How to Naturally Remove Stubborn Soap Scum with One Ingredient

Removing soap scum can be a tough task. But it’s time to stop putting off cleaning that shower screen.

The longer you ignore those accumulating marks on the shower screen, the tougher it becomes. The good news is, you can have it looking like new with a little elbow grease and just one natural ingredient.

Grab that baking soda out of the kitchen pantry and get to work!

How Does Soap Scum Happen?

When bar soap is used in hard water, the soap’s wax combines with the minerals in the water to create the layer of scum we so often see on our shower screens.

Some of the more severe cases can create odours and discolouration, particularly when combined with mould or mildew.

How Can I Get Rid of Soap Scum Naturally?

You can use baking soda on this chore because it is a mild alkaline whose abrasiveness helps to dissolve stubborn dirt and grease.

Method

Step 1

In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1 small squirt of dishwashing detergent and 1 cup of water. It should resemble pancake batter in consistency.

Step 2

With a soft brush, spread the solution across the scum and leave it for approximately 20 minutes.

Step 3

Gently scrub with your brush, before giving it a good rinse with warm water. Use something like a microfibre cloth or a soft (clean) towel to wipe the screen down. a paper towel may help get rid of any streaks you see.

Easy, wasn’t it?! If you don’t have baking soda, you can use vinegar instead. Follow the steps below.

Step 1

Fill up a spray bottle with a 1:1 mix of vinegar and water.

Step 2

Give the screen a good spray and let it soak for around 10 minutes before giving it another spray. This ensures adequate coverage in case any vinegar has run off the glass.

Step 3

Let the second spray sit for another 10 minutes before using a microfiber cloth and water to scrub the scum.

Multitask Your Time

I used leftover mixture on my grimy bathroom grout. I applied it at the same time as the soap scum and let it sit for 20 minutes. With a cloth and an old toothbrush, I wiped and scrubbed the grout lines – it made a huge difference!

I did give my floors a light mop afterwards. Despite doing such a phenomenal job at cleaning grout lines, it can make the tiles a touch gritty.

How Can You Prevent Soap Scum in the Future?

Here is how you can keep your shiny shower screen in scum-free condition.

Keep a dry rag or squeegee on a shelf to wipe over the screen after your next shower. Keeping on top of the water on the screen will keep soap scum away.

Swap out your bar soap for liquid soap. It’s less messy (no more cleaning soap dishes!) and will stop soap scum in its tracks.

To stop soap scum in the bath, sprinkle either Epsom Salts or baking soda while filling your bath. It will soothe tired muscles, and the salt or baking will make soap residue go down the drain.