How To: Remove Soap Scum—Once and For All

Use one of these methods to get rid of nasty stains and coatings on your bath, shower, or tile, and then try these tips to get rid of it permanently.

When you shower, you will inevitably come across soap scum. It is ironic that the substance that cleans us every day can make our showers and baths so dirty.

When the fatty acids, talc, and other ingredients in soap react with the minerals in hard water, stubborn scabs form, and soap scum also contains body oils, dirt, dead skin flakes, and bacteria. Disgusting.

The situation is even more unattractive when soap scum hardens, making it difficult to remove from the bath or shower.

But fear not. There are many successful methods for removing soap scum. There are many successful methods for removing soap scum. Read on to find out which method is right for you.

Soap scum removal
Commercial Cleaners

Some popular commercial cleaners break down soap scum. We like Scrubbing Bubble because of its effectiveness, ease of use, and ready to use. You can find it on Amazon or at your local grocery store. If this product appeals to you, the process is simple. Spray it on the walls of your bath or shower and let it sit for a few minutes to remove soap scum grease. Then rinse and wipe off the surface using a sponge, brush, or cloth. Then wipe off the moisture with a clean towel. Moisture attracts dirt.

Homemade Cleaner

If you prefer DIY cleaners, try the following recipe

• Baking soda and vinegar. Place 1 cup of baking soda in a small bowl and add enough white vinegar to make a paste. When no more bubbles form, use a sponge to apply it to the shower or bath and let it sit for 15 minutes. Wipe the surface with a non-scratch sponge, rinse thoroughly with water, and pat dry.
• Vinegar and detergent. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water and add 1 tablespoon of dishwashing detergent. Spray this solution on the soap scum and let it sit for about 15 minutes. When you return, scrub with a soft bristle brush and rinse with hot water. Allow to dry thoroughly.
• Elbow grease
• For porcelain tubs, a wet pumice stone can be used to remove soap scum (handle with care). Improper technique or dry stone may scratch glass doors and tiles. To try, wet both the pumice stone and the surface to be worked on. Then gently rub the wet stone over the soap scum. If the soap scum transfers to the pumice stone, brush it off with a stiff bristle brush and start over again. On surfaces with very large amounts of soap scum, you can also try scraping it off with a razor. However, do not use abrasives on fiberglass or acrylic tubs or showers.

Preventing Soap Scum

For many activities, prevention is a hundred times better than a hundred words. Preventing soap scum can help reduce scum formation.

• Use liquid soap instead of solid soap. The talc and fatty acids in solid soap cause soap scum, so switching to liquid soap or body soap should greatly reduce the amount of filmy scum.
• Keep showers and baths dry. After using the shower or bath, dry the area with a squeegee or towel. This will wipe away most of the soap scum-producing particles that remain after a shower, so you will not experience the same level of buildup.
• Soften the water. Since soap scum thrives in hard water, one option is to install a water softener to remove minerals in the water that react with the soap to produce soap scum. If you do not plan to purchase a water softener, please consider adding laxative salt to your bath water to soften the water and inhibit soap scum. As an added bonus, laxatives also relieve sore muscles.
• 4. use a daily shower cleaner or invest in an automatic cleaner. We live in a beautiful world where automatic shower cleaners exist. This will drastically reduce the amount of soap scum and relieve you from the hard work of removing soap scum.