Home Cleaning Bathroom Cleaning How to Clean Soap Scum and Residue From All Your Bathroom Surfaces Get rid of that annoying residue from your bathroom surfaces with these simple steps. By Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette has over four decades of experience and has been writing and consulting for more than 20 years sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, stain removal methods, and textile conservation. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on July 05, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Glass Shower Doors Fiberglass and Ceramic Tile Showers Metal Fixtures How to Prevent Soap Scum Close Photo: onebluelight / Getty Images Project Overview Skill Level: Beginner Soap scum makes every bathroom surface look dull and dingy. The film forms when calcium and magnesium stearates from bath products mix with body soil and minerals in water. The dingy scum is annoying, but with some elbow grease and the right tools and products, like baking soda or dishwashing liquid, you can clean soap scum off shower doors, tile, sinks and tubs, and fixtures. Keep reading for tips on how to clean soap scum off your surfaces—and how to prevent the buildup in the first place. Dozens of commercial cleaners are marketed to tackle soap scum. Most are not recommended for natural stone counters and shower enclosures because they are too abrasive or leave chalky residue. Choose a natural stone cleaner or use only dishwashing liquid and water for these surfaces. Clean the stone often to prevent excessive soap scum buildup that will be much more difficult to remove. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Nonabrasive sponge or microfiber cloth Squeegee Small, soft-bristled scrub brush or old toothbrush Spray bottle Microfiber towels Materials Distilled white vinegar Baking soda Table salt Dishwashing liquid Hydrogen peroxide Paper towels Laundry borax Plastic food storage bag Rubber band Instructions How to Clean Soap Scum from Glass Shower Doors Use Vinegar and Dishwashing Liquid In a spray bottle, mix 1 cup of distilled white vinegar, 1 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid.Start at the top of the door and spray liberally. Let it work for 20 minutes and then rinse the doors well with hot water.Use a squeegee or absorbent, lint-free microfiber towel to dry the glass doors immediately to prevent water spots. Add a Baking Soda Paste for Tough Soap Scum Mix 1 cup of baking soda and about 1/4 cup of distilled water.When the fizzing stops, dip a nonabrasive sponge into the paste and spread it over the glass doors.Wait about 15 minutes and then, working in small circles, scrub the doors with a damp cloth or nonabrasive sponge.Rinse the paste away with hot water and dry the glass immediately.If spots of soap scum remain, apply more paste and dip a damp sponge in table salt to add a bit more abrasive action as you scrub away the build-up. Clean the Shower Door Tracks Dip a small, soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush is the best) in the baking soda paste and cover the shower door tracks.Let it work for 20 to 30 minutes and then scrub the tracks with a damp brush.Rinse away the paste with hot water and dry the tracks. Clean Soap Scum From Fiberglass and Ceramic Tile Shower Enclosures Mix a paste of 1 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup distilled water and spread it on the fiberglass or ceramic tile with a cloth or sponge.Let it work for about 15 minutes and then scrub gently with a soft-bristled brush.Rinse with hot water and dry with an absorbent towel.For hard-to-remove stains on fiberglass, mix 1 cup of laundry borax with 1/4 cup of lemon juice to make a paste. Spread the paste on the stain and let it work for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing, rinsing, and drying well. Clean Soap Scum From Metal Fixtures The right method for cleaning soap scum from metal fixtures depends on the type of metal. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines or you could risk damaging the finish. For chrome, brass, or bronze fixtures, spray with a 50:50 mix of vinegar and water. Let it work for about 10 minutes, rinse it away with hot water, and dry the fixtures to prevent spotting.For stainless steel, spray with undiluted vinegar, wait 10 minutes, rinse, and dry.For oil-rubbed brass or bronze, use only water and wipe down the surfaces with a soft cloth.For stainless, chrome, brass, or bronze fixtures, fill a plastic food storage bag with vinegar (or a 50:50 vinegar and water solution). Attach the bag with the showerhead submerged using a rubber band. Allow the bag to remain in place for one hour. Remove the bag, rinse with hot water, and dry the fixture with a towel. Have soap scum on fabric or plastic shower curtains? For fabric curtains, add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the wash cycle. For plastic curtains that can't be thrown in the wash, fill the bathtub or a large sink with equal parts water and white vinegar. Submerge the curtain and let it soak overnight. Rinse well and rehang the curtain to dry. Tips to Prevent Soap Scum From Forming Dry bathroom surfaces after every use. A squeegee is perfect for shower walls and doors.Switch to liquid soap or gel. Bar soap contains more fatty acids and talc which cause soap scum to build up more quickly.Add a water-softening system to your home. Hard water contains more minerals that bind with the soap to create scum.Use a daily shower cleaner. A quick spray with a 50:50 mix of water and vinegar before drying the shower surfaces will help prevent soap scum from forming.