What Is Soap Scum?
Soap scum (also called lime soap) is a white, chalky residue that appears as a white or gray filmy layer that covers the surfaces around our showers, bathtubs, and sinks. Soap scum is made by calcium stearate and magnesium stearate, among other materials, mixing with hard water.
Soap scum is found on shower curtains, bathroom fixtures, bathtubs, shower doors, tiling, and more. Limescale is often mistaken for soap scum but it's a hard, off-white, and chalky deposit typically found in kettles, hot water boilers, and central heating systems.
What Causes Soap Scum?
Soap scum forms when the minerals in tap water react with soap and dirt to create a layer of scaliness over surfaces in our bathrooms. Soap scum can even show up in dirty washing machines which can then end up on our laundry.
Hard water has a high concentration of calcium, magnesium, and other hard metals, and homes with hard water are more likely to have soap scum buildup. Soap scum hardens over time and it even becomes difficult for the best bathroom cleaners to remove it. Over time, soap scum combines with mold or mildew to create more discoloration and odors.
What is the best cleaner for soap scum?
Soap scum can cover any and all areas, from shower walls, doors, and tubs, to fixtures like shower heads and water taps. Since most of these surfaces are made from different materials, an ideal soap scum remover works on most, if not all of them.
Choose a non-abrasive and non-toxic cleaner. We’ve got a few favorite soap scum removers that are packed with plant-based ingredients — and they do an amazing job on all manner of surfaces! If you want to go the DIY route, there are several homemade cleaners you can whip up that work well, too.
How to remove soap scum from any surface
Baking soda and cleaning vinegar are a dynamic duo that’s great for glass shower doors and fiberglass shower enclosures.
Step 1: Mix one part baking soda and two parts distilled white vinegar in a plastic bowl. Note that this concoction will fizz a bit, so don’t be alarmed!
Step 2: Once the mixture stops fizzing, dip a microfiber cloth into it and apply it to the soap scum.
Step 3: Let the cleaning mixture sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then wipe down it clean with a new cloth. Rinse carefully with water and dry thoroughly to prevent water stains.
