How to Clean Soap Scum

When cleaning a bathroom, chances are you have come across soap scum. What is the gummy substance that coats the floors, walls, sliding doors, and tubs of bathrooms across the world? It's a mixture of fats and oils that have been washed off a person and the soap that was used to do the job. These things harden together into soap scum. While it is hard to get rid of, it can certainly be done as long as you are armed with the right knowledge and tools.

Things You'll Need

• Vinegar
• Ammonia
• Spray bottle
• Measuring cup
• Gloves
• Towel

Instructions

Cleaning with Vinegar

1. Measure out approximately 2 cups of vinegar. Start cleaning soap scum with vinegar, as it is the safer, more natural way to do so.

2. Heat up the vinegar in a microwave until it is warm, but not too hot.

3. Pour the vinegar into the spray bottle and close it tight.

4. Spray vinegar onto the soap scum and let it stand for 2 to 3 minutes. This will give the vinegar time to break up the soap scum.

5. Use the towel to wipe up the soap scum that has been loosened by the vinegar.

Cleaning with Ammonia

1. Put on gloves first because ammonia is a much more concentrated and powerful chemical that could possibly harm your skin.

2. Replace vinegar in a spray bottle with one part ammonia and two parts water.

3. Spray onto remaining soap scum and hard to reach places, or anywhere with large accumulations of soap scum.

4. After a few minutes, wipe away remaining loosened soap scum.

5. Wash the areas that are cleaned to get rid of ammonia and any remaining bits of soap scum that may be present.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when handling ammonia. It can cause skin irritations or chemical burns.