How to Remove Soap Scum – Top 5 Foolproof Methods

You cannot stop using soap and water to eliminate soap scum. Soap helps you in keeping you clean but makes your bathroom grimy. Do you want to know how to remove soap scum?

The minerals in hard water react with soap and form a build-up that is hard to remove. The situation worsens when this build-up is not cleaned on time. You might be thinking about quick and easy ways to eliminate this.

This article gives five effective ways to clean your bathroom from soap scum. You will find methods to fight stubborn build-up which has not been cleaned for a long time.

Tools and Materials Required

Vinegar
Large bucket
Dishwashing Soap
Baking soda
Spray bottle
Sponge
Cloth
Hydrogen peroxide
Salt
Brush

How to Remove Soap Scum from Different Surfaces

Cleaning soap scum with store-bought cleaners may damage your bathroom accessories. It can be removed by natural cleaners safely. You can clean even the toughest build-up with these methods.

1. Clean Dirty Textured Shower Floor

The dish soap and vinegar solution is the best way to remove soap scum from the shower floor.

Warm two cups of vinegar.
Add two cups of dishwashing soap to the vinegar and make a solution.
Place the solution into the spray bottle and shake it well.
Spray on the dirty textured shower floor and leave it for 25 – 45 minutes.
Wipe the surface with a warm sponge.
Sprinkle baking soda on the sponge and rub it on the surface. This will remove the remaining scum also.
Rinse with clean water.
Keep textured shower floor clean to avoid scum build-up on its surface.

Step 2. Clean Years of Soap Scum

Vinegar and baking soda cannot clean the soap scum of years. A more powerful solution is required to do the job. Hydrogen peroxide is similar to vinegar but has a strong bleaching agent that removes stubborn scum.

Make a paste by mixing two cups of baking soda and one cup of hydrogen peroxide.
Pour the paste on a cloth and cover the area with it.
Leave it for one hour.
Scrub it properly with a brush by adding a little water.
Sprinkle baking soda on the brush and scrub it for the remaining residues.
Repeat this step as required.
Rinse with clean water.

3. Remove Soap Scum from Glass

Get soap scum off the glass by making a paste of baking soda and vinegar.

Take one cup of baking soda and pour it into a bowl.
Add a little bit of vinegar to form a paste.
Put this paste on a cloth and start rubbing it on the glass.
Leave the paste on the glass for 15 minutes.
Rinse the glass with water and keep rubbing it with a cloth.
Use a clean cloth to dry it to avoid staining.
If the scum on the glass is stubborn, make the same baking soda and vinegar paste and keep it in a bowl. Take half a cup of salt in another bowl. Dip the cloth into the baking soda paste and salt, and rub over the affected area.
Salt will act as an abrasive tool that will cut out the scum.

4. Removes Soap Scums from Tubs and Sinks

A bathtub can be cleaned with homemade cleaners.

Pour dish soap into the bathtub.
Use a brush to scrub it.
Pour baking soda on the stain and scrub it again.
Rinse the tub with clean water.

5. Fiberglass Shower Cleaner

Do not use harsh chemicals and scouring pads on fiberglass because it can crack and chip.

Mix equal parts of vinegar and water.
Put the solution in a spray bottle.
Pour one tablespoon of detergent powder into it and shake it well.
Apply it to the scum and leave it for 15 minutes.
Scrub it with a brush and keep rinsing it.
This method is best if you are cleaning your fiberglass shower every week.
If the scum layer did not remove with spray, make a paste of baking soda and vinegar.
Apply the paste to the scum and leave it for 20 minutes.
Use a brush to scrub the paste and rinse.

Tips to Avoid Soap Scum

Follow these tips to prevent scum build-up.

Keep the Surfaces Dry

After every use of the bathroom, dry the surfaces with a towel. This will not allow the residues to build up.

Install a Water Softener

Scum combines with minerals of hard water and makes a stubborn layer. You can fix this issue by installing a water softener in your bathroom. If you cannot afford water softener, add Epsom salt to the water you use in the bathroom.

Use Liquid Soap

Bar soap is made of fatty acids and talc that form scum build-up. However, liquid soap does not contain these materials. If you start using liquid soap, you will see the difference.

Automatic Shower Cleaner

You can use automatic shower cleaner to reduce the scum build-up in your bathroom. It automatically cleans the scum from all surfaces.

Causes of Soap Scum

The fatty acids, oils, and other ingredients in the soap react with the hard water minerals and form a thick residue, which is soap scum. These ingredients are mainly found in goat milk, Castile, and other organic soaps.

Organic soaps are best for your skin, but they form a thick layer on all bathroom surfaces. If your water is hard, there are more chances of scum build-up.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

How to Remove Soap Scum from Shower Glass?

Make a solution of one cup vinegar, one cup water, and one cup dishwashing soap and pour it into a spray bottle.

After every shower, spray it on all the areas in the bathroom and leave it for a few minutes. Then rinse it thoroughly and dry it with a sponge.

Which Natural Ingredient Dissolves Soap Scum?

A solution of vinegar and water is best to remove soap scum. Clean with equal parts of vinegar and water solution to prevent the surface from being damaged.

Can Vinegar Get out of Soap Scum?

Use vinegar solution by mixing equal parts of vinegar and water for a thin layer of soap scum. Use baking soda paste for stubborn stains and scrub it with a brush.

What is the Procedure to Remove Years of Soap Scum?

To remove years of soap scum, make a baking soda paste by pouring two cups of baking soda into a bowl and adding one cup of hydrogen peroxide.

Cover all the areas of soap scum with this paste and leave it for a few minutes. Now scrub the area thoroughly with a brush.

How to Remove Soap Scum from The Shower?

Take a bowl, pour one cup of baking soda and add a little vinegar. Mix it well and make a paste. Now apply it to the shower and scrub it with a sponge. After a few minutes, rinse it.

Is it Possible to Remove Soap Scum Naturally?

You can make a powerful solution with natural products to clean the soap scum. Mix equal amounts of water, vinegar, and dishwashing soap into a spray bottle and shake it well. Apply it to the soap scum. Rinse after a few minutes.

Final Thoughts

This guide has explained different ways that how to remove soap scum. Your bathroom will shine as good as new if you follow these cleaning methods. Try the scum prevention tips to remove the hard layers of soap scum.

Wipe all the bathroom accessories quickly after every use and wash them with DIY cleaners every week. Don’t use harsh chemicals on tiles, tubs, sinks, and showers. They will ruin them.