Soap scum is an irritating by-product of cleaning, especially in tubs, showers, and sinks. It’s ironic that a product you use to clean with creates problems on surfaces.

And besides just soap buildup, what’s encased in the residue includes body oil, dead skin, bacteria, dirt, and more. This is why you may notice a foul odor as it scum gets thicker over time.

Using liquid soap instead of bar soap will hinder soap scum buildup, because bar soap contains products that tend to create a film. Wiping down surfaces in your tub, shower, and sinks after you use them also helps. And there are specialty products you can mist onto surfaces routinely that will hinder the buildup of film.

But when soap scum strikes, here are a few easy steps to follow to remove it.

A few tips on removing soap scum

Mix up equal amounts warm water and white vinegar and add a small amount (just a drop) of dish detergent. Use a spray bottle and liberally apply to the soap residue, give the solution several minutes to work, and wipe it off. Keep repeating until the scummy residue is gone. The small amount of dish detergent acts as a surfactant and penetrates the soap scum, and the water/vinegar mix helps break down the elements that created the scum.

Mixing up a paste of baking soda and vinegar also works. Use about a half cup of baking soda in a small bowl, add just enough white vinegar until it becomes a paste. It will fizz for a while, and once it is done fizzing, apply to the areas you wish to treat. This is especially effective in areas such as where you leave a bar of soap and the scum is really thick.

There are some cleaning products you can purchase at your favorite department store that also work on soap scum. They are applied directly to the surface and bubble and fizz and make removal much easier.

It takes work

All three of these solutions will work for you, but as with all cleaning activities, it takes time, elbow grease — aka scrubbing — to get the job done. Rinse it all off and wipe dry to really see how effective you were in removing the soap scum.

If you have severe build up, you may want to call a Tampa area tile and grout cleaning professional like Accent American Inc. They have powerful equipment and solutions to tackle tough soap scum and hard water deposits.

But when you really need some cleaning help and tips, do the right thing. Call your favorite Tampa area tile and grout cleaning company Accent American Inc. After all, it pays to call a pro! 

813-621-6015