How to Remove Soap Scum from your Bathtub

Let’s face it, hard water and soap scum stains are one of those things that ruin the look of a bathtub. But don’t despair, there is always a solution. The best part is that most likely you have all the ingredients necessary right under your kitchen sink.

Whether it’s hard water or soap scum, the key is to apply an alkaline substance to the surface.

Recipe #1

Mix 1 part Blue Dawn liquid dishwashing soap and three parts white vinegar. To apply it you can try a couple of different methods:

1. Soap paper towels with this solution and apply the paper towels right over the area you want to clean. Leave it there for 10-20 minutes, you may want to give it a light spray to re-wet it if you’re going to leave it there longer.
2. On horizontal surfaces spray directly on the surface, after the solution has been applied for a while, rinse off the area, and dry thoroughly.

Recipe #2

• Mix equal amounts of baking soda and white vinegar until it becomes a paste.
• Apply the paste to the areas you want to clean, let it sit for 10 – 20 minutes, overnight if you have very stubborn stains.
• Wipe it off with a soft sponge or a nylon brush and rinse.

How to prevent Soap Scum on your tub

You’ve probably heard the adage ”An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. That saying applies here as well. Now that you got your tub sparkling clean and free of scum, there are things you can do to prevent this ugly from accumulating again.

• Do not use bar soap, liquid shower gels are manufactured with the need of paraffin; this is the ingredient in bar soaps that produce soap scum.
• Apply a light coating of gel gloss; let it dry and then buff it by hand with a microfiber towel.
• If you take baths, periodically add 4-5 cups of white vinegar to your tub. Then, fill it up with warm water and let it sit for 20 minutes or more. Empty the bathtub and rinse.
• If you see any evidence of soap scum developing on your tub, give the area a light rubbing with Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser.