The shower is where we make ourselves clean, but this means that it can quickly become one of the dirtiest parts of the house. Plastic is a popular shower material because it's fairly easy to care for. But if you haven't cleaned a plastic shower before, you might not know how to go about the process. Or perhaps you're wondering if you've been going about the process the wrong way all this time. For your convenience, we brought you the answer.
To clean a plastic shower, follow these simple steps:
- Wet the entire shower with water.
- Liberally apply a non-abrasive cleaner to the surfaces of the shower.
- Use a soft sponge or a cleaning brush with soft bristles to scrub all the surfaces in the shower using circular motions.
- Once the shower is cleaned to your satisfaction, simply rinse the cleaner off.
If you still have some questions about cleaning a plastic shower, don't worry. In this post, we'll discuss the process in more detail. We'll also talk about cleaning textured plastic shower floors, how to remove mold from plastic shower walls, what causes yellow stains in the shower, how to get your plastic shower white again, and more. Without further ado, let's get into it!
Cleaning A Plastic Shower
The process of cleaning a plastic shower is quite simple—it'll just take some household items and a little bit of elbow grease! Here we'll talk about the process in greater detail.
1. Wet The Shower With Water
Before you actually start cleaning the shower, wet the entire area with water. This will make it easier to clean, as the water will help the cleaning solution more easily "activate" so to speak.
2. Liberally Apply The Cleaner
Now it's time to apply the cleaner. But before we get too far, it's important to note that you should use a non-abrasive cleaner with a soft sponge or cleaning brush. This might contradict everything you thought you knew about cleaning—shouldn't you scrub the shower with something tough to get it as clean as possible?
This might sound logical, but in reality, plastic showers can get scratched and otherwise damaged by abrasive cleaners and scrub brushes. If you want to preserve the look of your plastic shower, consider using a cleaner that isn't as harsh as the store-bought cleaners that have loads of chemicals.
A combination of dish soap, water, and vinegar makes for an excellent shower cleaner that boasts all the cleaning benefits of store-bought cleaners without the harsh chemicals. Simply combine roughly equal parts of these ingredients in a spray bottle. Then, spray down the entire shower.
3. Scrub, Scrub, Scrub
Next, take a soft sponge or cleaning brush with soft bristles and scrub the shower using circular motions. Periodically rinse the sponge or brush as needed. You might have to spend a bit more time on areas that have a lot of tough soap scum.
Be sure to get all of the nooks and crannies around the drain, faucet, handles, etc.
4. Rinse
Once the shower is cleaned to your liking, simply rinse the cleaning solution off the shower walls and base. Be as thorough as possible to remove all of the cleaning solution.
How Do You Clean A Textured Plastic Shower Floor?
If your plastic shower has a textured base, it might be a little bit more difficult to remove pesky soap scum and other grime.
In this case, clean the shower following the same steps listed above, but in addition to the cleaning solution, sprinkle some baking soda onto the shower base.
Then, pour a little bit of vinegar on it. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes, then scrub using circular motions. This method should ensure that your textured shower base gets nice and clean.
How Do You Remove Mold From Plastic Shower Walls?
Mold is an unwelcome guest in any part of the home but especially in the shower. It's unsightly, and it can cause a host of health issues if left untreated. Unfortunately, due to the moisture, dirt, grime, and possibly a lack of direct sunlight, it's all too easy for mold to grow in the shower.
If you find that your plastic shower walls are harboring mold, it's time to take action. Your first thought might be to resort to bleach to eradicate the mold. After all, bleach is the best no-nonsense cleaner, right?
In reality, bleach might not be the best choice. In fact, the EPA doesn't recommend using bleach for routine mold cleaning. Simply put, bleach can be harmful to the skin, eyes, and lungs. In addition, bleach is quite harsh, so you don't want to use it in a plastic shower.
Believe it or not, vinegar can be your best friend when it comes to getting rid of shower mold. The process of cleaning mold from plastic shower walls is similar to the process discussed above for cleaning a textured shower base. Here are the steps:
- Pour some white vinegar into a spray bottle.
- For some added cleaning power, pour a little bit of borax into the bottle.
- Spray the affected area(s) with the vinegar-borax solution.
- Sprinkle some baking soda over the affected area(s), and let the mixture sit for an hour or so (but the longer, the better).
- Use a sponge or scrub brush to scrub the mold away.
- Rinse with water.
But even though the mold has been eradicated from the shower, you aren't finished yet. You need to determine what enabled the mold to grow in the first place. Perhaps your bathroom retains a significant amount of humidity long after the shower is used and/or the shower isn't cleaned regularly.
Whatever the cause, be sure to address it to prevent future mold growth. For instance, consider using a dehumidifier in the bathroom and implement a strict cleaning schedule to keep mold at bay.
Click here to see this dehumidifier on Amazon.
Read more: How To Clean Mold Off A Shower Bench
What Causes Yellow Stains In The Shower?
Over time, the plastic in your shower might start to yellow. But what exactly causes this to happen?
Organic material called tannins can be found in some water, and this material causes yellowing around fixtures like showers/bathtubs and faucets. Tannins are typically associated with well water, but they are known to be found in some city water as well.
Over time, this material is deposited into the shower, and this results in noticeable yellow stains.
How Do I Get My Plastic Shower White Again?
If the plastic in your shower has turned yellow (or any other color), you undoubtedly want to restore the shower to its original condition for the sake of cleanliness and the appearance of your shower.
The best approach to restore your plastic shower to its former glory is to make a vinegar-borax paste. Simply pour some vinegar into a bowl, and add small amounts of borax until the mixture forms a paste. Apply the paste to the stained areas, and let it sit; the longer it sits, the better.
Then, simply rinse the paste off. Your shower should now look as good as new!
It's also worth noting that, if yellowing in your shower is the result of hard water, you should consider investing in a home water filtration system that will eliminate or reduce these hard water deposits.
In Closing
We hope this guide has equipped you with the information you need to get your plastic shower squeaky clean. Clean your shower regularly to prolong its lifespan and keep it looking nice. And remember to use a non-abrasive cleaning solution to avoid scratching the surface of the shower.
Before you go, be sure to check out these other related guides:
6 Simple Steps To Clean An Acrylic Shower Base
How To Clean A Shower Base With Baking Soda [6 Simple Steps]