I found using Avon's original Skin So Soft works wonderfully. Apply it on the tub, with extra on the scum spots. Allow to set about 10 minutes.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How do you clean built up shower soap scum?
By Kim Simmons from Cedar Rapids, IA
Most of the dollar stores sell this product and follow directions on the bottle.
I have used everything, and I mean everything, ever posted on ThriftyFun and nothing has worked completely. My son is a glazier (glasswork). He told me the only thing he has found is to spray the shower with something like Tylex Soap Scum remover, rub/even out (with your hands) the Tylex over the soap scum, wait a minute or so and then diligently go over every inch with a single-sided razor. You can make razor up-and-down strokes about a 6" swipe. Rinse down really well and dry everything. This is the only thing that has ever worked for me to get it "new" cleaned. I'm talking about glass shower doors. The first person caught not using a squeegee is the next person that cleans the shower doors! My shower doors do not have a coating applied by the manufacturer.
Want to make it clear on my previous post that I'm talking about glass shower doors, not the shower stall itself.
I use a generic magic eraser and Lime Away. I keep the eraser in the shower and wipe down the glass doors and trim every day and after my shower I rinse clean. Then once or twice a month I spray it down and wipe again. Good luck with that.
I use plain old Comet and a little elbow grease. Works like a charm on glass and tub!
I do housecleaning as a part time business and feel I can't tell my clients to use liquid soap or a squeegie to make my job easier. I'm trying to find a solution for one of my clients' messy shower screens. I'm only asked to clean it every 6 weeks or so.
Comet on a plastic tub? Wouldn't that scratch the plastic?
Kim, The absolute best way to do this is to prevent soap scum from building up. One last time clean the tub with whatever method you choose. Once cleaned switch from bar soap to body wash. Body was does not contain soap so no soap scum accumulates.
I have a black acrylic tub. It has a thick buildup of soap scum. Can any one or has anyone had this problem? Please help.
David
Clean it with a powdered cleanser such as Comet or Ajax, or use the Mr Clean magic eraser. A liquid cleanser such as Mr. Clean will also work, but the slight abrasive in the powder or the eraser will make the job a whole lot easier.
Wipe down your tub after using it to avoid this. I also have heard that using a liquid soap or shower gel will avoid this problem, but I use regular soap and so could not say for sure.
Everyone gets soap build up. You just have to clean your tub regularly.
Get a bottle of Bathroom Cleaner Plus, it is sold by Amway, it will seem expensive but a very small amount goes a long way.
I have a chocolate brown tub and it keeps it clean and shiny
Give it a good sprinkle with baking soda, dampen (well) a cloth or sponge with plain white vinegar and give it a scrub. Will take a little extra scrubbing the first time, but if you do this at least once a week it will keep your tub looking like new.
Avoid scratchy cleansers. I'd be leery of Comex or Ajax. The scratches will only encourage more gunk to stick and you'll have scratches. I use baking soda and water. It takes a little elbow grease at first, but it looks great and if you do it regularly, it doesn't take as long. And I don't poison the earth or my lungs when I do it. AND baking soda is very cheap. I just buy a fresh box to use in baking, and use the leftovers of the old box for cleaning.
I believe that if you use a mixture of baking soda AND white vinegar it will come clean w/o scrubbing. I've never actually cleaned (or even seen) an "acrylic" tub before, but I have used this solution on acrylic faucet handles to clean them of the soap/hand oil/dirt gunk.
I also use an "after" product; a polish and (albeit temporary) sealant called Gel Gloss. It comes as a spray or a pourable creme. It is in a hot pink can (white cap) w/blue & white lettering, and available @ Home Depot (and other of this type) stores.
For me, this is a "must have" product for keeping all kinds of surfaces polished/sealed between cleanings, especially those that come into contact w/water on a daily basis, such as sinks, tubs, etc. I wouldn't be w/o it in my business!
Hello David,
Make a paste of white vinegar and baking soda, thick enough so it will stick to where you want to clean, let it sit while you do something else( half an hour or so). You will find that the soap scum comes off quite easily.
Sincerely
Marie
The Bucko Soap Scum cleaner works really well. You spray, leave it sit for a while, and then just wipe it off without need to scrub it. Give it a try! www.thebucko.com
Have you tried liquid Comet spray for bathrooms?
NO! abrasives will scratch your tub.
I have a plastic tub in my mobile home and it has so much soap scum on the sides of it. I tried to clean it with Tilex, but it caused my tub to get a crack in it. I clean my tub every day and still the soap scum is there. What will work on removing soap scum from a plastic tub without cracking it or scratching it? I would appreciate any input you could offer. I tried bleach and a green scratch pad, but it scratches the tub and the bleach is just too strong to be around.
By lyonsoldtown
I doubt the tilex caused a crack,however, you want to use a non scratch pad such a 3M, and is so label on the package. available at you grocery store, Target and I suppose Home Depot and Lowes.
You could also get box of Barteners Friend from the same locations. It is a powder to be used with the non scratch pad. It will require a bit of labor to get rid of the scum if there is a large build up.
Once you get the scum off you may want to wipe down the tub with a towel after every use. Then when you do the monthly cleaning of the tub it will be much easier to get rid of the scum.
When you say "plastic tub" do you mean a bathtub? If so, are you sure it's plastic or could it be fiberglass? I've found that Scrubbing Bubbles to be very effective on soap scum. After spraying on the cleaner, let it sit for about 10 minutes and use a sponge to scrub. You may want to change the type of soap you are using, or whatever product is causing a daily buildup. The Tilex didn't cause the crack in the tub.
Since our tub is old and has light scratches anyway, I cleaned it well with Soft Scrub and a kitchen scrubby. Then applied a light coating of car wax, to the interior sides only.
When I take a bath, I put a little bit of Dawn dish liquid, and this has helped so much, as well as stopping using bar soap in the tub. Now I just use either bubble bath, or shower gel type products.
I LOVE that idea of wax and a lil dawn!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
If you clean it daily a film shouldn't develope. I would recommend planning a day out early so you can pour about 3-5 ounces of pure ammonia, fill the tub with Luke warm water and let it disinfect and deep clean the tub. Let it soak for at least 6-8hrs then rinse well. Then use plain baking soda I recommend arm and hammer for a few cents more your paying for quality and scrub the tub down after the rinse. This will allow a clean fresh start and should remove all residue from before. Then for your new daily cleansing routine, steer clear of "bath cleaning" products, they actually continue the build up on plastic tubs and intoxicate the air in your home.
I would go with which ever dawn dish soap you like (not the one with Olay though) my favorite is the Orange antibacterial one. Then all you have to do is sprinkle a lil baking soda and add the dish soap. A little goes a long way. The bs activates the dish soap and this cuts the grease/body oil scum like washing dishes. Then just rinse again. Soap scum does develope more with bar soaps and hard water. So it's an annoying task but one we clean freaks do happily.
I buy the bulk bs at sams club and it last almost all year. I also use an empty coffee powder creamer container to allow sprinkling the bs more easily. I love have it readily available for many house hold cleaning duties.
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