How and when did this happen?
The filmy, unsightly layer of soap scum covering your shower screen. So hard to remove especially if it has been left to settle for a long time. Rings a bell?? Hard water and soap usually combines to form that filmy residue you usually find on the shower screens: Soap scum, the scourge of the bathroom. It makes the room feel dirty even if it’s clean!
The worse part is, the soap scum can mix with bacteria in the bathroom (mould/mildew) to create smell or the pinky and black discoloration on your tiles and grout. This is unhealthy for the family and the longer it is left in the bathroom, the worse it gets and the harder it is to remove.
So what’s the solution?
Something most people may have in their cupboard: baking soda. This will break down tough soap scum and leave your shower screen and bathroom smelling fresh and clean. It will effectively break down the dirt and grime. Just remember not to scratch too hard as being an abrasive, it may leave scratches on the glass which is not removable. Pair baking soda with white vinegar and you have a very good mould/mildew killer for the tiles and grout.
How to?
Mix into a paste with dishwashing soap (great at dissolving grime/dirt) and 1 cup of water. Dissolve as much of the baking soda as you can. It just needs to be runny enough to be able to be applied to the glass using a brush or other sponge/tool you have for some mild scrubbing.
Leave on for at least 20 minutes.
Rinse with warm water and wipe down with a soft/microfiber cloth to see the results. Re-apply as needed: depending on how long its been stuck to the screen, you may need to reapply a few times to have the sparkling shower glass back.
To improve the formula, mix the baking soda with white vinegar and see the grime dissolves and disappear!
Please note that this can also be applied to tiles and grout to remove mould and give an in depth clean to the bathroom using same scrubbing brush or toothbrush. A little scrubbing goes a long way!
Long term solutions to this dilemma?
- Change soap – use of bar soap may increase soap scum in the bathroom due to paraffin content. Swap to gel or body washes/scrubs. This will reduce soap scum incidence but you will still need to clean every now and again to keep the glass film-free.
- Wipe down the glass after showering with a squeegee or cloth. This will prevent hard water staining. Have the tools ready for a quick wipe down after shower.
- Prepare the paste and leave it in the bathroom for future use or better yet, put it in a dishwashing brush (cheap from local supermarket) and give the shower screen a daily or ever so often brush down to prevent re-occurence.
If the soap scum is so old that you can’t get rid of it, have the bathroom professionally cleaned first. Then it is easier to keep it clean by following the above directives.
So how can you deal with cleaning and make it – if not fun – at least quick?
- Take care of stuff lying around the floor area, corners, kids bedrooms, laundry etc. Get everything off the floors as this will make it easier to dust, vacuum and mop. Move things around if needed to reach difficult areas for the same purpose dusting, vacuuming and mopping.
- Get all the doormats and rugs outside, give them a good shake and air them out. Leave them outside until you have finished with the interiors.
- Clear bathrooms benches – put aside the toothpaste, toothbrushes, hair cream brushes. In the toilets, empty the bin and lift off the floor.
Now the fun begins!
- Always start from the top to work your way to the bottom! Dust the top shelves, kitchen cabinets, fridge top… I usually use a microfiber cloth as this picks up all the dust better, the only thing is that I have to use a stepping stool! Don’t forget the light fixtures – you’d be surprised how they accumulate dust- and fans if you have any. Any dust balls will fall to the floor from top to bottom.
- Start vacuuming!
Do the whole house area and any dust on the floor from dusting will be picked up quickly and easily! I usually do the first vacuum then I follow with a second vacuum after the mopping to pick up any residual dust balls left behind from the mop.
- Wet cleaning:
This means the bathrooms and toilets are done first. Spray the bathroom with your bathroom cleaner and let stand as it works better this way. Apply your toilet cleaner under the rim and let it stand as well. Spray and wipe the shower glass to remove soap scum. You can use vinegar as it will not damage the glass. Just wipe off with a clean cloth/paper towels.
- Mopping:
Last but not least: mopping! Mop according to your flooring type. Avoid vinegar on timber floors as this strips the protective coating off. The secret here is to mop yourself out! I usually start with the bedrooms towards the back of the house (in my case front) and mop myself out leading to the laundry. Change the water as needed. The bathrooms and toilets are mopped last with a clean bucket of water!
Tip: every first weekend of the month, I get all the dusting and extra cleaning of the house done. For example, the skirting boards are dusted and wiped clean, the door frames, light switches and couches are thoroughly wiped. Windows are cleaned using a bucket of warm water and a dash of detergent. Save water at the same time and get the kids to help out!
There you have it. The easy way to get your house clean. If you have some handy helpers aka kids or hubby who can help around the house, even better. The job gets done faster. Don’t forget to put the doormats and rugs back in before sitting back and relaxing with a cup of tea. Well deserved!
