If you’ve ever been in a bathroom that doesn’t get cleaned very often, you know how gross soap scum can be. That greyish film that develops on shower doors and curtains is not just an eyesore; it’s also a health concern.
Let’s see how you can prevent soap scum in your student accommodation, and keep it fresh and hygienic.
What is Soap Scum?
Soap scum is a white or grey film that develops on surfaces when fatty acids and oils combine with calcium and magnesium in hard water. Bacteria and viruses can grow in soap scum, leading to infection and illness if it gets out of hand.
Thankfully, it’s relatively easy to deal with, but will take a little regular maintenance.
Three Must-Do Steps That Will Make Cleaning the Shower Much Easier
Use Less Soap
Use less soap. Washing with too much soap is one of the main reasons for soap scum buildup in the first place! It creates a film on the walls and tub that becomes difficult to remove with water alone.
Wipe Down Walls With a Squeegee
Wipe down walls with a squeegee. Using a squeegee after every shower will help prevent bacteria from sticking to surfaces, which helps prevent mould and mildew from growing on those surfaces. It also reduces the amount of soap scum you have to clean off manually later!
Vinegar and Baking Soda Are Your Best Friends
While vinegar is a great cleaning agent that can help break down soap scum naturally, baking soda is also effective at removing soap scum. In addition to being a good option for removing soap scum, baking soda is also great at removing stains and can be used to clean other affected areas in your bathroom.
The main thing to keep in mind when using vinegar and baking soda together is to make sure that you combine them in a 1:1 ratio. You should never add more than one cup of either ingredient; otherwise, you may end up with a lingering vinegar-y smell that not everyone loves. .
It’s really that simple!
Now that you know what soap scum is, how you can get rid of it and how you can prevent it, you are well on your way to having a clean scum-free bathroom to enjoy in your student room!