Arm Yourself In The War Against Shower Stall Scum | Showering Enthusiast

Mercury News:

Question: Our glass shower enclosure gets a buildup of soap scum that is very difficult to remove. What is the best way to clean it? - Tom

Answer: There are many special cleaners and many home-brewed remedies for soap scum, a mixture of dirt, soap, body oils and minerals, but I hesitate to call any one of them “best.” Among the home brews, many people swear by a 50-50 mixture of household ammonia and water. Others favor warm vinegar, and some say they get good results by scrubbing with a paste made from baking soda and water.

Ammonia and some of the special products sold at supermarkets and home centers have powerful fumes and must be used only in well-ventilated areas (Magic American has a new product, Tile & Grout Magic, that is advertised as fume-free). Eye and skin protection are needed with some cleaners, and some must be accompanied by vigorous scrubbing with a stiff-bristled scrub brush. Some soap scum is so tough that a power scrubber or a power buffer and very fine abrasive might be needed to remove it.

Soap scum is often easier to prevent than to clean. After a shower, squeegee the walls to remove the wet film. Also use your towel to wipe down the shower surfaces. This takes only a minute but can save a lot of hard labor later on.