Why is soap scum bad

On the other hand, soft water allows soap to lather more easily, and we can end up using too much — and if we have too much dissolved soap on our hands, it requires more water to wash it away.

However, you may still be wondering why hard water tends to leave behind a white or gray residue on bathroom surfaces after interacting with soap? This residue is soap scum, formed when the minerals in hard water react with your soap. After washing our skin we rinse the excess soap and scum off our hands and body, but how often do you rinse off your shower walls after using soap? A trick to help prevent scum buildup is to simply rinse your shower walls after showering or bathing.

Take note, you may want to consider how much extra water you could be wasting by doing this. Soft water doesn't create soap scum which is why some people prefer it over hard water to keep their bathtubs and appliances cleaner. In summary, hard water may make your skin feel cleaner but leave your bathtub less clean, and soft water, though it may keep your bathtub shiny, may leave soap behind on your skin. Skip to main content.

Now the gross part: soap scum also includes body oils, dead skin, hair, and whatever dirt may be floating around your tub. It gets worse: the white to grey colored soap scum is irresistible to mold and algae. When these furry beasties attach themselves to the scum, it can turn the colors of the rainbow and emit smells that are unpleasant.

And the longer it is allowed to grow, the harder it is to remove. Fortunately there are ways to deal with soap scum. First, clean bathroom surfaces regularly; wipe down tubs, showers, sinks, and tile at least once a week. A cream cleanser like Soft Scrub with Bleach Cleanser will instantly cut through the film and kill mold and mildew.

You should also remember to wash your shower curtains and bathmats regularly. Spray down your tub or shower with the mixture and allow it to soak in for 15 minutes before scrubbing with a stiff-bristled brush and rinsing. The mixture will start bubbling right away, but wait until the reaction dies down and mix the two substances to form a paste. Apply the paste to any areas with soap scum, and let it sit for minutes. After that, scrub the paste away with a non-scratch sponge and rinse with water.

Ceramic can stand up to quite a bit of scrubbing and harsh abrasives, so you might not even need a cleaning product at all. For this method, invest in a pumice stone. Always make sure to get the stone thoroughly wet before using it, and then carefully scrub away the layer of soap scum.

Glass shower doors collect the most easily visible evidence of soap scum, so prevention is especially important here. Scrape down the shower door with a squeegee every time you bathe, which will remove most of the soap deposits and water to prevent them from drying into residue. In addition, there are plenty of spray-on products that promise to keep soap scum from forming if you use them after every shower.

The vinegar and dish soap mixture, sprayed and rinsed away after every shower, will also help a great deal. Faucets, handles, and shower heads can all show evidence of soap scum deposits. If your fixtures have a protected metal finish like chrome or stainless steel, undiluted white vinegar is your best bet.