Soap Scum Removal (1219)

With soap scum, prevention is the best solution. Fiberglass enclosures can be waxed with automobile wax after cleaning to leave a slick surface that helps repel soap scum and hard water scale. However, do not wax the bottom of your shower or tub. It will make it too slippery. Ceramic tile can be wiped down with lemon oil for the same effect. Use a window squeegee to whisk the water off the walls before soap scum has a chance to stick.

To remove soap scum, the first step is to use a good soap scum remover. Janitorial supply houses, grocery stores, and hardware stores are good sources for products specifically designed to remove the fats and oils that make up soap scum. If you cannot find a specialty product, any good degreaser should work fairly well. If you prefer to make your own, try the following recipe:

Mix ½ cup vinegar, 1 cup ammonia, ¼ cup baking soda and 1 gallon hot water. Wear rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area when using this powerful solution. Apply it to your shower walls with a sponge. If necessary, scrub with a brush to remove all the scum and rinse well.

The secret is to let any solution work before you start scrubbing. For heavy buildup, it can take 15 minutes or more for a solution to penetrate and soften the scum, so wet it down and leave it to soak. You may have to re-wet it from time to time to keep it moist. Once it has softened, scrub it off with a stiff brush or white nylon-backed scrub pad, and rinse.

Never mix laundry bleach with ammonia. A chemical reaction will produce toxic gases.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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