Bath Tub Cleaning Problem

[Donna in Texas]

We have one of those Jacuzzi bath tubs that are made out of something like
fiberglass, I guess. It's that plastic-looking stuff.

Anyway, the bottom surface has a bit of dirty-looking residue, and I really
haven't had luck getting it out. Have tried things like Bon-Ami and other
non-scratching powders, but without much luck. I have put water in the tub
and added a bit of bleach to it and let it set, but that didn't help. I
have used Tilex. Have used general bathroom cleaners. This tub isn't
really used very much, and we always clean it after every use. (It's just
my husband and I.)

Another thing is about the Jacuzzi part of the tub. One time when we hadn't
used it in a while we turned the jets on, and this dark looking stuff came
out. It looked somewhat like small pieces of very soggy grey cardboard.
I've wondered if it is some sort of mold. Anyway, I filled the tub and
poured a lot of bleach in and let that run through the jets and we could use
the Jacuzzi for a while. But then in a relatively short time it happened
again. We have lived in this house 12 years, and this only began in the
last 2 years.

Any ideas about these two problems?

Thanks---

Donna

[Unlucky]

Donna in Texas wrote:

> We have one of those Jacuzzi bath tubs that are made out of something like
> fiberglass, I guess. It's that plastic-looking stuff.
>
> Anyway, the bottom surface has a bit of dirty-looking residue, and I really
> haven't had luck getting it out. Have tried things like Bon-Ami and other
> non-scratching powders, but without much luck. I have put water in the tub
> and added a bit of bleach to it and let it set, but that didn't help. I
> have used Tilex. Have used general bathroom cleaners. This tub isn't
> really used very much, and we always clean it after every use. (It's just
> my husband and I.)
>
> Another thing is about the Jacuzzi part of the tub. One time when we hadn't
> used it in a while we turned the jets on, and this dark looking stuff came
> out. It looked somewhat like small pieces of very soggy grey cardboard.
> I've wondered if it is some sort of mold. Anyway, I filled the tub and
> poured a lot of bleach in and let that run through the jets and we could use
> the Jacuzzi for a while. But then in a relatively short time it happened
> again. We have lived in this house 12 years, and this only began in the
> last 2 years.
>
> Any ideas about these two problems?
>
> Thanks---
>
> Donna
>
>

Try car polish it works a treat on our spa. :)

[Vox Humana]

"Donna in Texas" <donna.mr@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:wpSdnbK-uIwp2UXenZ2dnUVZ_sadnZ2d@comcast.com...
> We have one of those Jacuzzi bath tubs that are made out of something like
> fiberglass, I guess. It's that plastic-looking stuff.
>
> Anyway, the bottom surface has a bit of dirty-looking residue, and I
> really haven't had luck getting it out. Have tried things like Bon-Ami
> and other non-scratching powders, but without much luck. I have put water
> in the tub and added a bit of bleach to it and let it set, but that didn't
> help. I have used Tilex. Have used general bathroom cleaners. This tub
> isn't really used very much, and we always clean it after every use.
> (It's just my husband and I.)
>
> Another thing is about the Jacuzzi part of the tub. One time when we
> hadn't used it in a while we turned the jets on, and this dark looking
> stuff came out. It looked somewhat like small pieces of very soggy grey
> cardboard. I've wondered if it is some sort of mold. Anyway, I filled the
> tub and poured a lot of bleach in and let that run through the jets and we
> could use the Jacuzzi for a while. But then in a relatively short time it
> happened again. We have lived in this house 12 years, and this only began
> in the last 2 years.
>

The stuff coming out of the jets is some type of mold and/or bacterial
biofilm. You can use bleach as you have already done, or you can use
automatic dishwasher detergent. Every week or two after using the tub, put
in a cup or two of dishwasher detergent and let it run for about 10 minutes.
That will clean the plumbing and disinfect it.

As for the "dirt" in the bottom of your tub, it might not be cleanable.
There are products for cleaning gel-coated fiberglass. One brand name is
Gel Gloss. I believe that they make both a cleaner and a polish. As has
been pointed out, you can use auto wax to polish the tub, but that won't
take away discoloration, just restore the luster. If it is a surface
problem, you might try an auto cleaning compound for clear-coat surfaces.
It will be slightly abrasive and will remove surface stains. Follow that
with a good auto wax. However, a common problem with gel-coat fixtures is
that they develop micro-cracks in the coating. The crazing or micro-crack
allow stains to penetrate into the sub-layer where they can't be removed.

[Muvin Gruvin]

my shower floor is made of some type of fiberglass and got dark grey
stains that nothing would touch.....like you I tried bleach, dishwasher
detergent, Ajax etc.
Finally ordered a product from QVC called Don Aslett's Total Tub n Tile
Cleaner. This product has helped a lot....the floor looks a lot better
then it did before.
I spray the floor now about once a month with the product.

[ms. tonya]

(Donna*in*Texas)WROTE:
We have one of those Jacuzzi bath tubs that are made out of something
like fiberglass, I guess. It's that plastic-looking stuff.
Anyway, the bottom surface has a bit of dirty-looking residue, and I
really haven't had luck getting it out. Have tried things like Bon-Ami
and other non-scratching powders, but without much luck. I have put
water in the tub and added a bit of bleach to it and let it set, but
that didn't help. I have used Tilex. Have used general bathroom
cleaners. This tub isn't really used very much, and we always clean it
after every use. (It's just my husband and I.)
Another thing is about the Jacuzzi part of the tub. One time when we
hadn't used it in a while we turned the jets on, and this dark looking
stuff came out. It looked somewhat like small pieces of very soggy grey
cardboard. I've wondered if it is some sort of mold. Anyway, I filled
the tub and poured a lot of bleach in and let that run through the jets
and we could use the Jacuzzi for a while. But then in a relatively short
time it happened again. We have lived in this house 12 years, and this
only began in the last 2 years.
Any ideas about these two problems?
Thanks---------------------------------------------
response: On TV series How Clean Is Your House a couple had the same
problem as you do but can't remember what they used to clean the jacuzzi
BUT do remember they also had the problem with that grayish looking
stuff coming out of the jets when turned on.
The ladies took swab samples and sent it to the lab, the results were
toxic bacteria,molds that aren't to be messed with, it even gave me
goose bumps.
I would hire pros PRONTO and find out if it's even safe to use this tub
or let them use commercial cleaners and also get to the source what's
causing this problem
One of the bacteria identified that came back from the lab was the one
that causes that flesh eating disease.

[Donna in Texas]

Tonya wrote: <snip>
On TV series How Clean Is Your House a couple had the same
problem as you do [with the gray stuff coming out of the jets]
<snip> The results were toxic bacteria,molds that aren't to be messed with,
it even gave me
goose bumps.
I would hire pros PRONTO and find out if it's even safe to use this tub
or let them use commercial cleaners and also get to the source what's
causing this problem
One of the bacteria identified that came back from the lab was the one
that causes that flesh eating disease.

-----------

I was afraid the grayish stuff was something really bad. I really thought
that running a strong bleach solution through the jets might take care of
that, but obviously I'm wrong, since it's still doing it.

Thanks for the info----I watch "How Clean Is Your House?" sometimes. I
can't believe that some people have houses so dirty. I wonder how they pick
the houses to feature on television.

Thanks---
Donna

[Donna in Texas]

Thanks you guys for the suggestions on cleaning the fiberglass bottom
surface of the bathtub. You gave me ideas I hadn't even considered.

Donna


P.S. I'd take the porelain over iron (or steel or whatever it is) any day.
Just FYI for anyone building a house or remodeling.

[Vox Humana]

"Donna in Texas" <donna.mr@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:UNydnd86DNSsvETeRVn-qg@comcast.com...
> Tonya wrote: <snip>
> On TV series How Clean Is Your House a couple had the same
> problem as you do [with the gray stuff coming out of the jets]
> <snip> The results were toxic bacteria,molds that aren't to be messed
> with, it even gave me
> goose bumps.
> I would hire pros PRONTO and find out if it's even safe to use this tub
> or let them use commercial cleaners and also get to the source what's
> causing this problem
> One of the bacteria identified that came back from the lab was the one
> that causes that flesh eating disease.
>
> -----------
>
> I was afraid the grayish stuff was something really bad. I really thought
> that running a strong bleach solution through the jets might take care of
> that, but obviously I'm wrong, since it's still doing it.
>
> Thanks for the info----I watch "How Clean Is Your House?" sometimes. I
> can't believe that some people have houses so dirty. I wonder how they
> pick the houses to feature on television.

Don't revise your will just yet. That TV show is a lot of hype and
theatrics. Cleaning isn't all that exciting unless you throw in some drama,
and toxic mold is a fashionable thing to discuss. With the exception of
vegetative spores that cause hepatitis B, there are very few organisms that
will survive hot water and bleach or detergent. Let's face it, there are
millions of jetted tubs with mold and biofilm growing in the plumbing. You
don't hear of people dying or having their flesh eaten away. You are
probably more likely to get Legionnaire's Disease from your hot water
plumbing system while taking a shower than you are to get a disease from
your jetted bath. I don't see what a professional could do that you
couldn't do yourself. In fact, if you call around the folks who do "mold
remediation" all have disclaimers that say that they don't guarantee that
they can eliminate the problem and make your home safe. However, they don't
really deal with mold in a bathtub, but mold that has penetrated porous
surfaces that may not be easily treated. You can put very hot water and
chemicals through your tub's plumbing and maintain the contact with the hot
solution for a prolonged period of time.

As for the houses they pick for that show, I find it hard to believe that
some of the mess isn't staged; if not by the show, then by the people who
want to be featured on the show. I don't find most of the people very
sympathetic. Either they are god-awful lazy or they have some serious
mental health issues. For the latter group, I don't think they need a
cleaning crew as much as the need some Paxil and a few sessions with a
psychiatrist.