There are many reasons why your bathroom can accumulate soap scum, a thick layer of sludge that can look white or dirty, and areas that are exposed to water, and not all of them have to do with your cleaning habits. According to Robin Murphy, nest boss of ChirpChirp Cleaning, soap scum is primarily caused by a reaction between soap and minerals in hard water.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t experience pesky, hard-to-clean-up buildup don’t have hard water. Murphy says there are additional factors that may also contribute to its formation. “Personal care products such as shampoos, body washes and shower gels, especially those containing oils and moisturizers, can react with water minerals similar to traditional soaps.”
And that’s not all, Murphy says other things, like the frequency and duration of bathing and showering, as well as how often you clean bathroom surfaces, can play a role in soap scum buildup.
Luckily, there are more than a few ways to beat the unsightly buildup, and according to the three pros I spoke to, you won’t have to hit the stores to try some of their favorite methods.
Dish soap and scouring pad
When it comes to dealing with soap scum situations, Delah Gomasi, CEO and CEO of MaidForYou, applies Dawn dish soap to a scrubbing pad and moves it in a circular motion.
“If you have really stubborn, heavy soap scum, you can use the same method, but turn on the razor before you start scrubbing,” Gomasi says, adding that this process is best used on a wet surface and at an angle to prevent surface damage. Just be sure to test on an inconspicuous area before trying anything new to make sure you don’t damage anything while cleaning.
White vinegar, water and baking soda
Another tried-and-true method comes from Murphy, who says most of what you’ll need to clean a bathroom can be found in another frequently used room: the kitchen. “A mixture of white vinegar and water, in equal parts, serves as a great natural cleaner because of the vinegar’s ability to dissolve scum,” she says, adding that you can add some other kitchen staples if the vinegar method doesn’t cut it (pun intended).
“For tougher scum, a paste made of baking soda (or borax from your laundry room) and water can be quite effective,” Murphy continues. “Another great option is to use lemon juice, applied directly or diluted with water, which uses citric acid to break up soap scum.”
After you combine the ingredients, Murphy says you’ll want to apply your mixture to the soap scum, letting it sit so it starts to break down on its own. “Then scrub gently with a non-abrasive sponge or soft brush,” she says, adding that the final step should be to thoroughly rinse the surface with water.
Baking soda, vinegar and soap
Vinegar received another accolade from Rocky Vyong, professional cleaner, organizer and founder of Caliber Cleaning Limited. He says you can mix equal parts vinegar, soap, and baking soda, then let it sit on the scum for about 15 minutes to do its job (you want that chemical reaction of vinegar and baking soda!).
After that, you will need to remove the grease from the elbow and proceed to scrubbing. Just be careful not to use an overly abrasive sponge. Instead, Vyong says you’ll need to find a scrubbing pad that’s soft enough not to damage your surface while still being strong enough to get the job done. Once you’re done scrubbing, Vyong says the finishing touch is to rinse everything off with warm water.