Ways to Whiten a Prefab Shower
- Make a vinegar solution for routine cleaning and whitening.water sprayer image by amlet from Fotolia.com
Prefabricated tub and shower units come as gel-coated fiberglass, acrylic reinforced with fiberglass and acrylic backed with a structural composite. After installation, wash and scrub these showers with a non-abrasive product every two weeks. If stains develop, the best, least abrasive products for sterilizing and whitening are borax or baking soda and white vinegar, or a mild dish soap. Fiberglass is extremely brittle and cracks easily, so take care not to hit it with anything that might crack the surface. - Mix one part white vinegar to three parts warm water in a spray bottle. Regularly spray the floor and walls of the tub and gently wipe down all surfaces with a white cloth. Use an oxygen-based cleaner containing hydrogen peroxide (or hydrogen peroxide itself in a spray bottle) to whiten floors and walls. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse with cool water. Dish soap is also effective at removing soap scum and other residue. Simply apply a few drops to a white sponge or a soft-bristled brush and scrub the affected areas. Rinse well.
- Make a paste of borax or baking soda and vinegar. Scrub the floor and walls (or any residue) with the paste to remove soap buildup and whiten the surface of the shower. Rinse well: baking soda has a tendency to stick around even after it's been rinsed, but if you don't remove it all at once, it will come off the next time someone uses the shower.
- Scratches make a prefabricated shower look even dirtier by holding dirt and soap scum in place. After scrubbing the floor with a baking soda or borax and vinegar paste, apply a high-quality spray automotive wax to the walls. Car wax will fill in the scratches and restore the shower's original sheen. If the floor is in especially poor shape and you wish to apply wax, install a rubber mat once the surface is thoroughly dry. Buff out the wax with a clean, soft cloth until it gleams.
