Cleaning the RV Shower
Most RV's these days come equipped with a
fiberglass or acrylic shower stall. They are lightweight and can
be manufactured in unlimited sizes and configurations to fit any
RV floor plan. The stalls are attractive and easy to maintain.
Many RVers are dutiful about using a squeegee after a shower and
some folks even dry the stall with an old towel - but one day
you are going to have to clean the surface.
Fiberglass shower stall manufacturers provide detailed care
instructions, but basically they state to never clean the
surface with an abrasive cleaner (like Ajax powder) or pad (like
steel wool). Then how should you clean the tough soap scum that
will eventually find its way to the shower in your Home on
Wheels?
Would you believe me if I told you a dryer sheet? Yes - Bounce,
Snuggle or any brand will do - just choose your preferred scent,
and hop in the shower!
Since learning this little trick (thanks, Mom) last year,
our RV shower has been clean and I have not had to use even one
spray of a harsh chemical. Some may suggest a used dryer sheet
will clean a shower, but I throw caution to the wind and use new
dryer sheets! (I know, call me extravagant, but the used
dryer sheets do not work as well.) This procedure works best if
the shower stall and dryer sheet are wet. Moisten the dryer
sheet and wipe the walls of the shower stall - when the motion
becomes smooth, the gunk is gone. All you need is a little teeny
bit of elbow grease. Two or three dryer sheets will clean an
entire shower stall.
If the floor of your shower is textured, this can sometimes be very
difficult to clean. But our old friend, fabric softener, comes
to the rescue again. Pour a capful of liquid fabric softener on
bottom of a wet shower floor. Use a fiberglass or acrylic-safe
scrub brush to spread it evenly over the surface and let it sit
for ten minutes. A little scrubbing with the brush will have it
looking new again.
The dryer sheets also work wonders on glass shower doors and an
old toothbrush dipped in liquid fabric softener will make quick
work of soap scum on the metal and rubber seals around the door.
When your easy chore is finished, rinse the stall with the shower
head and stand back and admire your work. Isn't that better than
stinky bleachy cleaners on your hands - not to mention into your
holding tank?
WARNING: the fabric softener will cause the
shower stall to become slippery during cleaning, so take
precaution.