Removing Soap Scum from Shower Screens
(Step by Step Guide)
A shower with glass screens can add a stylish touch to any bath. But, along with it comes soap scum that clings to the glass and displays a very unpleasant sight.
We are sure you will agree that cleaning soap scum from shower glass is a pretty dull job. However, you can’t avoid soap scum if you use bar soap with hard water.
Nonetheless, you can’t just let it sit there and build up.
In this article, we will let you in some tips and tricks on how to remove soap scum from shower screens. You will find these tips handy the next time you see soap scum in shower.
What You'll
Learn..
Below you’ll find 4 simple to follow steps that ‘walk’ you through the process of Removing Soap Scum from Shower Screens (with no experience or special skills required).
What Causes Soap Scum on Shower Screens
When you use soap with hard water, it mixes with the minerals in the water resulting in a scum buildup.
The soam turns into a solid substance that forms a white or grey film on your bathroom shower screens, basin, tiles, and everywhere else.
If you leave soap scum for too long on a surface, it will be more challenging to remove due to the gradual buildup. It can even mix with mildew and get harder and smellier than mold alone.
Imagine walking in someone else’s bathroom, and catching sight of shower glass covered in a soap tint. Gross.
Every one of us has different experiences with soap scum, as the water and soaps differ. But, you will have to agree that soap scum is disgusting in every form.
Top Tips to Remove Soap Scum from Shower Glass
So, you’re here because you hate the sight of soap scum on the glass. Don’t fret; it’s easy to clean if you know the right tricks.
Here are our top tips to get soap scum off shower glass and stop it from building again.
Squeegee or Window Scrubber
One of the many ways of cleaning shower screens soap scum is using a squeegee. It makes the glass squeaky clean, without leaving any watermarks behind.
After taking a shower, use a squeegee on the shower screens to dry them thoroughly and remove soap scum.
But if you don’t have the time or patience to swipe the squeegee inch by inch, or change rubbers, there is another way. You can hang any window scrubber in the shower to wipe the glass clean of soap scum.
Whichever tool you use, the trick is to leave the cleaner on for 15-20 minutes before wiping it off. It will soften the scum and make it easier for you to wipe it off using any tool of your choice.
Remember: Use gloves to protect your hands from bleach and other harmful substances.
Vinegar Solution
Accepted for centuries, you will find this tip in grandma’s book of secrets. Combine a half cup of white vinegar, a half cup of water and a half cup of strong dish soap in a spraying bottle.
Gently shake the bottle to mix the contents and spray the vinegar solution on the shower glass. Leave it for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing the shower screens.
Then, use warm water and a soft towel or squeegee to remove all the gunk.
Alternatively, if the scum is too stubborn and turning into a mold, you can spray pure vinegar directly on the glass and leave it for 5-10 minutes. Reapply if necessary.
Bleach
If the soap scum has been building over your shower screens for a long time, bleach can help get rid of even the toughest of grime.
Since bleach is a very strong cleaner, make sure you put on hand gloves and open all windows, doors, and ventilation fans in the bathroom before starting.
Now, mix one-part bleach and two parts water in a spraying bottle or bowl. Wet the glass screens and apply the solution with a sponge or spray it on.
Leave it for about 10 minutes and then use a sponge to clean the glass. Finally, rinse it thoroughly with warm water.
You can then dry the glass with a squeegee or a soft towel to avoid watermarks.
Baking Soda
Baking soda makes a great cleaner against soap scum. Mix quarter cup baking soda, quarter cup borax, and add water to make a thick paste. If you don’t have borax, take half a cup of baking soda, and follow the same directions.
Put on rubber gloves and use a sponge to apply the paste on the glass. Allow it to sit for about 10-15 minutes before scrubbing.
Then rinse it off with simple water or vinegar for a quick cleanup. Now, dry it using a cloth for gleaming shower glass screens.
How to Maintain Clean Shower Screens
Once you have scrubbed and cleaned the bath, you will have to maintain it to keep soap scum off shower glass.
Here are four quick tips you can follow to get clean shower screens every time you step in for a bath.
- 1Keep the vinegar solution or lemon and salt solution in a spray bottle on your bathroom rack. After every shower, spray the mixture on the shower glass, rinse the glass with water, and dry it thoroughly with a cloth or squeegee.
- 2To keep the scum from forming, clean the glass with a glass cleaner every day or once in two days. It only takes 5 minutes.
- 3Toss out your soap bar and go for a liquid or gel body wash. The liquid and gel soaps are more diluted and easier to clean off of surfaces.
- 4After each shower, make it a habit to dry the bathroom and ensure proper ventilation to keep moisture away. It will not only prevent soap scum but also keep mildew and other gunk away.
Summary
Soap scum is something we have all experienced and resented. You can follow our tips for cleaning soap scum from glass to get sparkling glass screens.
However, you will need to maintain the bathroom to prevent soap scum from building again. Keeping the bath space dry is the best solution to keep scum, mildew, and bacteria away from the glass and inside the nooks and crannies of the bathroom space.
