How To Remove Soap Scum & Prevent It In The Future
People ask me all the time, how to remove soap scum from their shower doors. They literally stop me while Im shopping, or call me, just to ask me this question, so apparently its a bit of a problem! I wrote a post about this last year but it was a reverse Ask Anna post and I was asking for help from you! So now when I get asked the question how do I get rid of my soap scum I tell people, Go to the post I wrote and read all the comments, my readers had some great tips! I dont know why it took me so long, but I finally decided to compile all the best tips from my readers into one post, so that from now on when people ask me this question, I can just send them to this post! Okay so here we go
8 tips for how to remove soap scum
What to do: Wet down the shower doors and a sponge, sprinkle Bar Keepers Friend on your sponge and then scrub scrub scrub. Once the soap scum is gone rinse the shower doors with warm water and squeegee them dry.
What to do: Wet down the shower doors. Squirt the cook top cleaner all over the doors and spread it around with a sponge. Let it sit for 2 minutes, then wet the sponge and scrub the doors. Once the soap scum is gone rinse the shower doors with warm water and squeegee them dry.
#2 1/2: I had one reader that suggested making a paste out of the Bar Keepers Friend and the ceramic cook top cleaner. What have you got to lose, right?
Clr Pro Calcium Lime And Rust Remover
Best for Heavy Soap Scum
If nothing else is working to remove your heavy build-up try this. This professional-grade soap scum remover is made with an industrial-strength formula. It works to break down calcium, lime, and soap scum, leaving behind no residue or streaks.
You might be thinking industrial strength? That must be full of harsh chemicals. Actually, no! Its an eco-friendly non-toxic formula with the same power as harsh chemicals, but without the nasty fumes!
Another thing youll love about this is how quickly it works. The fast-acting formula removes your stains, discoloration, and dirt quickly. You can use it for stainless steel, countertops, tubs, showers, tile, fixtures, and sinks. Talk about versatility.
Looking for something to take a dirty, old, nasty bathroom to brand new perfection? Then this is a well-loved and trusted product to try.
Pros
- It works on a variety of surfaces, including coffee machines.
- Its approved for use in food service facilities.
- Industrial strength but eco-friendly formula.
- Works in as little as two minutes.
Cons
- You have to scrub quite hard on certain stains, such as calcium.
- Not as effective on rust or iron.
Product Specs
| Multi-purpose, such as stainless steel, countertops, tubs, showers, and tile |
| Scented |
| Calcium, lime, hard water deposits, soap scum, discoloration, and dirt |
| Toxicity |
How To Clean A Scummy Shower Floor
Fact: Unless your showers are strictly conversation pieces, you will eventually notice soap scum forming on the floor of the shower.
This white, filmy side-effect of getting clean every morning is a foul combination of water minerals, dirt, body oil, skin cells and soap lather. It can get on your shower door, shower walls and most famously, the shower floor. Its especially quick to form in homes that have hard water due to its high mineral content.
The good news is that if you take the right approach, it doesnt have to be a major job to keep soap scum from ruining the look and comfort of your showers.
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How To Remove Soap Scum
Soap scum is the unpleasant name for the unpleasant substance that tends to form on bathtubs and showers as we use them. The bulk of it is formed by minerals in water meeting the fatty acids in bar soap, but it can also contain dirt, dead skin cells, and bacteria. Clearly, then, its important to keep your shower clean so you can keep yourself clean, as well.
If you need help keeping up with it, professionals like those at The Cleaning Authority can provide consistent, thorough cleaning. Bathroom cleaning is one of the companys many specialties, and you get a free estimate of the cost by visiting its website.
While there are some general cleaning methods that will work on most surfaces, soap scum is often difficult to remove, and using the wrong products can potentially damage bathroom fixtures and appliances. Heres how to remove soap scum safely from a variety of surfaces.
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Instructions on how to dissolve dried-on dishwashing soap
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Homemade Soap Scum Remover Recipe
This DIY soap scum remover can get rid of years of soap scum residue in one go without hours of scrubbing. Spray it on, wait, and rinse it away. Thats it!
You Will Need
- Microfiber cloth
Directions
Use The Right Glass Cleaning Products
If you opt to use a commercial cleaning product, before applying it all over your bathroom shower screen, we highly advise you to test it on a discrete spot beforehand. Also, it is better to use natural cleaners for all the cleaning jobs in your home and save the environment from further depletion.
Mix your laundry powder in a small amount of to form a thick paste. Apply the paste to the screen using a soft cloth, and scrub gently as you go. Just like any commercial product, the mixture can be abrasive. Once you are done removing the soap scum, give the glass screen a good final rinse as laundry detergent tends to create a lot of foam. Use a squeegee to dry it.
Mix 1-part vinegar, 1-part water and 1-part grease-cutting dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray your glass door with the mixture and allow it to set in and drip back into your bathroom. After about 20 to30 minutes, scrub the surface of your glass door to remove the scum. Rinse your glass door with clean water and then dry it thoroughly.
Start by wearing protective rubber gloves and ventilate the bathroom by opening all doors and windows. Mix 1 part ammonia with three parts water in a spray bottle. Spray your glass doors to mist the soap scum area.
Both borax and baking soda are naturally adhesive, which makes them great cleaners. Mix both products with water to form a thick paste.
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Tips For Avoiding Soap Scum
Since you aren’t going to stop showering, it can be hard to avoid soap scum. However, there are a few things that you can do to make it harder for soap scum to form.
- Keep a spray bottle of vinegar and water in your bathroom and spray everything down after your shower. Wipe it down with your towel.
- Try out liquid body soap rather than bar soap. Using a shower gel can cause a significant reduction in that filmy yuck.
- Use your towel and quickly dry your bathtub and shower. The water and soap need to get together and have a party to form soap scum particles. Wiping the water away will reduce the reaction.
- The more minerals you have in your water, the worse your soap scum problem will be. Consider investing in a water softener if you have particularly hard water.
- Add a bit of Epsom salt to your bath to make sure that the minerals and soap don’t get a chance to react with one another. Plus Epsom salt is great for sore muscles.
S To Permanently Prevent Soap Scum From Sticking On Glass Shower Doors
Preventing soap scum buildup can reduce significantly the number of times needed for us to clean our glass shower doors in a bid to get rid of soap scum. Some of the things we can do that act as preventive measures are:
- After cleaning glass shower doors, apply a car wax or gel gloss to the surface. This will make it difficult for soap scum to build up quickly.
- Switch using bar soap for a gel or liquid body soap. Bar soaps contain talc which contributes to soap scum buildup. Switching to a gel or liquid body soap will significantly reduce the amount of soap scum build up on your glass shower doors.
- A sprinkle of Epsom salts in your bath makes soap residue go through the drain. This prevent soap stains from sticking on glass shower doors.
- A daily cleaning routine using a daily cleaner like a squeegee can help prevent soap scum from coming back completely.
- After cleaning, wiping the glass shower door surface with furniture oil can prevent soap scum. This will leave a film that will act as a barrier against soap scum.
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A Powerful Foaming Formula For An Xtreme Clean
Soap scum and hard water stains are the stubborn household companions that never seem to be gone for good. Give grime and build up the boot with RMR Xtreme Soap Scum Remover, the powerful, fast-acting cleaning spray that dissolves even the toughest messes to reveal sparkling, clean surfaces. Our heavy-duty formula cuts through soap scum, limescale, calcium, and hard water stains in a matter of minutes, with no scrubbing required. Simply spray the desired area from 6-8 inches away, wait 2-3 minutes as the cleaner penetrates the surface, rinse with clean water, and allow to fully dry.
Let Someone Else Do The Cleaning
As home cleaning professionals, we clean showers, bathtubs and shower doors for our clients using the cleaning products of their choice. Showers are not the only things that need regular cleaning and you have better things to do than clean all those messes around your home or apartment. Thats precisely why we exist. Let us handle the cleaning while you spend your time the way you want to. Contact your local Molly Maid, a Neighborly company or call to ask questions and discuss a custom cleaning plan that meets your schedule, budget, and needs.
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Rejuvenate Scrub Free Soap Scum Remover
Best No Scrub Soap Scum Remover
Dont want to scrub? We dont blame you! Elbow grease is a big drawback for lots of people as it can take time, and lets be honest it can give you a sore arm!
Thats why we recommend this Scrub Free cleaner from Rejuvenate. Its a liquid, but you can buy the spray bottle version if youd prefer.
It works by instantly dissolving soap scum, leaving behind a streak-free finish. Just spray and rinse!
Youll also love that its a non-toxic and non-abrasive formula that keeps you, your family, and your surfaces safe. You can use this on glass, ceramic tile, chrome, plastic, and many more surfaces.
Its also free of added fragrances. If you experience headaches or irritation from artificial or even natural scents, then this is a great option to consider.
Theres a reason this is an award-winning cleaner!
Pros
- No scrubbing required, you can save time and energy.
- No added fragrance skip the irritation.
- Dissolves soap scum and leaves behind a streak-free finish.
Cons
- You may need to scrub if you have heavy build-up.
- It may lighten stone after repeated use.
Product Specs
| Glass, ceramic tile, fiberglass, natural stone, and more |
| Scented |
How To Get Your Shower Doors Squeaky Clean7 Min Read
Glass shower doors with visible soap scum, hard water stains or mildew can make your bathroom look dingy and dulland promote the growth of mold. Even in the largest bathrooms, shower doors account for a good chunk of your wall space and can enhance or detract from your bathrooms looks. Thats why shower doors are designed not only to keep the water in the shower but to add a decorative touch to the space.
Your glass shower doors endure a lot of moisture, chemicals and dirt that combine to create buildup on the glass and frame. If you havent cleaned them in a while, they may even seem like a lost cause. But these helpful tips and the right tools will get your shower doors looking their best once again while giving your bathroom the sparkling clean look you love.
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Cleaning Soap Scum With A Commercial Cleanser
The Bucko Soap Scum And Grime Cleaner
Best Non-Toxic Soap Scum Remover
While many of our product recommendations are non-toxic, we have another one you can add to the pile. The Bucko Soap Scum and Grime cleaner is a non-toxic and septic safe liquid that is gentle on your surfaces but tough on your dirt. It contains no bleach, no strong acids, and no harsh chemicals.
You can use it for heavy-duty jobs, or daily maintenance.
It works without the need for any scrubbing, so you can leave the elbow grease in the past. It also leaves a streak-free finish on your surfaces, so youll never know that there was any evidence of dirt at all.
Although its an eco-friendly formula, its a commercial strength product. It can dissolve tough soap scum and grime, leaving behind a sparkling shine. Use this to remove hard water stains from glass shower doors, acrylic tubs, chrome fixtures, tile, grout, sinks, and even wheel rims!
Pros
- Lemon scent for a fresh-smelling home.
- Scrub-free cleaning.
- Multi-purpose more bang for your buck.
- Non-toxic formula, safe for kids and pets.
Cons
- The scent is quite strong and overpowering.
- Its on the pricier side.
Product Specs
| Shower, tub, tiles, grout, fiberglass, chrome wheel rims, and more |
| Scented |
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Dish Soap And Vinegar Method
A mix between homemade and store-bought methods, this mix has the advantage of being quickly available. Its also quite powerful when dealing with most build-ups, especially oily-looking ones. It serves as a great well-rounded solution for any place affected by soap scum.
Things Youll Need:
- Cleaning towel or a sponge
First, fill a third of a spray bottle with water and then mix vinegar and dish soap with a one-to-one ratio. After filling the bottle up, move it a little bit but dont shake it too much.
Proceed to generously spray the affected areas so that everything is covered by the cleaning mix. Let the solution do its magic and sit for about 15 minutes.
Then, rinse the area with some water and a rag, and youre done!
Why Do Glass Shower Doors Get So Dingy
Hard water is high in minerals such as calcium and magnesium carbonates, which create residue when the water comes in contact with limestone and chalk deposits. When the hard water mixes with your soap, it leaves stains and streaks on your glass shower doorsthis is where soap scum comes from. Soap scum can eventually damage the glass because its porous. The hard water minerals seep into the glass and can cause corrosion like etching.
Soap scum is different from mildew, which is a thin coating made up of fungus. Mold grows in warm, damp places, so a shower is the perfect breeding groundespecially those nooks and crannies where your shower door glass meets the frame. Mildew can be harmful to you and your family, so getting and keeping your glass shower doors clean is important for health and aesthetics.
These tips will teach you how to keep your glass shower doors sparkling clean and healthy.
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