How can stains on fiberglass tubs be removed?

Question

there are stains caused by a water well on the fiberglass tubs in a rental home  that my son is renovating.  Do any of you know how we can clean them?

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

This has been a fairly frequent question here in HT.  Fiberglass tubs and shower surrounds tend to scratch easy with abrasive cleaners. The result is the gel coating which provides the shiny and surface and makes it easy to clean gets damaged from the abrasives. When the gel coating fails it allows the soils and soap scum to get into the more porous surfaces that the gel coat is supposed to protect.  Over time these micro scratches catch dirt, and water hardness resulting in a dingy color on the surface.  The issue is the only way to remove this is to re-surface the tub/shower area.  Using abrasive cleaners will do little to clean and will only make the issue worse.  Chemicals such as bleach may lighten up the stains, but will not remove them completely. 
Some people have had luck using CLR water hardness cleaner, still others used Fume Free oven cleaner. The biggest thing is you need to let the chemicals sit for an hour or two to let hem do their job.

Becky · Answer

Thank u so much woodbridge for your suggestions. The act of sale is the middle of Aug so I'll try your tips then & let u know if either works.

Pam B · Answer

I just tried this the other day and it works great!  Put 1 c. of white vinegar in a bowl and heat it for 2 mins. in the microwave.  Carefully pour into a spray bottle.  Then add 1 c. Dawn dish soap.  Spray on to area to be cleaned and let it sit for 2 hours.  Rub with a cloth or gentle sponge and they'll look brand new. I have tried many things over the past 7 years to remove the stains and my shower was pretty badly stained by hard water, so it took a couple of times to clean it, but it looks brand new now!

Dee W · Answer

Pam, I'd like to try this but wondered if you can save and re-heat what you do not use?

Pam · Answer

Reheat in microwave.

Dee W · Answer

Thank-you for your quick response.

Shari · Answer

Since this question is a couple months old, you may have already solved the problem but in the event you haven't, I would like to add that I found Mr. Clean Magic Sponges did a remarkable job of removing those brownish well water stains from a fiberglass tub.  It does take some elbow grease (and maybe a couple sponges), but I eventually got the stains off.  Also, Walmart has their own brand of the magic sponges and I think they work just as well as the more expensive Mr. Clean brand.

Sherrie · Answer

Shari is right.  And so is Woolridge.  They are iron stains from the well water.  I like the idea also of heating the vinegar and some dawn dish soap and use a magic easer to scrub it.

Dianna · Answer

These are a little old, but I have tried all these, none take the stains completely off mine. I have city water, but my mother had well water that had iron in it and she used snow bowl when it would get too bad, took every bit of the stains off. I tried that on mine, but didn't work. My stains are like from the outside in.The tub feels smooth, cleans good with the vinegar and dawn mixture but still has the stains in places.

Rachel Z · Answer

Nothing has worked on mine except comet...it was a last resort. Worked perfectly.

Jessica Parker · Answer

Cut a fresh lemon. Spinkly baking soda on the lemon and use the lemon lime a sponge and squeeze and use the juice and baking soda. I just sprinkling the baking soda on the lemon and keep scrubbing. Then use hot wet rag to rinse. Great for soapscum. I also take green tea baths and the tea leaves the tub brown and this works great even if the tea has been on the tub for a while.

Sherrie · Answer

When we go into rentals with this problem we use two things.  The Works, toilet bowl cleaner.  We run a little water spray it on with a old spray nosel and turn in the fan and leave the room, don't get it on facets it will arc them or spot them.  I carry a bottle for every rental I go in we also carry brushes to scrub.  We leave it set for 30 minutes and then clean it, doesn't get it off reapply.  No it is not natural and it is harsh cleaning.  It isn't for everyday cleaning either.  But it will work.  I go into 2 to 3 rentals a day that are trashed beyond belief and regular cleaning doesn't touch it,  the other thing we also use on tubs like this is oven cleaner.  It is a non aerosol, we purchase it at Sam's in a three pack.  It will remove heavy grease and other amazing things.  We wear gloves that solvents can't penetrate And k chemical masks.  Or your hands we peel the mask is because we are spraying the cleaners like crazy.

Sherrie · Answer

There is also a product called Supper Iron Out.

Gail · Answer

At Lows or Home Depot or any store like that get some Muriatic Acid comes in a gallon plastic jug wipe it on and rinse with soap and water do not use on metal but you can rinse it fast with soap and water like in the bathtub or sink but do not use in the washer unless you can rinse it fast, wipe on wash off it is not an all purpose cleaner.

Josephine Howland · Answer

I have tried so many things to get the orange iron stains out of my tub/shower, the only thing that at least lightened them was TSP from HD or Lowes.

Sherrie · Answer

It is a great cleaner!  Some bathrooms I go into haven't been cleaned in years!

Sherrie · Answer

Judy I use to live in the country and we were on a well also.  I didn't know about it then but sometimes you use what you have to for a clean house!

Rtc · Answer

I use Weiman Tub and Tile Cleaner. This stuff is great@

Corina Grace · Answer

People have been on this topic since 2012 lol

How can stains on fiberglass tubs be removed?

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How can stains on fiberglass tubs be removed?

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