You’re in the bathroom, ready to take a shower and suddenly realize your loofa is sitting in a pile of nasty soap scum. ICK! Toss the loofa, and get ready to use a little elbow grease because it’s time to show that soap scum who’s the boss…and it’s not Tony Danza.
What is Soap Scum?
When you use a bar of soap in the shower and then set it on the bathtub, parts of the bar, called talc, run onto the surface. Over time, the talc, mildew, mineral deposits from the water and body oils congeal into a slimy disgusting mess. If it goes unchecked, then it can actually harden into soap scum concrete that is difficult to remove.
Getting Rid of Soap Scum
As you might guess, soap and water won’t do much against this. The mildew sludge or brick is impervious to many cleaners. The best items to use are baking soda and vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda on a wash cloth, get it wet and scrub the sludge. If the sludge has hardened into a brick, then use vinegar and baking soda to create a paste. The acidity of vinegar loosens the scum, and the baking soda helps scrub it away.
Preventing Soap Scum
The best way to clean up soap scum is to avoid the problem altogether. Prevention is the best defense against this nasty glob of goo. Switching to a liquid soap is the easiest way to prevent it. A body wash stays in the bottle and doesn’t congeal on your tub surface. If you can’t give up the bar, then make sure to wipe down the area after you shower. Soap scum accumulates over time. Before you know it, you’re dealing with a soap scum brick.
Illinois Valley Clean Team knows all the little tips and tricks for getting soap scum and other nuisances out of your house. Call us at 815-228-5273 and let us take care of your cleaning needs.
