Cleaning soap scum and mildew off tubs
Cleaning soap scum and mildew off tubs is not one of the most fun things to do in your house. No matter how good of a housekeeper you are you may still have soap scum or mildew that remains on your tubs. Soap scum and mildew can be found around the tub, the edge of the tub and wall, around the faucets, on the shower curtain and in the walls surrounding your tub or in the grout on those walls. It can be easy to clean but not too much fun. Take a look at these tips for cleaning soap scum and mildew off tubs in your home.
The worst soap scum is the soap scum that has been sitting around for awhile. We all let it sit at times and hope to come back to it later. But life happens and you just don't schedule a regular cleaning of the bathroom tub. The longer the soap scum sits on your tubs and tub walls the more concrete it will become this is why regular cleaning should be scheduled. It's not a fun job but with regular cleaning it should become easier and less time consuming.
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1. You will need a basic tool to wipe and scrub the tub and walls like an old washrag or soft sponge without an abrasive side. You can use a store bought cleaner but you will still need to scrub on the harder and more concrete parts of the soap scum. Pick and choose which cleaners you want. Some may not work for you but when you find one you do like then stay with it. Here are a few homemade ways to clean the soap scum:
2. Lemon furniture oil will clean the soap scum and prevent further. Apply the lemon oil with sponge and move in a circular motion. Wipe away the lemon oil you just applied with a soft cotton cloth. Use a gentle scouring powder like Borax. Apply your scouring powder on a sponge and apply to the soap scum with a small amount of water. Try to use circular motions when cleaning soap scum, this seems to work better then the old back and forth motion that is usually used. Once the soap scum has disappeared just rinse away. Your Tub should be soap scum free.
3. Baking soda is a great non-toxic scouring powder that you can use on your tub soap scum. Use it the same way you would the lemon oil. You can then use a cup of vinegar down the drain to also clean the drain.
4. Ammonia works well on the hardest of soap scum but you must wear gloves to protect your hands and don not use it if you are pregnant. You should use about 1/2 cup of ammonia for every gallon of water, spray on your soap scum areas and wipe away. Rinse well and keep kids and pets away. You may even want to use a mask.
Once you have your soap scum taken care of you will want to clean out your tub after every use. Just wipe around the edges to keep the soap scum from building up again. Then you should clean weekly with a cleaner either you have bought or one that is home made.
To remove mildew from your tubs you will need the same type of sponges and wash rags. The best way to rid your tubs of mildew is to use bleach and pour it or spray it onto your spots that have mildew. Try scrubbing the areas that have the mildew. You may have to clean the area more then once to fully get rid of the mildew. You can also use white vinegar instead of bleach. Both work well. The beat way to remove mildew growth is to prevent it. Clean your tub regularly and try to keep the humidity out.
Cleaning soap scum and mildew off your tubs can be an easier job with regular maintenance, a good cleanser or scouring powder and some elbow grease. Take your time to find what works and you will be rewarded with a clean and shiny tub.
