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Banish soap scum naturally with my Soap Scum Remover DIY! It’s a potent blend that works great for a sparklingly clean bathroom and kitchen.

Soap scum is just one of life’s things that needs dealing with! It’s that grimy white stuff that forms around your sinks. Yep. You know it. That’s soap scum.
It develops fast if you don’t keep on top of it!
You’ll adore this recipe I created for a soap scum remover, which works just as well as the leading brands.
Instead of opting for an expensive, harsh soap scum remover from the store, why not save your hands (and your breathing space) with my DIY version?!
It’s made with ingredients you likely have in your kitchen already, making it super budget-friendly.
Why You’ll Love this DIY
- Customizable: You can adjust the recipe according to your liking, making it weaker or stronger by adding in more or less vinegar. You could even consider adding in some essential oils for fragrance!
- Cost-effective: Homemade DIY solutions are generally more budget-friendly, and you get more in terms of quantity, too.
- Environmentally friendly: By reducing the use of harsh ingredients and skipping the plastic bottle, you are living more eco-consciously, doing your bit for the environment!
- Transparency: You know exactly what ingredients are going into your cleaner, avoiding any mystery substances commonly found in store-bought products.
What You’ll Need
- White vinegar: A powerful ingredient for DIY cleaners (like my homemade all-purpose spray), vinegar is affordable and has powerful cleansing properties!
- Liquid dish soap: You can use your favorite store-bought dish soap or make your own homemade liquid dish soap.
How to Make Soap Scum Remover
Step 1: Combine the white vinegar and liquid dish soap in a mixing bowl. Stir it well to combine.
Step 2: Transfer the soap scum remover into a spray bottle for easy application.
Top tip: Old cleaning spray bottles work well and will save you a trip to the store!
How to Use Soap Scum Remover
Step 1: Spray the soap scum remover onto the affected surfaces. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the solution to penetrate and loosen the soap scum.
Step 2: Use a rag or a gentle scrub brush to scrub away the soap scum. Go carefully on delicate surfaces to avoid scratches.
Step 3: Rinse thoroughly with water.
Use regularly to avoid heavy soap scum build-up and enjoy a sparkling sink!
Expert Tips
- Soap scum builds up quickly, so to prevent it from being unmanageable, keep up regular cleaning. I recommend a rudimentary cleaning of your shower, bathtub, and sink at least once a week.
- This cleaner is not safe for use on granite or other natural stones. Use homemade granite cleaner instead.
- You can purchase glass spray bottles online or reuse a spray bottle to keep it cheap and eco-friendly.
Safety Precautions
As with any cleaning solution, when using a soap scum remover, you need to take correct safety precautions.
Wear gloves: Wear gloves and, if you have them, eye protection or goggles when handling a cleaning solution. This helps protect your skin and eyes from potential irritation.
Ventilate the room: When using soap scum remover, remember to open your windows! This allows fresh air to circulate. While vinegar is a safe and natural cleaner, it can irritate airways if inhaled for too long.
Ingredient Handling: Be sure to handle the ingredients of this recipe with care. Keep the solution out of reach of children and pets.
How to Prevent Soap Scum
- To prevent soap scum from forming in the first place, use homemade liquid hand soap and liquid body wash instead of bar soap which tends to leave behind more residue, leading to more soap scum buildup.
- Consider installing a water softener. Hard water causes soap scum buildup, and a water softener would help reduce the mineral deposits and hard water stains.
- Use a shower filter. A shower filter helps remove chlorine and other impurities that could contribute to soap scum buildup.
- Wipe down your shower or bathtub after each use. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe over your shower walls and bathtub/faucets so they’re dry after each use. If you are starting out with a really dirty surface, I would use this shower scrub recipe first and clean the grout with a homemade grout cleaner.
- Ventilate the area. After bathing or showering, leave your windows and doors open or turn on a bathroom exhaust fan so the humidity can escape.
Environmental Considerations
Biodegradable Ingredients
I opt for biodegradable, natural ingredients in my cleaning products and DIY recipes that break down naturally. Not only are these ingredients safe for the environment, but they’re also non-toxic and safer for kids and pets.
Eco-Friendly Practices
In addition to using biodegradable ingredients, I also make sure to follow eco-friendly practices when cleaning my bathroom. This includes:
- Use a reusable cleaning cloth instead of a disposable one.
- Turning off the water while scrubbing to conserve water.
- Recycle or reuse any packaging or containers used.
Overall, I feel it’s super important to be mindful of our cleaning products’ impact on the environment, which is why I love DIY cleaning products so much!
Recipe FAQs
Soap scum is a white or gray-colored coating that forms on hard surfaces after soap and hard water mix together. The scum comprises a combination of soap, minerals, and dirt. The culprit of soap scum is soap itself; being made from fats and oils, these are what react with hard water to create soapy mineral deposits that accumulate around sinks, baths, and faucets.
Use this on any surface with soap buildup. Generally, the bathroom vanities, tubs, and kitchen sinks are the biggest areas for soap scum buildup.
Please note: this recipe should not be used on granite or other natural stones. Use this granite cleaner instead.
More DIY Cleaning Tutorials
- How to Clean a Composite Sink
- The Easiest Way to Clean Mold From Shower Grout
- How to Get Stains Out of White Marble
- How to Unclog a Bathroom Sink
- How to Easily Clean Calcium Buildup in Your Shower
If you tried this Soap Scum Remover DIY or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a ๐ star rating and let me know how it went in the ๐ comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Soap Scum Remover DIY
Equipment
Ingredients
- ยฝ cup (4 ounces) of white vinegar, 5% acidity
- ยฝ cup (4 ounces) of liquid dish soap, any liquid dish soap will work
Instructions
- Combine the white vinegar and liquid dish soap in a mixing bowl.
- Stir the mixture until well combined.
- Transfer the soap scum remover into a spray bottle for easy application. (see notes below for application)
Notes
How to use
- Spray the soap scum remover onto the affected surfaces.
- Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the solution to penetrate and loosen the soap scum.
- Use a rag or a gentle scrub brush to scrub away the soap scum. Go carefully on delicate surfaces to avoid scratches.
- Rinse thoroughly with water.
Thank you for this easy recipe. For years I have scrubbed my shower until I was tired , using harsh chemicals. I used the soap scum remover and wipe the shower down ONLY without scrubbing
Thanks for being there
This was amazing to see
This is so incredibly easy and works great!
So happy you are pleased with it!
Can I use Castile soap or should it be a โDawnโ type soap?
Any liquid dish soap will work.