topic Re: dingy looking tub in Home

dingy looking tub

happycat — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 20:02:32 GMT

I have a white fiberglass tub. It is dingy looking. Its clean, doesn't feel like it has soap scum. It is 20 years old. There are no stains, it just isn't white like it use to be. We got new shower doors, when hubby took the shower doors off earlier, where they were, it was very white.

Does anyone have any ideas? I already used goo gone and purple power. No dice.

TIA

Re: dingy looking tub

Laura14 — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 20:10:01 GMT

I am not sure what kind of tub I have but I just cleaned mine. It had gotten a brown haze around the front and nothing I did was working. Even bleach sitting on it for hours did nothing.

I finally found an old book about how to clean anything. For tubs, one recommended getting a piece of sandpaper and rubbing it over the stain which was probably caused by water over the years.

It worked! My stain is gone and I have my white tub back. Once I knew it worked, I scrubbed the whole baby down and then rinsed away the dust. Like white new.

Re: dingy looking tub

Carmie — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 20:22:04 GMT

I have a fiberglass tub in each of my RV's. Over the years, the white color has turned a vanilla color. There is nothing that can be done to restore the white color again. The darker color is permanent.

We have a skylight in the bathroom. The sun tans the fiberglass over the years.

Re: dingy looking tub

makena — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 20:21:09 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
I am not sure what kind of tub I have but I just cleaned mine. It had gotten a brown haze around the front and nothing I did was working. Even bleach sitting on it for hours did nothing.

I finally found an old book about how to clean anything. For tubs, one recommended getting a piece of sandpaper and rubbing it over the stain which was probably caused by water over the years.

It worked! My stain is gone and I have my white tub back. Once I knew it worked, I scrubbed the whole baby down and then rinsed away the dust. Like white new.

It didn't scratch it???

Re: dingy looking tub

Carmie — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 20:24:30 GMT

@makena wrote:
@Laura14 wrote:
I am not sure what kind of tub I have but I just cleaned mine. It had gotten a brown haze around the front and nothing I did was working. Even bleach sitting on it for hours did nothing.

I finally found an old book about how to clean anything. For tubs, one recommended getting a piece of sandpaper and rubbing it over the stain which was probably caused by water over the years.

It worked! My stain is gone and I have my white tub back. Once I knew it worked, I scrubbed the whole baby down and then rinsed away the dust. Like white new.

It didn't scratch it???

I used a very fine sandpaper in my RV's fiberglass kitchen sink. It removed scratches and stains and it was smooth and like new. I polished it with Gel Gloss afterwards.

Re: dingy looking tub

Laura14 — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 20:25:34 GMT

@makena It did not. I was afraid it would but it was to the point that it just needed to be done and, if it didn't work, call a professional.

I got lucky. I also used very, very fine sandpaper so I'm sure that helped as well.

Re: dingy looking tub

hoosieroriginal — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 21:07:57 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
@makena It did not. I was afraid it would but it was to the point that it just needed to be done and, if it didn't work, call a professional.

I got lucky. I also used very, very fine sandpaper so I'm sure that helped as well.

@Laura14 - I'm going to give that a try - thanks!

Re: dingy looking tub

hoosieroriginal — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 21:09:28 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
I am not sure what kind of tub I have but I just cleaned mine. It had gotten a brown haze around the front and nothing I did was working. Even bleach sitting on it for hours did nothing.

I finally found an old book about how to clean anything. For tubs, one recommended getting a piece of sandpaper and rubbing it over the stain which was probably caused by water over the years.

It worked! My stain is gone and I have my white tub back. Once I knew it worked, I scrubbed the whole baby down and then rinsed away the dust. Like white new.

@Laura14 - just wondering if you could seal it with like a paste wax or something - something that would repel the water.

Re: dingy looking tub

Greeneyedlady21 — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 21:20:43 GMT

I've been working on an old tub enclosure for weeks now. Just by spraying cleaner with bleach and letting it sit, not even scrubbing. I have a major issue with fumes from bleach, can't get near them. So I saved a great sprayer from an older bottle of Lysol shower cleaner. It's so strong and directed that I can stand a decent distance and spray.

I got one of those cordless power scrubbers to work with after some cycles of bleach spraying, haven't used that yet. But the tub had some mildew that is gone now just from my bleach spray experiment. And it's definitely whiter in general. I assume it's fiberglass, it's one of those Re Bath types over an old tub.

Re: dingy looking tub

Tigriss — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 21:46:53 GMT

I would first try the finest steel wool versus sand paper. The steel wool would be gentler. You could also use a scouring pad like you would for dishes. You may find that it is hard water build up over 20 years. Some CLR or similar chemicals with the scouring pad may do the trick. Also, a paste of baking soda then scrubbed with vinegar would be a mild acidic combo to scour it with first before you break out the heavy stuff!

Re: dingy looking tub

Laura14 — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 21:50:29 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
@Laura14 wrote:
I am not sure what kind of tub I have but I just cleaned mine. It had gotten a brown haze around the front and nothing I did was working. Even bleach sitting on it for hours did nothing.

I finally found an old book about how to clean anything. For tubs, one recommended getting a piece of sandpaper and rubbing it over the stain which was probably caused by water over the years.

It worked! My stain is gone and I have my white tub back. Once I knew it worked, I scrubbed the whole baby down and then rinsed away the dust. Like white new.

@Laura14 - just wondering if you could seal it with like a paste wax or something - something that would repel the water.

@hoosieroriginal I'm not that knowledgable but it sounds like a great idea. I am going to google that!

Re: dingy looking tub

software — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 00:16:10 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
@hoosieroriginal wrote:
@Laura14 wrote:
I am not sure what kind of tub I have but I just cleaned mine. It had gotten a brown haze around the front and nothing I did was working. Even bleach sitting on it for hours did nothing.

I finally found an old book about how to clean anything. For tubs, one recommended getting a piece of sandpaper and rubbing it over the stain which was probably caused by water over the years.

It worked! My stain is gone and I have my white tub back. Once I knew it worked, I scrubbed the whole baby down and then rinsed away the dust. Like white new.

@Laura14 - just wondering if you could seal it with like a paste wax or something - something that would repel the water.

@hoosieroriginal I'm not that knowledgable but it sounds like a great idea. I am going to google that!

Once clean, use the same kind of paste wax used on new cars.

Re: dingy looking tub

SharkE — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 01:03:42 GMT

I'd buy a new one.

Re: dingy looking tub

CAMOGIRL — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 03:44:51 GMT

How about a solution of hydrogen peroxide and warm water or straight hydrogen peroxide,I read about that before - somewhere, probably online...maybe look into that... one never knows what some of the simplest things can do. I can not remember what the percentage was with warm water or if it was straight hydrogen peroxide... just put it on with a damp sponge and then rinse... I guess maybe it is worth a try...

good luck...

Re: dingy looking tub

magicmoodz — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 13:44:26 GMT

@XLaura14 wrote:
@hoosieroriginal wrote:
@Laura14 wrote:
I am not sure what kind of tub I have but I just cleaned mine. It had gotten a brown haze around the front and nothing I did was working. Even bleach sitting on it for hours did nothing.

I finally found an old book about how to clean anything. For tubs, one recommended getting a piece of sandpaper and rubbing it over the stain which was probably caused by water over the years.

It worked! My stain is gone and I have my white tub back. Once I knew it worked, I scrubbed the whole baby down and then rinsed away the dust. Like white new.

@Laura14 - just wondering if you could seal it with like a paste wax or something - something that would repel the water.

@hoosieroriginal I'm not that knowledgable but it sounds like a great idea. I am going to google that!

Sorry @Laura14. I couldn't help myself. 😁

Re: dingy looking tub

Laura14 — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 13:10:14 GMT

@magicmoodz Google fixed my waste disposal. I just had to hunt down a correct size allen wrench. I give full credit where credit is due.

Re: dingy looking tub

Fressa — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 14:36:20 GMT

My new favorite cleaning product is Bio-Clean. I have an older stainless steel sink and a fiberglass laundry tub that it brought back to life. It also has no fumes and is safe on the skin. I have allergies so this is always a plus for me. It is reasonable in price and lasts a long time. Hope you have the same good luck that I did.

Re: dingy looking tub

happycat — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 00:26:02 GMT

Thank all of you for your ideas. I am going to them, one at a time...

I knew you ladies would have good ideas

Re: dingy looking tub

sward05 — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 02:53:22 GMT

I had a dingy fiberglass shower floor. My husband and I tried many products to no avail. I searched the internet and found a solution. Don't laugh...no fume easy off oven cleaner. I sprayed it on, let it sit for awhile...almost forgot about it. When I returned and washed it off and the stall looked like new.

We own an apartment building...ever since then when a tenant moves out that's my go to to make the tubs shine. Good luck.

Re: dingy looking tub

ID2 — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 11:04:41 GMT

I'm still shaking my head about the poster who actually is suggesting using sand paper on her fiberglass tub!! Really?? That is a huge no-no with fiberglass. Whew.