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Scratches, Scuffs, or Discoloration on the Acrylic: Surface Care and Touch-Up Kits

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. Why Acrylic Is Easy to Care for
  2. Stubborn Marks and Stains
  3. Light Scratches and Dulled Areas
  4. Does Ella Sell a Touch-Up or Repair Kit?
  5. Deep Gouges, Cracks, or Discoloration
  6. Protecting the Finish Going Forward
  7. Related Guides
  8. Common Questions

Acrylic surface care for a walk-in tub is mostly prevention: light scratches, scuffs, and dull spots on the high-gloss acrylic polish out at home with a fine automotive polishing compound, stubborn marks come off with denatured alcohol, and anything deeper has a clear path through our support team. Ella's Bubbles does not sell a standalone touch-up kit, and abrasive cleaners are the one thing that will permanently damage the finish. Here is how to tell a home-care blemish from a warranty concern and what to do in each case.

White Ella Standard walk-in tub with glossy acrylic finish and chrome faucet in a bathroom
The glossy white acrylic on an Ella walk-in tub keeps its shine for years with non-abrasive care.

Why Acrylic Is Easy to Care for

Acrylic Over Fiberglass: The Better Walk-In Tub Choice
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Lifetime Warranty And Service Ella's Bubbles offers a lifetime warranty on all bathtubs and installations, emphasizing excellent service.
  2. 0:14 Acrylic Bathtub Construction Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs are made from a single piece of durable acrylic, preventing chipping or cracking.
  3. 0:49 Low Maintenance Acrylic Acrylic bathtubs are very easy to maintain and require minimal service, as dull spots can be buffed out.

In this video an Ella dealer explains the difference between acrylic and fiberglass gel coat: acrylic is one solid piece of material that can be buffed back to a shine if it ever dulls, while gel coat chips, cracks, and needs repair. That is why the polishing steps below work so well on an Ella tub. Our acrylic construction and frame article has more on how the shell is built. Watch: Acrylic Over Fiberglass: The Better Walk-In Tub Choice | Voted Safest/Best 2020 with chapters and a full transcript.

Stubborn Marks and Stains

For everyday cleaning, stick to the gentle products in our approved cleaners article and never use abrasive cleansers or scrubbing pads, which damage the gloss. For marks that regular cleaning will not lift, denatured alcohol or an acrylic-safe bathtub surface cleaner from your local store will usually do the job. Construction debris, sticker glue, or caulk left from installation can be removed with a mild detergent first, then denatured alcohol or Clorox Soft Scrub cleaner for anything stubborn.

Light Scratches and Dulled Areas

Light scratches and areas that have lost their shine can often be restored to their original luster by polishing the surface with a fine grade, automotive type cleaning and polishing compound, such as Turtle Wax brand products. Work in small circles with a soft cloth, then rinse and dry. This is the same technique detailers use on car paint, and it works because acrylic polishes in a very similar way.

Does Ella Sell a Touch-Up or Repair Kit?

We do not sell a standalone touch-up or repair kit. For a small chip, acrylic repair kits sold for bathtubs can be used, and a local acrylic refinishing professional can handle deeper damage. For blemishes that polishing cannot fix, our technical support team can assist you with directions and options for your specific situation. Please reach out before attempting any filler or paint product on the surface, since the wrong product can make a small blemish harder to repair properly later, and color matching a generic epoxy to the Ella white is difficult.

Deep Gouges, Cracks, or Discoloration

Some issues go beyond home care and should come straight to us:

  • Deep gouges or chips that catch a fingernail
  • Cracks of any size
  • Discoloration of the finish itself, for example a tub that looks pink or yellow rather than white (see tub looks pink, yellow, or stained)

For any of these, open a support ticket and include clear photos of the affected area along with your tub's serial number (our serial number guide shows where it is) and a short description of when you first noticed the issue. The acrylic finish is addressed under the Lifetime Limited Warranty, and photos plus the serial number are exactly what our team needs to review a finish concern. Our lifetime limited warranty coverage article explains what the warranty covers and how review works; note that the finish warranty does not apply to scouring due to cleaning or damage from harsh chemicals. Damage found at delivery should be reported within 48 hours.

Protecting the Finish Going Forward

Walk-In Tub Cleaning and Maintenance Guide
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Automatic Tub Cleaning Features The video explains how the hydrotherapy jets activate ozone sterilization and the air massage uses auto Purge to clear water.
  2. 0:32 Manual Cleaning and Maintenance The video demonstrates wiping the tub with a non-abrasive cleaner and cleaning around the intake screen.
  3. 1:00 Avoid Bath Bombs The video cautions against using bath bombs due to potential damage to the pump system.

Our cleaning and maintenance video shows the routine that keeps the finish bright: wipe the surface about twice a month with a non-abrasive cleaner, keep the intake screen clear, skip bath bombs, and run the monthly vinegar flush described in our cleaning and monthly maintenance article. Watch: Walk-In Tub Cleaning and Maintenance Guide with chapters and a full transcript.

  • Use only non-abrasive cleaners from the approved list.
  • Rinse and wipe down the surface after baths with salts or oils.
  • Keep sharp or heavy objects out of the tub, and use a soft mat under any bath accessories.
  • Run the monthly vinegar flush to keep mineral film from dulling the surface.

Common Questions

How do I remove a light scratch or dull spot?
To remove a light scratch or dull spot on your Ella walk-in tub's acrylic surface, buff the area with a fine-grade automotive polishing compound, such as a Turtle Wax brand product. Work in small circles with a soft cloth, then rinse and dry the surface. This technique works well because the high-gloss acrylic polishes in a similar way to car paint.
How do I get sticker glue or caulk off the acrylic?
To remove sticker glue or caulk from your Ella walk-in tub's acrylic, start by cleaning the area with a mild detergent. For any stubborn residue, use denatured alcohol on a soft cloth. Clorox Soft Scrub cleaner can be used as a fallback for particularly persistent marks, but never scrape the acrylic with a blade or use an abrasive pad, as this can damage the gloss.
Can I use a Magic Eraser or scouring pad?
Please do not. Abrasive pads, scouring powders, and melamine sponges are not on the approved list and can dull the gloss. Scouring damage is also excluded from the finish warranty. A soft cloth with an approved cleaner does the job.
Do you sell a touch-up or repair kit?
Ella's Bubbles does not sell a standalone touch-up or repair kit for walk-in tubs. For small chips in the acrylic, you can use acrylic repair kits sold for bathtubs from a home store. For deeper damage, a local acrylic refinishing professional can assist; please send us photos first so our technical support team can advise you on the best option for your specific situation.
My installer chipped the tub. Is that covered?
Damage to your Ella walk-in tub caused by an installer is not considered a manufacturing defect and is therefore handled as a repair rather than a warranty claim. To address this, please open a support ticket and include clear photos of the chipped area. Our team will then review the photos and guide you to the appropriate repair approach.
The tub looks pink or yellow. Is the finish failing?
A pink film that wipes away is usually residue from standing water and comes off with regular cleaning. Yellowing from harsh chemicals or scouring is not covered. If the color difference is obvious in daylight, send photos in natural light through a ticket.
There are small rust-colored spots on the stainless threshold or chrome. What now?
Spots on stainless or chrome are usually surface deposits that clean off with a soft cloth and a mild cleaner. Rinse chrome after salt baths. If a spot will not come off, send photos and the team will advise on your fixture.
What information should I send about a finish concern?
Clear photos of the area, the serial number from the label behind the access panel next to the door, when you first noticed it, and how the tub has been cleaned. That lets the team review it under the Lifetime Limited Warranty.
What can I buy at the hardware store to fill a chip in the acrylic?
For a small chip in your Ella walk-in tub's acrylic, you can use a color-matched appliance epoxy touch-up product from a hardware store. If you are filling a deep chip, it is best to build it up in several thin coats, allowing each coat to cure completely before applying the next. Please reach out to our technical support team before attempting any filler or paint product on the surface.

Still need help? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and our team will be happy to walk you through it.

About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.

Related guides

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