How to Remove Scratches from an Acrylic Bath or Shower Tray

Acrylic baths and shower trays are warm to the touch and good value, but they scratch easily. Grit under a foot, a dropped razor or an abrasive cleaner can all leave marks. Because acrylic is a solid plastic, light scratches can usually be polished out rather than covered up.

Is your bath acrylic?

Acrylic baths feel warm and flex slightly if you press the side. Steel and cast iron baths feel cold and solid, and a magnet will stick to steel. These methods are for acrylic only. Enamelled steel and cast iron need a specialist enamel repair.

What you need

• A Micro-Mesh kit such as the Craft Kit or the KR-70 acrylic kit
• A spray bottle of water with a drop of washing-up liquid
• A soft cloth

Step by step

1. Clean the bath and rinse away all cleaning products.
2. Check the scratch. If your fingernail catches, start with the coarsest grade in the kit.
3. Work wet over an area slightly larger than the scratch, using light, even strokes.
4. Go through each finer grade, rinsing between grades.
5. Finish with the finest grade and polish until the gloss matches the rest of the bath.

Keeping it scratch-free

Use non-abrasive cleaners and a soft cloth. Rinse sand and grit away before stepping in, and avoid rubber mats that trap grit underneath.

When to call a professional

Cracks, chips and holes, especially where the bath flexes, need a proper repair to stop water getting in.

More in our bathroom restoration guide.

Questions

Can I use this on a shower tray?

Yes, if the tray is acrylic. For stone resin or solid surface trays, use a solid surface repair kit.

Will the repaired area look different?

Finished through all the grades and polished, repairs blend in well. Work a slightly larger area than the scratch.

What cleaners should I avoid on acrylic?

Anything abrasive, and strong solvents. They dull and scratch the surface.