This is the shower that my husband uses. I am — voluntarily — in charge of cleaning the fiberglass shower base. I am not very diligent about it. Obviously. Historically, I have used Lysol Basin Tub & Tile cleaner liquid in the spray bottle. It has “worked”, but it always took me like three applications, lots of letting it sit and soak, then wiping up over and over with a rag. It took forever and still there were always bits of scum left in the anti skid pattern of the fiberglass shower pan. Then the darn dirt would start building up again, fast and furious. So, you can see why I avoided the task: It was sisyphean. But ha!, disgusting fiberglass days are over!
I was trying ROG products and when I received the ROG3, it also said it would clean fiberglass. So I gave it a try and yowza: This fiberglass shower pan cleaned up like a dream — faster and better than anything I have ever tried before.
But, please note:
Disclaimer: Here on the blog, as homeowners ourselves, we may try new cleaning products aimed at solving our own cleaning problems; if we think we’ve found something promising to consider, we may write about it. But, we are not professionals. So, please: Do your own research into these products — consult with the manufacturers of your products — about their suitability for your projects before trying them. More info in Terms of Use.
Link: It’s expensive, but I think I will buy a lifetime supply this week, just in case — Where to buy ROG3.
Ginger says
Rog 3 is Sodium Hydroxide is lye and very caustic.
Terri Jones says
My installer told me to clean my fiberglass shower floor with Cascade dish powder. It has always worked will for upkeep, not sure how it would do for deep cleaning. Just sprinkle some in and scrub with a toilet style cleaning brush so no hand and knees scrubbing. I let it set and just rinse next time someone takes a shower.
itr says
Based on your testimonial, I just ordered a set of ROG cleaners. My shower pan is every bit as ugly as your “before” pictures and I’ve tried everything short of TNT to get it clean. If this works, it will be a miracle.
vince says
the safest cleaning pad to use on fiberglass and cast iron bathtubs is a fiber hair hogs hair pad they are tough last long and will not scratch the surface, just clean it, another product KOHLER recommends as well as me.
Vince Vallone.
With the ROG company after working in the hotel industry for 37 years experience in all types of shower pans and older bathtubs
pam kueber says
Hey, I’m cleaning my bathroom right now, Vince, how did you know! Is the hair hog what you include with your kit? Another question: Can I use ROG1 and/or ROG3 on a Swanstone solid surface shower base? It’s not fiberglass, it’s something else, I’m not sure what plastic or whatever… Help!
Joy says
Growing up my family has used Soft Scrub to clean all of our sinks and tubs. When I bought my first home a couple of years ago I went “green” but kept a bottle of Soft Scrub in the mix just in case my natural cleaners couldn’t do the trick. I have a one bathroom house so my shower gets used everyday and I had never been able to get the fiberglass base to sparkle. So disappointing. Last week I found a brush I had used on another project and decided to give it a whirl on the base. I sprayed my Soft Scrub generously then scrubbed with the brush like I was possessed and let it sit for about 10 minutes…. HAllelulah!! HAAALlelulah!! It was a miracle!! Its all about having the right tools and products! I had “cleaned” that base for over 2 years before it was ever really clean. I feel your excitement!
Anne Longo says
Joy-once your fiberglass is clean, try a little baby oil on the walls (not the base because you’ll slip and fall). I used it regularly in my other home. Use a soft rag like a microfiber cloth, rub in and gently wipe off. It leaves a wonderful scent (I like the lavender because it’s soothing) and the fiberglass sparkles like new, while fighting hard water stains. We also use the baby oil to put a high shine on our boat after polishing and waxing-nothing commercially even comes close to the sheen baby oil gives to the boat, and the baby oil is far less expensive.
Diane says
Hi Pam ~
Love that you included a shout out to your Dobie pad in the tub. I use one for scrubbing out my 1930s tubs without scratching. I’ve squirreled away a dozen of them on the bet they’ll eventually stop making them.
Also, I’ve had great luck with Zud cleansers ~ both the powder and cream ~ for stubborn gunk, as well as Scrubbing Bubbles as a previous poster mentioned.
Love your blog!
pam kueber says
I love my Dobies! LOVE LOVE LOVE.
pam kueber says
🙂
Martha says
I have always loved your descriptions, but an extra huge thumbs up for: sisyphean!!
pam kueber says
I learned it from one of my life’s mentors. 🙂
Lisa says
I’m a big fan of ‘commercial’ Scrubbing Bubbles and the magic eraser. I have only been able to find the commercial line at Home Depot. But the product is out there.
I am sometimes blessed with cleaning the nastiest of tubs in foreclosed homes where the grime has sat for over a year or longer. Yuck.
Spray it on and let it sit awhile. Respray and wipe down with the magic eraser. Non-slip bottoms can present a problem because of all the grooves, so keep the scrub brush close at hand.
You know, the vintage cast iron tubs with the polk-a-dot bottoms? This is the only product that I have found that will get those bottoms white again.
Mary says
Pam,
I had the same problem with the slip resistant tub in our previous house. A ffriend told me to make a baking soda and water paste, let it set a few minutes, then scrub and rinse. It worked like a dream! No fumes, just clean. I did this often and never noticed any kind of problem from scrubbing. Thanks for the fab website! It is my absolute favorite!!
Mary
pam kueber says
Thanks, Mary!!