How to Remove Soap Scum From Tubs and Showers

If you’re the designated bathroom cleaner for your home (or if you pay attention to your surroundings while you shower or bathe), you’ve probably seen your fair share of soap scum. It’s a sad irony of housekeeping that the same substance that cleans your body can make your shower or bathtub so dirty.

Soap scum forms when the fatty acids, talc, and other ingredients in bar soap react with the minerals in hard water, and accumulate on your bathroom surfaces. Soap scum also contains body oil, dirt, dead skin pieces, and bacteria. When it is left to harden, it is incredibly difficult to remove deposits from the shower or tub.

When it comes to getting rid of soap scum, there are several successful methods and products you can try to get the job done. Read on to find out which approach is right for you.

cleaning soap scum

Attempting to solve the problem of removing soap scum there is no shortage of cleaning solutions, including both ready-made formulas and homemade ones. soap scum remover Recipe. Some of these substances and materials may be used together to produce particularly thick or tough constructions.

store bought cleaners

Some popular commercial cleaning products have cracked the code for cleaning up soap scum over the years. These two options are effective, easy to use, and readily available.

• Scrubbing Bubbles Mega Shower Foamer The top pick in our guide to Best Shower Tile CleanerAnd a great alternative to removing bathtub soap scum. Simply spray the foam on the walls of your tub and shower and give it a few minutes to clean away sticky messes. Wash and wipe surfaces with a sponge, scrub brush or cloth. Use a clean towel to dry all clean surfaces, crevices and fixtures. (You’ll want to dry your shower area because moisture attracts dirty soap scum, and this can lead to messes.) mold and mildew growth,
• It’s generally recommended for cleaning almost any bathroom surface, but can a Magic Eraser remove soap scum? The answer, somewhat surprisingly, is yes. wet a Mr Clean Magic Eraser Bath or other melamine sponge, squeeze it a few times, and wipe away the soap scum from the shower door glass, tile grout, and tub basin. Wash and dry completely.

Homemade Cleaner

Store-bought formulas aren’t the only solution when considering how to clean soap scum in the bathroom. You’ll find that the best methods for removing soap scum are also some of the cheapest. Try these recipes and solutions for DIY soap scum removal that use ingredients you probably already have at home:

• Baking Soda and VinegarPour one cup of baking soda into a small bowl and add enough white vinegar to make a paste. Once the mixture has stopped setting, use a sponge to apply it on your shower and tub, then let it set for about 15 minutes. Wipe surfaces again with a non-scratchy sponge, rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a clean towel.
• Vinegar and Dish DetergentAnother reliable mainstay of cleaning, a mixture of soap and vinegar can also dissolve soap scum. Mix equal amounts of vinegar and water Pour into a spray bottle, then add a tablespoon of dish detergent (or liquid dish soap). Spray the mixture directly onto the soap scum and let it sit for about 15 minutes. When you return, scrub the area with a soft-bristle scrub brush and rinse with warm water. Dry thoroughly.
• pumice stoneWhen? Cleaning a Ceramic Tub-Since this method should not be used for acrylic tubs or showers – you can use a wet pumice stone to remove thick soap scum. However, you will need to work carefully; Applying too much pressure when scrubbing or using a dry stone can scratch the glass door or tile. To try this out, wet both the pumice stone and the surface you’re working on. Then, very gently rub the wet stone over the soap scum. As soon as the soap scum is transferred to the pumice stone, use a stiff-bristle brush to clean the stone before scrubbing, repeating the process until the residue is gone.
• dryer sheetsSimilar to the Magic Eraser method for how to clean soap scum from tile, grout, and shower doors, you can also Remove soap scum from dryer sheetsAlthough it is known for its fresh fragrance, dryer sheets It usually contains fabric softener and other chemicals that reduce soap scum. It’s as simple as using the Magic Eraser: Wet a dryer sheet with water (and add more water as needed), rub problem areas, rinse thoroughly, and dry with a clean towel.

prevent soap scum

For soap scum, as with most cleaning tasks, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. These ideas on how to prevent soap scum can help you prevent grime from building up in your tub and shower.

• Use liquid soap instead of bar soapTalc and fatty acids in bar soap cause soap scum. While plastic bottles are less friendly to the environment, switching to liquid body wash or shower gel should significantly reduce visible filmy residue in the bathtub.
• Keep your shower and tub dryWring out and/or towel dry your shower and tub after each use. You’ll be wiping away a larger portion of the residue every time you shower, reducing soap scum levels over time.
• soften your waterSoap scum grows in hard water. One way to thwart its growth is to establish water softenerWhich will remove the minerals in your tap water that react with the soap to form soap scum. If you’re not ready to purchase a water softener, consider adding Epsom salt to bath water to soften it and keep soap scum under control. As a bonus, Epsom salts can also soothe your sore muscles.
• Use Shower Cleaner DailyRegular cleaning is the best way to prevent soap scum in the shower and bathtub, whether you use a store-bought spray or one of the DIY solutions above. Apply the cleaner to high-use surfaces with a cloth or sponge on days when the shower is in use. For best results, combine this cleaning regimen with any (or all) of the above advice about preventing soap scum.