How To Clean Stained Acrylic Shower Base

If one or more of your home's bathrooms features an acrylic shower that has accumulated a fair amount of mold, mildew or soap scum, it's time to give it a thorough cleaning. Although acrylic showers are somewhat more delicate than other types of showers, they can easily be cleaned in just a few simple steps.

Step 1 - Produce Your Homemade Cleaner

One thing to keep in mind when cleaning an acrylic shower is that you must never use any commercial cleaning products. Because of acrylic's delicate nature, the highly potent chemicals found in most commercial cleaners can cause it to fade, weaken and, over time, deteriorate. However, this is actually a blessing in disguise, as acrylic showers can be sufficiently cleaned with an easy-to-make homemade cleaning solution. To produce this solution, just combine 1 cup of white wine vinegar with 2 cups of water in a clean, empty spray bottle. It's worth noting that this solution can be used to clean many other varieties of shower as well. Once the ingredients have been mixed and the spray bottle has been securely sealed, you'll be ready for the next step.

Step 2 - Apply Your Homemade Cleaner

Now that your vinegar-based solution has taken shape, it's time to begin cleaning your acrylic shower. Start by spraying the cleaner onto the area of the shower you wish to clean first, making sure to pay special attention to any exceptionally filthy areas. Once the cleaning solution has been applied to your chosen area, allow it to sit for several minutes, as this will give the vinegar ample time to penetrate and lift the dirt deposits. Next, proceed to scrub the area with a soft sponge, non-abrasive washcloth or an expendable toothbrush. Should you encounter any particularly stubborn stains, scrub them with a soft-bristled scrub brush, but try not to exert too much force.

After the first area has been successfully cleaned, use a water-filled spray bottle or, if you have one, a detachable shower head to rinse off your cleaning solution. Once the freshly cleaned area has been fully rinsed, repeat the above-mentioned cleaning process on the rest of your acrylic shower, taking care to clean one area at time. Upon cleaning every area, give the entire shower one last water-rinsing with the aid of a spray bottle or shower head.

Step 3 - Regularly Clean Your Shower

As is the case with virtually any type of shower, you should make a point of cleaning an acrylic shower at least once a week. Weekly cleanings are of particular importance when maintaining this type of shower, as mold and mildew, the foremost culprits of shower-based filth, can be quite difficult to get rid of if they've had time to set into acrylic. Fortunately, if you carry out the cleaning process outlined above on a regular basis, you'll get many years of use out of your acrylic shower.