Soap Scum Information, Prevention, and Removal

Soap scum happens even in the most spotless bathroom. You can spot the white or gray filmy layer on bathtub, shower, and sink surfaces. Beyond being unsightly, though, what is soap scum, and how does it get all over clean bathroom surfaces?

Soap scum can be found on shower curtains, bathroom fixtures, bathtubs, shower doors, tiling, and more. Limescale is often mistaken for soap scum. Though similar, limescale is a hard, off-white, and chalky deposit that is typically found in kettles, hot water boilers, and hot water central heating systems.

How Does Soap Scum Form?

Soap scum is formed into a solid substance when soap is used in hard water. The minerals in tap water combine with soap and dirt to create a layer of scaliness over the surfaces in our bathrooms and sometimes even our laundry.

Homes with mineral-filled hard water are more likely to have soap scum buildup. This buildup can be difficult to remove if it's left for too long, as soap scum continues to build up each time the area around it is used. Soap scum that is left alone and allowed to build up can combine with mold or mildew and have other discolorations and odors—and can even get as hard as concrete, which just makes it more difficult to remove even with the best bathroom cleaners.

How Do You Remove Soap Scum?

There are a few effective solutions for removing soap scum. You may need to do some experimentation to find the best soap scum remover for you. Here are a few DIY cleaning methods:

• Sprinkle baking soda on the scum and pour on distilled white vinegar. The foaming action will loosen and lift scum. This works well on fiberglass shower enclosures and tile.
• Mix borax and lemon juice and work the paste into soap scum patches on fiberglass. Scrub and rinse after 15 minutes.
• Mix equal amounts of water and distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Use this as an everyday cleaner.

How Do You Prevent Soap Scum?

Frequently cleaning your bathroom is the best way to prevent soap scum. Stay on top of cleaning your bathroom by removing all soap scum in the tub, shower, and other surface areas as soon as it begins to develop. Here are a few specific preventive tips:

• Apply a gel gloss or car wax to surfaces (except floors) after cleaning to make it more difficult for soap scum to form.
• Use a daily shower cleaner with a squeegee or a rag to stop soap scum from coming back.
• Switch from bar soap to a liquid or gel body soap to prevent soap scum from forming.
• Sprinkle Epsom salt into your bath, which helps take soap residue down the drain and prevents it from sticking to surfaces.​