There’s nothing more luxurious, relaxing, and satisfying, than a sparkly, clean bathroom. So, when you’re in your bathroom, why doesn’t it look sparkly? The shower walls and doors are covered in gunk and your faucets no longer have that crystal, chrome shine. You’ve tried ever cleaner on the market and still nothing, or worse, it only seems to add to the gunk! Well, before you decide to replace those faucets and shower doors and take a sledge hammer to the shower walls, here are some easy steps you can take to help rid your bathroom of that unsightly gunk, called soap scum.

What is Soap Scum?

Soap scum is the gray or white film that builds up in your bathtub, tile wall, and shower door. It occurs when soap product mixes with the hard water from your faucets. To determine if your build up is indeed, soap scum, scrape your nail against the build up and see if it scrapes off. If it does, it’s soap scum.

Three Methods to Remove Soap Scum

1. One way to remove unsightly soap scum build up is to spray an alkaline based product on the soap scum build up. Next, soak a few paper towels or cleaning cloths, in a bucket of solution, then apply the towels, one by one, onto the soap scum areas. Let soak for a 1/2 hour or longer. Lastly, remove towels. Spray additional cleanser onto a nylon scrub brush or Mr. Clean eraser pad, then remove the remainder of soap scum build up. Rinse thoroughly.

2. Another way to remove soap scum build up, is to use a pumice stone to gently scrub away the soap film. Wet pumice stone and surface to be cleaned. Gently, scrub the soap scum stain, being sure to keep both the pumice stone and the surface area wet, this avoids scratching the surface. Once the pumice has lathered up around the soap stain, use a stiff brush to gently rub away the soap stain. Rinse thoroughly with hot water. Wipe area to remove built up dirt.

3. And lastly, for removing years of built up soap scum that has become hard like concrete, experts suggest using wet or dry dryer sheet. Rub the dryer sheet against the soap scum areas, which will help loosen or remove some of the build up. Next, proceed with step 1.

How to Prevent Soap Scum Build Up

The best way to get rid of soap scum is to prevent it from happening in the first place! According to experts, some things you can do to help prevent soap scum build up are:Dry tub, faucets, tile, and shower doors after each use.Clean tub, tile, faucet, and shower doors with a simple cleanser, that doesn’t need to be rinsed off, after every use.Scrub shower walls and shower doors with squeegee after each use.Switch from bar soap to liquid or gel soap.Do not use oily bubble bath or scented water conditioners.Apply baby oil, lemon oil, or car wax on shower walls and curtains to make it harder for soap scum to stick.Apply Epsom salts to your bath to help prevent soap scum from sticking.

Natural Cleaning Alternatives

Not into chemical or harsh abrasives for your bathroom? It’s okay, there are some natural ingredients straight from your cabinets that work just as good as commercial cleansers. White vinegar and lemon juice contain acid, which helps cut through soap scum, while baking soda, or borax can be used as a mild abrasive for removing soap scum gunk. Simply follow the cleaning instructions above, replacing harsh cleaners with a natural one.

Basic Soap Scum Cleaning Mixture24 ounce spray bottle6-12 ounces Dawn dish detergent12 ounces commercial or natural cleanerPut lid on and gently shake

Now that you know how to get rid of that unsightly soap scum, you can have the bathroom oasis of your dreams! A bathroom that you’ll love to soak in, one that your family will be glad to use, and one you’ll be more than obliged to let guests use. For more tips on how to keep your bathroom sparkly clean, see this website.