thankfully, mine is not black mildew, mine seems to go pink. I have a small brush shaped like a one knuckle knuckle duster (is that what they are called?), there is room to put your fingers through the opening, it has the name Lysol and it's called "Grab Me I Scrub & Scrape". I have no idea where I picked it up, but I usually only shop at Publix, Lowes or Home Depot, so you might try them.

Nothing really works, and I suppose at some time I will break down and put the new acrylic shower in, but I hate to spend $4 - 6,000 on a shower enclosure. I'm hoping some resourceful person will realize how much money they could make if the price was more affordable. :smiley:

[deano_hoosier]

[QUOTE=HappyVillager;865014]What brand of "blue toilet bowl cleaner" did you use? How long did you leave it on before rinsing? Did you have to scrub at all?


I used Lysol in blue bottle. Left it on for about 2 hours and basically just rinsed it off. No scrubbing required. I did leave a blue tinge on the drain cover. I should have lifted that out of the way first.

[Uptown Girl]

[B]

Another issue I'm having is that my shower enclosure seems to have been installed in sections. And where the sections meet, there is black algae or mold growing. Its impossible to reach even using a brush. I'm trying to spray chemicals (bleach products) into the cracks but this seems like a design flaw. Wondering if anyone else is noticing that issue.

You might try spraying Tilex Mildew Root Penetrator and letting it sink in and remain for about an hour before hosing it off. I should add that if you give the spray bottle a few shakes, it will spray out as foam… to cling longer and help it to penetrate.

Sounds like your shower would benefit from more air circulation so it dries out completely between showers. Maybe add a small fan?

[Cathy H]

I just read the label on Lysol toilet bowl cleaner and it warns not to use it on counter tops, toilet seats, etc. so I think they are saying it is not good for plastic surfaces like a fiberglas shower.