Will Magic Eraser Damage Fiberglass Tub? (4 Cleaning Ways!)

Getting stains off fiberglass surfaces is an uphill task because of its surface sensitivity. Magic eraser is a highly popular cleaning product used by households to get rid of the hardest scuffs in the home and maintain the gleam of any bathroom.

However, as effective as the magic eraser is, can it be used in cleaning your fiberglass? Or, is it one of those cleaning agents/materials you should avoid?

In this article, you will be discovering if using a magic eraser is suitable for cleaning your fiberglass tub, how to get stains off your fiberglass tub, and extra detailed tips on what you should not use on your fiberglass tub.

Will Magic Eraser Damage Fiberglass Tub?

A magic eraser will not damage a fiberglass tub unless rubbed hard on its surface. When you need to get rid of dried-in soap scum and any form of stain from your fiberglass tub, a magic eraser is one cleaning product that can help you maintain or restore that pristine gleam.

However, it requires you to gently wash the stains off rather than scrub them. This is because the abrasive nature of a magic eraser is capable of scratching and dulling the sensitive exterior of a fiberglass tub.

Extensive cleaning with a regular sponge and soap might not be able to keep up that glistening appearance, but the magic eraser would definitely do. However, constant application causes lines and marks on the surface.

How Often Should You Use a Magic Eraser on Fiberglass Tub without Damaging It?

It depends upon a few factors. Let’s see when and why:

1- Daily

If you are one of those persons who always ensure that their bathroom is cleaned daily, then it’s okay to use your magic eraser in cleaning your fiberglass tub after taking your bath.

Worried about causing damage to your delicate tub? To avoid this, you should employ the spongy covering to gently clear soap scum, wipe, and absorb the droplets to help get your tub dried on time.

In summary, if you should use the magic eraser daily on your fiberglass tub, it should be used as a wipe and absorber.

2- Immediately You Notice a Stain

The goal is to avoid getting the fiberglass scratched or exerting energy while using the magic eraser in cleaning the fiberglass tub.

A surefire way to achieve this whenever you encounter rust, black dots, or cosmetic splashes on your tub is to tackle it immediately after you discover it.

Spray a few droplets of cleaning solution on that surface and let it sit on the stain for a few seconds before wiping it off with the magic eraser.

3- Twice a Month

One major drawback of a fiberglass tub is that it easily holds on to blemishes and gets scarred by stains.

If you are not the daily bathroom cleaning person, it is no news that your fiberglass tub would have dried-in spots and dirt build-up in certain corners.

Doing a twice-in-a-month scrub is recommended when using a magic eraser to get your fiberglass tub constantly cleaned up without damaging it.

How Often Should You Change Your Magic Eraser (Used on Fiberglass Tub)?

We all reuse magic erasers but there’s no fixed life of a magic eraser, but there are 2 factors that you mustn’t ignore and are indicators that you need to purchase a new magic eraser:

1- Whenever the Magic Eraser Has Absorbed Too Much Dirt

House cleaning experts recommend that magic erasers used in the bathroom stay in the bathroom.

Nevertheless, if you happen to use one magic eraser to clear ink splatter and crayon designs off the wall or floor in other parts of the home, sooner rather than later, your magic eraser would accumulate stains or dirt that can get hidden into the foam holes.

These hidden stain colors and dirt might get onto the surface that you try to clean the next time. Rather than continue clogging the magic eraser, it is much better and healthier to discard it and purchase a new magic eraser.

2- Whenever the Material Starts to Degrade

Magic erasers are not durable. After several usages, its material would begin to come off in bits.

Magic eraser is next to useless and would be a raw, abrasive product that would no longer be suitable for your fiberglass tub.

How to Remove Stains from a Fiberglass Tub?

Method 1: Apply Baking Soda

YOU’LL NEED

1- Baking soda
2- Water
3- Sponge or magic eraser
4- Bowl
5- Rubber gloves
6- Towel

STEPS

STEP 1: Put on your rubber gloves.

STEP 2: Put 2 tablespoons of baking soda into a bowl and add a little water to make a fine paste.

Note: The measure of baking powder to be used depends on the amount of stains on the fiberglass tub.

STEP 3: Use your gloved fingers to apply the baking soda paste generously to the stains, or you could just pour the mixture over the affected area.

STEP 4: Let it sit for 30-45 minutes before going ahead to gently scrub the stains off in a circular motion after wetting the surface a little.

Note: A sponge is recommended to work on the fresh stains, while a magic eraser is preferable on old, tough stains.

STEP 5: Rinse the entire tub with water and dab with a towel.

Method 2: Use Vinegar & Detergent

YOU’LL NEED

1- Rubber gloves
2- White vinegar
3- Water
4- Detergent
5- Magic eraser
6- 2 spray bottles
7- Towel

STEPS

STEP 1: Put on your gloves. Pour white vinegar into a spray bottle and dilute with a bit of water.

STEP 2: Shake the solution well, and begin to spray.

STEP 3: Spray the entire fiberglass tub surface generously with the solution.

STEP 4: Allow the solution to sit on the fiberglass tub for an hour or more.

STEP 5: When you are ready to get the fiberglass tub cleaned up, splash water all over the surface.

STEP 6: Pour mild detergent powder into a spray bottle and mix with water.

STEP 7: Begin to spray each part and gently work the magic eraser in circular motions till the stains are completely gone.

STEP 8: Rinse off with water and dab with a towel.

Method 3: Dish Soap & Disinfectant

YOU’LL NEED

1- Dish soap
2- Disinfectant
3- Water
4- Sponge
5- Towel
6- Spray bottle

STEPS

STEP 1: Pour dish soap and 1 cup of disinfectant into a spray bottle.

STEP 2: Dilute the mixture with a good amount of water (ensure that the water doe not overshadow the soapy effect)

STEP 3: Spritz every corner with the mix and scrub immediately with the scouring sponge.

STEP 4: Rinse the entire tub with water and dab with a towel.

Note: This method is encouraged when dealing with a fresh stain or for those who prefer to wash their fiberglass tub reguarly after taking a bath.

Method 4: Multipurpose Fiberglass Cleaner

Search online for a good multipurpose fiberglass stain remover. Read reviews on a few multipurpose fiberglass cleaners, look out for the ingredient list of each with their percentage, decide on the quality and affordable one, and make a purchase.

YOU’LL NEED

1- Multipurpose fiberglass cleaner
2- Rubber gloves
3- Towel

STEPS

STEP 1: Put on your rubber gloves.

STEP 2: Spray the affected areas with the multipurpose fiberglass cleaner.

STEP 3: Let the solution sit for a few minutes without letting it dry before wiping it off with a clean towel.

How To Avoid Dealing With Stains On Fiberglass?

1- Deal With the Stain Immediately Upon Noticing

Unlike tiles and acrylic bathtubs that you can delay cleaning till the weekend, fiberglass needs frequent care.

Tackling the smear or dirt before it gets dried and hard would save your bathtub from being scrubbed and scratched, maintaining its delicateness.

2- Wipe Your Bathtub Almost Daily

Wiping your fiberglass with a towel after taking your bath daily, even if you don’t have the luxury of time to employ method 3 frequently, is a surefire way to prevent your fiberglass from getting blemishes.

This way, you get to tackle the hard water, dirt, soap scum, and rust streaks before they settle.

What You Must Not Use On A Fiberglass Tub?

1- Abrasive Pads

Abrasive pads and scouring powder are a no-no for fiberglass. The coating of the fiberglass surface cannot withstand coarse cleaning agents and materials.

When abrasive pads like steel wool and scouring pads are applied, they scratch and peel off the coating rather than clearing dirt.

2- Bleach

Bleach is guaranteed to get the toughest stains out of surfaces.

However, the acidic properties of bleach are too strong for the resins of a fiberglass surface, so rather than give it a pristine appearance, it dulls the tub.

Final Thoughts!

Like every surface, a fiberglass tub is vulnerable to stains and smears, and whenever they get dried and hard, it gets pretty challenging to lift them off.

Although cleaning products like the magic eraser are guaranteed to help get the mess out, many individuals and home cleaners are still unsure if the magic eraser would not ruin the tub in cleaning it.

This article has provided detailed answers to the suitability of a magic eraser on fiberglass and more. No one wants to spend money on refinishing their tub when they can learn how to maintain it.