How To Get Rid Of Soap Scum?

Everyone likes to keep their bathtub, shower and sink clean and sparkling. But even when they think they have accomplished this there may be a lingering problem – soap scum or film. It’s unsightly and may even make the surfaces more slippery and dangerous.

Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to get rid of soap scum. You’ll just have to use the right stuff for the job and give it a bit of elbow grease, because soap scum and film won’t just disappear with a rinsing of the tub after a bath or shower. After taking the necessary steps to get rid of the soap scum, film and bathtub ring you will have to keep doing the same things on a regular basis or the film/scum will build up again.

First Steps
Rinse the tub and shower walls immediately after you finishing with your bath or shower. Then wipe everything down with a soft cloth and warm water. This should be enough to keep soap scum from building up. If you really want to get that surface clean you can use a mild scrubbing powder or liquid soap each time. This may not be absolutely necessary. You can do this every other time or every third time.

Some people use a layer of polish or wax on the tub and shower walls to keep soap scum and other film from sticking. Be careful not to use a product that makes the surfaces to slippery! You can also keep the surfaces free of film/scum by mixing ammonia with water (2 parts water, one part ammonia), spraying this on and wiping the surfaces down. This also works with vinegar.

The cleaning process should include a complete scrubbing with ammonia/water, vinegar/water or, as mentioned earlier, a commercial product made especially for cleaning these surfaces. Follow the directions on the bottle or package to the letter for best results. Remember, the longer you let this go the more difficult it will be to get the surfaces completely clean.

Why Clean is Good
It’s important to use just the right amount of cleanser or home-made mixture to get the soap scum and film off of bath and shower surfaces. Using too much might create a film of a different, more slippery kind! It’s also important to keep in mind that not only are you cleaning the soap residue off of bathroom surfaces, you are also cleaning off the oils, dead skin cells and other items that build up. If you don’t remove this coating, you are providing a perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria and mold.

So, try ammonia, vinegar or a retail product on occasion, along with a regular wiping-down after each shower or bath. You may also want to try a lemon-juice based product or lemon oil. One of the traditional cleaning products would also be suitable for removing soap scum and preventing its return – Borax. Regular attention to the sink, bathtub and shower surfaces will help you keep soap scum from being a problem.

 Print This Page