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Soap scum is so unsightly and annoying. It can really take away from the appearance of our shiny appliances and make our tubs and showers less sleek and relaxing. This unpleasant soapy residue sticks so easily to almost any surface around the house, and it’s pretty stubborn to remove if you aren’t scrubbing things down on the daily.
Before you start to freak out about all the soap scum you’re starting to notice, we have good news. We’ve got a few tried-and-true methods and some extra tips for banishing soap scum from your home using natural and safe cleaning products as well as a bit of patience and elbow grease. Curious about how easy it could be? Keep reading to find out more!
What is Soap Scum?
Soap scum, which can also be called limescale, is a chalky, white residue of dirt, soap, and mineral deposits. It forms super easily when the oil or grease based ingredients in soaps react with magnesium and calcium stearate minerals in the water. Hard water is particularly guilty when it comes to leaving behind soap scum, due to its high mineral content.
Is soap scum mold?
Thankfully, no! Soap scum isn’t a mold, and it isn’t harmful to your health. It does unfortunately tarnish the appearance of whatever it’s accumulated on, so regular cleaning is necessary if you are trying to keep your showers, tubs, sinks, and appliances looking their best.
So how do you go about removing and cleaning up soap scum? We have a few methods and some tips that you can try down below, so keep reading to find out how to put them to use in your home!
How to Remove Soap Scum
Now that you know what you’re up against, you can prepare for battle. Make sure you have all the tools and product you’ll need before you get started so you can keep the process as quick and simple as possible. Here are a few of the things you’ll want on hand:
Best Soap Scum Remover
Baking Soda & Vinegar
If you know us, you know how much we love this combo when it comes to cleaning. Mixing baking soda and cleaning vinegar for cleaning is great for glass shower doors and fiberglass shower enclosures. So here’s how to use them against soap scum:
✔️ Mix together one part baking soda with two parts distilled white vinegar in a bowl. Remember that this concoction will fizz quite a lot (think back to science fair volcanos!) so be prepared.
✔️ Once this mixture stops fizzing, you can dip a microfiber cloth into the solution and apply it directly to the offending soap scum.
✔️ Allow this cleaning mixture sit on the soap scum for about 15 to 20 minutes, then wipe it down with a fresh damp cloth.
✔️ Rinse the area thoroughly with water and dry it completely with a cloth or towel to prevent any new water stains.
Vinegar & Dish Detergent
This particular cleaning solution works really well on stubborn soap scum that’s stuck to your showers and sinks. It also works well to treat soap scum on metal attachments like faucets, walls, and doors. Here’s what to do:
✔️ Mix together equal parts of liquid dishwashing detergent, distilled white vinegar, and water in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle gently to make sure everything is mixed together.
✔️ Spray the well-mixed solution directly onto the offending areas of stubborn soap scum and let that sit for about 10 to 15 minutes.
✔️ After the solution has been left for some time to do its job, rinse it off thoroughly with hot water. Once its clear, use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to dry the areas thoroughly and prevent any new water marks.
Bonus Tips
✔️ If the soap scum is set in and extra stubborn, you can use a bit of regular table salt as a gentle abrasive. Simply add the salt to your microfiber cloth that’s been dipped in the vinegar and baking soda solution above and scrub the offending surface.
✔️ Switch out the vinegar for hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to power through extra stubborn soap scum build-up.
✔️ You can skip adding water to the second solution we provided for a boosted cleaning experience. This is especially tough on heavy and hard soap scum that’s been there awhile, plus it works well against other tough shower and tub grime and residue.
If you’re looking for more tips, tricks, and cleaning guides, check out our blog! We have tons of helpful information available, and we love to help.
No time during your week to get cleaning done yourself? No problem, our professional cleaning team is happy to offer a variety of cleaning services to meet any of your needs. Contact us today to find out how we can help you keep you home happy and healthy all year long.
