Shower Scum Removal

Even fastidious cleansers sometimes get scum within their showers at the same time or other. Shower scum plays no gimmicks; when left to its own devices, it strikes any bathroom in just a few days. And to make it worse, it manifests in various forms, ranging from soap scum to mould and mildew. To cut down on your work and prevent shower scum buildup, switch to liquid soaps from the shower that do not include excessive oils, and maintain a squeegee easy to wipe down the walls after each shower.

Soap Scum

The hardness of your house’s water determines the total amount of soap scum buildup on shower stalls, walls and enclosures. Although mat tiles on the interior of the shower can conceal the effects of soap scum, it’s still there when you look hard enough. Apply undiluted, but microwave or stove-top heated, white vinegar to the walls via a plastic spray bottle on shower walls and fixtures. Allow the mix sit for at least 15 minutes. Rinse clean with cold water and dry using a soft cloth.

Hard Water Deposits

Undiluted white vinegar also removes crusty buildup of calcium, lime and magnesium deposits on shower walls, enclosures and fixtures. Apply the undiluted vinegar directly to your white scaly deposits, and let it sit before attempting to remove it. A putty knife can help lift and remove massive deposits after the vinegar stays for a while. You can also employ an oxalic acid-based cleanser or lime-remover merchandise to get rid of tough deposits, as long as you adhere to the instructions on the product label.

Oil-Based Shower Scum

An alkaline product using a pH above 7 removes body and bath oil buildup on the interior of shower enclosures, as the oils have a pH below 7. A product that includes alkali breaks down the acidic oils and fats into smaller particles and tears them off with a clean rinse. Household cleansers that possess an alkali base comprise glass cleaners and liquid dishwashing detergents. The caustic of those products comprise lye or sodium hydroxide for opening seams.

Iron and Rust Stains

Acid-based cleansers also remove rust and iron stains from shower tiles, glass or fiberglass enclosures. Mild acidic cleans contain vinegar and lemon juice, but more demanding products include phosphoric acids and sulfuric acids utilized for cleaning toilet bowls. When working together with the more caustic goods, work at a well-ventilated area, wear heavy duty plastic gloves and a face mask. Avoid getting these products in your skin. Shine up shower faucets and fixtures after cleaning with a cloth soaked with rubbing alcohol to remove water stains.

Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew buildup happens when the shower stays warm and moist most of the time. Because mould and mildew may also arouse an allergic reaction if you or a relative is sensitive to them, you need to kill the mould with a powerful disinfectant such as household bleach. Mix 1 cup of household bleach to a gallon of water and wash tile grout with a toothbrush or other soft brush to remove mildew and mould. Rinse with clean water. Dry with a clean rag. Install a ventilation fan for use in bathrooms without windows, or open the window to dry out the shower after use. Shine tiles using a lemon oil product to protect against mould and mildew buildup.

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