Removing soap scum

[darius8]

I'm trying to remove some (really a lot) soap scum from the shower doors and walls. I see a lot of products out there that claims to remove soap scum but I'm not convinced. So far I've narrowed it down to a few items:

1. vinegar, corn starch, and dish soap.

2. Bar Keepers friend

3. Lime-a-way


Anyone used these or got a better solution? Thanks

 

[MostlyBass]

BarKeepers Friend is amazing! Highly recommended.

I also use a small steam cleaner which works well too but not as well.

 

[hover]

My first hit brought this, which echoes your first suggestion

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Girl is cute too.

 

[darius8]

Yeah, I'm gonna try the vinegar first. If that fails I'll get me some Bar Keepers Friend.

 

[fraublugher]

Hahaha , domesticated males , it, is ,to , laugh.

Get comet , get comet wet , get surface covered , let sit , rub clean .

Have a cookie.

 

[Ziltoid]

Vim, a scotch pad and a bit of elbow grease.

 

[MJ5150]

I use the Shark Steam Mop. No chemicals, just blazing hot water that evaporates into some magical substance the dissolves the buildup.

*Edit* I do this fairly regularly in our shower, so it is easy. If you have years of built up soap scum, you may need to involve some corrosive chemicals.

-Mike

 

[fdeck]

Don't use soap. Use a detergent bar or liquid.

 

[hover]

Hahaha , domesticated males , it, is ,to , laugh.

Get comet , get comet wet , get surface covered , let sit , rub clean .

Have a cookie.

Yer hired! BUT, you have to hose off outside afterwards, you filthy bloke.

 

[fdeck]

I've found that nothing removes soap scum without some elbow grease involved.

 

[Mysterion]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]also called soda ash. Works better than anything I've tried, and I have very hard water. Wear gloves, it's hard on the hands. (I never do...You've been warned.)

 

[avvie]

Soda ash will also eat through floors. I had to replace one for a tiedye company that used it.

 

[Mysterion]

Soda ash will also eat through floors. I had to replace one for a tiedye company that used it.

What the heck did they do with it?

[EDIT] I guess I should have elaborated: I only use washing soda for heavy-duty cleaning, and only when it can be rinsed completely. Otherwise, vinegar or Simple Green for maintenance.

 

[Auzzie-Phoenix]

Zep tub & tile cleaner. You can find it at just about any home depot. Zud also works, if you can find it. There is also the option of lemon juice and salt, but doesn't work well on really thick deposits, it's just a maintenance cleaning option.

Word of advice about the ZEP.... make sure you have an epic amount of ventilation, your respiratory system will be going ballistic the entire time you're around it.

 

[fhm555]

Vinegar kinda sorta works for lime scale, but requires lengthy soaking and even then it may require several soaks before it loosens up the scale.

If it's really bad, you may want to (stiff bristle) brush it first.

 

[afiaowo]

My wife likes this stuff.

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/tile-cleaner?vx24scG34=1390736&variation=emerald-cypress-fir

 

[fdeck]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]also called soda ash. Works better than anything I've tried, and I have very hard water. Wear gloves, it's hard on the hands. (I never do...You've been warned.)

Detergent for electric dishwashers is mainly soda ash.

 

[avvie]

What the heck did they do with it?

Every shirt gets dunked in a vat of it by human arm in thick rubber arm-length glove, wrung out, spun onto a plastic picnic dinner plate and artfully squirted with dye from condiment bottles. All in one small room.
lots of splashes from pulling shirts out of the vat.

 

[sandmangeck]

My wife does a pretty good job...

 

[darius8]

Lots of good ideas posted. I ended up using a Brillo pad that some detergent in the pad itself. It wasn't easy but it got the job done. Thanks guys!