How to Get Rid of Bathroom Soap Scum

Clean your bathroom surfaces frequently to prevent soap-scum buildup.

Bathroom soap scum is unsightly and makes the room's surfaces look unclean. Soap scum takes form in a whitish, gritty substance that clings to your shower doors, bathtub walls, sinks and various other bathroom surfaces. The reaction that soap products have with water creates the soap scum. Clean soap scum from the bathroom at first sight before it becomes firm and more difficult to clean.

Things You'll Need

• Spray bottle
• Distilled white vinegar
• Sponge
• Toothbrush
• Rags
• Baking soda
• 1/2 cup ammonia

Instructions

1. Fill a clean spray bottle with distilled white vinegar. Do not dilute the vinegar with water.

2. Spray the vinegar onto soap scum spots in the bathroom. Let it sit for five minutes before scrubbing the areas with a damp sponge. Use a toothbrush to clean soap scum from corners and tough-to-reach spots.

3. Go over the surfaces with a dry rag and inspect for any traces of the soap scum. If any soap scum remains, it will be much more visible when the surface is dry.

4. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto a damp sponge if soap scum spots are still present. Scrub the baking soda onto the affected areas with the sponge. Let the baking soda sit on the spots for 15 minutes.

5. Scrub again with a damp sponge to remove soap scum. Rinse the area well with a rag and plain water, then go over it with a dry rag.

6. Clean the soap scum with a solution of 1 gallon hot water and 1/2 cup ammonia, as a last resort for removing soap scum. Dip a sponge into the solution and scrub the soap scum spots from the bathroom surfaces. Dry the surfaces with a rag.

Tips & Warnings

• Work in a well-ventilated area and wear rubber gloves when using ammonia.

• Never mix bleach and ammonia, or products containing these ingredients. This mixture produces fumes that can be toxic.

References

• Mrs. Clean: How To Remove Soap Scum
• HowtoCleanStuff.net: How to Clean Soap Scum