Remove years of soap scum from your bathroom, including shower doors, glass, fixtures, tubs, and tiles. Learn how to clean years of soap scum from them all.

Soap scum is the scourge of most bathrooms. It can build up over years and is a challenge to remove. But don’t give up hope. In this article, we share proven methods for removing even the toughest of soap scum from all bathroom surfaces.

We’ll look at the most natural (least harmful)cleaning methods so you won’t damage your skin (or your sense of smell) in the process. You’ll be surprised by what we’ve found to work best.

Why does soap scum even happen?

First, let’s take a look at why soap scum builds up in the first place. Soap scum is created when soap or body wash mixes with the minerals in hard water. This creates a film that clings to surfaces and is very difficult to remove. Over time, this film can build up and become quite thick.

The good news is that soap scum can be removed with a little elbow grease and the right cleaning products.

How to clean soap scum off shower doors and glass

Let’s start with the most visible surface in the bathroom — the shower doors. Soap scum can quickly turn clear glass doors into an opaque mess. But don’t despair, there are a few things you can do to get them clean again.

Vinegar and baking soda method

One of the best ways to clean soap scum off glass is with a simple mixture of vinegar and baking soda.

1. Start by mixing 1/2 cup of vinegar with 1/2 cup of baking soda in a bowl.
2. Using a sponge or cloth, apply the mixture all over your shower door.
3. Let it sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing with a non-abrasive brush.
4. Finally, rinse with warm water and dry.

Tips: If you don’t have vinegar on hand, you can also use lemon juice. Also, if the vinegar smell is too strong for you, try adding a few drops of essential oil to mask the scent.

Razor blade method

For tough soap scum build-up, you may need to resort to using a razor blade. Be very careful when using a razor blade on glass as you can easily scratch the surface.

1. Soak a towel in hot water and drape it over the area with soap scum. This will help to soften the scum.
2. Using a new razor blade, carefully scrape away the scum.

Tip: Save this as a last resort for really tough scum that has been building up for years. Try the vinegar and baking soda method first.

Ammonia method

If you’re looking for something a little stronger, ammonia will also do the trick. This is truly our last resort as Ammonia isn’t great for your skin and smells awful.

1. Mix 1/2 cup of ammonia with 1 gallon of water in a bucket.
2. Dip a sponge or cloth in the mixture and apply it to the shower door. Let it sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing with a non-abrasive brush.
3. Finally, rinse with warm water and dry.

Tip: Be sure to open a window and wear gloves when using this product.

How to clean soap scum off metal fixtures

Next, let’s move on to metal fixtures like faucets and shower heads. These can easily become covered in soap scum over the years.

Vinegar and baking soda method

Vinegar and baking soda are great for eating away at tough scum on metal fixtures. The two products react and fizz, helping to eat into and lift the soap scum.

1. Make a paste of 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda.
2. Apply the paste to the fixture with a sponge or cloth.
3. Let it sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing with a non-abrasive brush.
4. Finally, rinse with warm water and dry

Toothbrush method

You’ll probably find that the vinegar and baking soda method doesn’t get everything. Tight corners can be hard to reach. That’s where the toothbrush comes in.

1. Dip your toothbrush in the vinegar and baking soda paste you made above.
2. Scrub away at the remaining soap scum in nooks and crannies
3. Rinse with warm water and dry.

Tip: Use an old toothbrush and be sure to store it away for future scum cleaning jobs like removing crayon from walls and lifting stains from wood.

How to clean soap scum off bathroom tiles

You guessed it, vinegar and baking soda are the way to go. But, with tiles, you’ll need to work harder to clean the grout.

1. Mix together 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda to make a thick, fizzy paste.
2. Smear it onto your tiles with a cloth, paying particular attention to the grout.
3. Let sit for 15 minutes.
4. Take a soft, bristled brush and gently scrub away at your grout.

Tip: If you’re not seeing results, you may need to scrub your grout harder. Just be careful not to abrade your tiles. Also, note that vinegar isn’t suitable for cleaning stone shower tiles.

How to clean soap scum from a bathtub or basin

The bathtub is another common victim of soap scum build-up. Like cleaning soap scum from your shower door, there are two easy methods for tackling that soap scum.

Vinegar and baking soda paste

1. Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with 1/2 cup of baking soda until a thick, fizzy paste forms.
2. Apply the mixture all over the affected area with a cloth. Smear it on in a thick paste.
3. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub it with a non-abrasive brush.
4. Finish up by rinsing with warm water.
5. Repeat if needed.

The ammonia approach

If vinegar and baking soda isn’t working, you can try ammonia. Be sure to wear gloves and open a window.

1. Mix 1/2 cup of ammonia with 1 gallon of water in a bucket.
2. Dip a sponge or cloth in the mixture and apply it to the shower door. Let it sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing with a non-abrasive brush.
3. Finally, rinse with warm water and dry.

Mainstream products for removing years of soap scum

We’ve focused on using vinegar, bicarb, and ammonia, along with razor blades and toothbrushes because they are relatively natural ways to tackle deep-set soap scum. There are also commercial products you can try like Windex and Pink Stuff. Interestingly the former is based on ammonia and the latter is heavy on bicarb. We suggest skipping the brand name stuff and using the base ingredient instead.

You may have also heard that Coca-Cola makes for a good cleaner. This is because cola has a low pH which means it’s acidic. However, scrubbing away with a sticky product isn’t a very nice experience. We’d recommend lemon juice, as it has a similar pH, before reaching for Coca-Cola.

Don’t let years of soap scum get you down

If you’d like some help keeping your bathroom clean and soap scum free, Eagle Cleaning team is always here to help you with the preventative clean routine. Book an affordable, high-ranking cleaner to give you a hand. Hire a professional house cleaning today.

Check out our follow up blog entry on How to Freshen Up Floor Grout.