15 Best Soap Scum Removers To Brighten The Surfaces In 2023

Most of us find it challenging to clean different surfaces. However, with the best soap scum removers, you can clean and brighten the surfaces prone to soap scum. This is a gray or white layer or residue on the surfaces that you may come across when you use soaps to clean bathtubs, showers, sinks, or other bathroom surfaces. Check out our list of removers that we have compiled and reviewed for you to choose a suitable product.

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15 Best Soap Scum Removers

1. Best To Kill Bacteria: Tilex Bathroom Cleaner Soap Scum Remover Spray

Say goodbye to mineral build-up with this scum-busting soap cleanser. You can use this spray for cleaning shower doors, fiberglass, glazed tiles, toilets, and sinks. Tilex cleaning products can kill and disinfect up to 99% of the bacteria in the bathroom, thereby providing you with a clean and sparkling space.

Package Dimensions ‏: ‎11.22 x 10.24 x 3.27 inches| Weight : 0.01 Ounces

Pros

  • Has a refreshing smell
  • Does not require scrubbing
  • Bleach-free combination

Cons

  • May not be effective for cleaning showers
Price at the time of publication: $17.49

2. Best For All Surfaces: ForceField ScumBlaster Soap Scum Remover

ForceField offers a professional-grade soap scum cleaner with industrial strength to clean water spots, shower walls, bathroom surfaces, and septic tanks. This quality-tested tough soap scum cleaner is free of corrosive acids and bleach and is formulated to save your cleaning time and effort.

Product Dimensions: 10.25 x 6.5 x 5 inches | Weight: 2.89 Pounds

Pros

  • All-purpose cleaner for all surfaces
  • Effective for daily usage
  • Cuts through rust and hard water stains
  • Made using organic salts
  • Works effectively on stubborn stains

Cons

  • May have a strong smell
Price at the time of publication: $32.99
protip_icon Quick tip
Identify your stain before buying a cleaning product. Scum cleaners are formulated for soap scum and may not be very effective on limescale or hard water stains.

3. Best For Hard Water Stains: Scrub-Free Arm & Hammer 3320000105 Scrub Free Soap Scum Remover

Price at the time of publication: $28.85

Clean the dulling film and hard water stains with this mineral deposit and soap residue remover. The non-abrasive formula is designed for shower doors, ceramic tiles, plastic, porcelain, fiberglass tubs, chrome, and sinks and helps deodorize surfaces.

Product Dimensions: 12.5 x 11.4 x 10 inches | Weight: 2 Pounds

Pros

  • Has a pleasant lemon scent
  • Effective in cutting through the scum
  • Does not require scratching and scrubbing
  • Makes cleaning easier

Cons

  • May not be effective against tough stains

4. Best For Different Surfaces: The Works Tubs & Shower Cleaner For Soap Scum

Price at the time of publication: $23.4

If you want to prevent scum on the glass, shower, and water. The Works Tubs & Shower Cleaner is ideal. The soap scum remover is designed to clean different kinds of spots in the bathroom. This multi-use scum remover comes as a value pack of six bottles.

Pros

  • Does not scratch the surface
  • Comes with a convenient flip-top lid
  • Effective on hard water spots

Cons

  • May require scrubbing

5. Best For Metal Faucets: Clean-X Eliminate Shower Tub & Tile Cleaner

Price at the time of publication: $34.95

Clean-X Eliminate offers a powerful soap scum dissolver in a pack of two. The tub, tile, and shower soap scum remover effectively eliminates mineral deposits, body oils, and soap scum within a few minutes. As per reviews, it can even effectively act on porcelain sinks and metal faucets to ensure your bathroom always shines.

Pros

  • Has a pleasant, refreshing smell
  • Saves cleaning time by up to 90 percent
  • Fast and effective scum cleaner
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • May damage natural stone
protip_icon Remember
When using a scum cleaner formulated for a specific surface, be careful not to use it on other materials as it may cause discoloration and corrosion.

6. Best Cleaner For Bathtubs: The Bucko Soap Scum And Grime Cleaner

The Bucko soap scum remover is effective at cleaning shower doors made of glass, yellow-stained acrylic bathtubs, dried-out laundry detergent buildups, wheel rims, etc. Designed for tough stains, this is a non-toxic formulation that leaves a protective shine on the surface. It makes a valuable cleaning product for regular cleaning and touch-ups.

Pros

  • Has a light lemon water scent
  • Doesn’t contain any chemicals, bleach, or acid
  • Just spray and wipe away
  • Multi-purpose cleaner

Cons

  • May not be effective against rust
Why It's Worth Buying: Join the 2,293 satisfied buyers on Amazon who have said the product meets their needs and expectations.
Price at the time of publication: $33.98

7. Best For Molds And Stains: Chomp Hard Water Stain Remover Bathroom Gel Cleaner With Scum Shield

3.8

Use this gel cleanser to clean the grime, residue, and scum in the bathroom. The hard water soap scum remover is designed to eliminate scum from showers, chrome, and faucets, and is effective on different surfaces. The unique cleaner uses the Scum Shield formula to reduce weekly cleaning needs by resisting build-up.

Product Dimensions: 2 x 3.75 x 9 inches | Weight: 1.5 Pounds

Pros

  • Removes molds and mildew stains
  • Prevents and cleans hard water stains
  • Keeps surfaces clean for long
  • Has a pleasant fragrance

Cons

  • May leave behind residue
Why It's Worth Buying: About 1,963 reviewers on Amazon have given their seal of approval to the product.
Price at the time of publication: $18.97

8. Best Non-Toxic: Good Life Solutions Plant-Based Bathroom Cleaner For Soap Scum

Price at the time of publication: $8.97

Good Life Solutions offers a natural and safe cleaning product to keep your bathroom free of soap scum and build-up. The product containing plant-based ingredients makes it safe for daily cleaning needs. The all-purpose bathroom cleaner is ideal for bathroom fixtures, floors, and countertops.

Product Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 8.5 inches | Weight: 1.7 Pounds

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Non-toxic and fragrance-free cleaner
  • Environmentally-safe formulation
  • Does not leave behind any residue

Cons

  • Spray nozzle may not be durable

9. Best Eco-Friendly Formulation: Coastal Clarity Shower Door Restoration Kit

This effortless soap film and scum remover from Coastal Clarity adopts a three-step system to remove soap scum and hard water stains without testing your scrubbing strength and restores lost brilliance by filling scratches and microscopic pores.

Material: ‎Plastic | Color: ‎Multicolor | Product Dimensions: ‎3.25 x 7.25 x 9.25 inches | Item Weight: ‎1 pounds

Pros

  • Delivers a streak-free and residue-free performance
  • Effectively cleans build-up of years
  • Lengthens the lifespan of glass
  • Comes with a water-repellent treatment that maintains shine for up to 18 months
  • An eco-friendly formulation

Cons

  • May have an unpleasant smell
Price at the time of publication: $40
protip_icon Caution
Check the ingredient list of your cleaner for harsh chemicals, and always use gloves when cleaning to protect your hands.

10. Best With Fresh Scent: StoneTech Soap Scum Remover For Natural Stone

4
StoneTech Soap Scum Remover For Natural Stone Image: Stonetech

StoneTech offers a pack of two soap scum dissolvers designed specially to remove scum from natural stone. Use this effective formula to clean your bathroom without damaging the natural stone and make your bathroom fresh and free of residue and dirt.

Item Weight: ‎1.5 pounds

Pros

  • Effective in cleaning water stains
  • Does not harm natural stone
  • Ideal for different surfaces
  • Has a fresh and clean scent

Cons

  • May require scrubbing
Price at the time of publication: $29.06

11. Best For Marble: Marblelife Soap Scum Remover

Whether it is your bathroom or kitchen, Marblelife’s multipurpose cleaning product helps remove soap scum on different surfaces. This tried-and-tested product is an eco-friendly scum and film cleanser to ensure a safe and healthy home. You can use it on marbles, natural stones, and tiles and restore lost luster.

Pros

  • Does not contain any harsh chemicals
  • 100% stone-safe
  • Helps reduce build-ups
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Scent may not be pleasing
Price at the time of publication: $23.5

12. Best For Stubborn Stains: Invisible Shield Limescale And Stain Remover

4.1
Invisible Shield Limescale And Stain Remover Image: Invisible Shield

If you are looking for a potent formula that can remove calcium, rust, soap scum, hard water minerals, grease, and other stubborn stains without heavy scrubbing, use Invisible Shield limescale and stain remover. As per reviews, it is a safe and effective formula that can remove scum and stains on sinks, faucets, shower glass, tubs, and tiles and eliminate residues and build-up in your bathroom.

Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 8.5 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 1.56 Pounds.

Pros

  • Reduces cleaning time by half
  • Free of harsh chemicals
  • Can be used on different surfaces

Cons

  • Not safe to use on natural stones
Price at the time of publication: $21.95

13. Best For Bathroom: The Popular Shop Scrub Free Total Bathroom Cleaner

Price at the time of publication: $11.99

This scrub-free soap scum remover not only removes scum but also leaves your bathroom bright and smelling fresh. The soap scum remover is tested to deliver excellent results and can be used on bathtubs, showers, toilets, and tiles and make your bathroom shine.

Pros

  • Has a pleasant lemon scent
  • Does not damage surfaces
  • Multipurpose bathroom cleaner

Cons

  • May not be value for money

14. Best Fast-Acting Formula: Therapy Tub And Tile Cleaner, Soap Scum Remover

If you want to bring back the lost shine to tiles, floors, countertops, and fixtures, Fila Deterdek soap scum remover is ideal. This product is used as a water spot, limescale, grime and residue cleanser for all types of bathroom surfaces. You can use the produce on ceramics, porcelain, stainless steel, and glass surfaces.

Pros

  • Has a soothing natural grapefruit oil scent
  • Non-toxic formulation
  • Effective in removing hard water stains
  • Safe for all bathroom surfaces

Cons

  • Cannot be used on marble, granite, and wood
Price at the time of publication: $16.95

15. Best For Mosaics: Fila Deterdek Hard Water Spot And Soap Scum Remover

If you want to bring back the lost shine to tiles, floors, countertops, and fixtures, Fila Deterdek soap scum remover is ideal. This product is used as a water spot, limescale, grime and residue cleanser for all types of bathroom surfaces. You can use the produce on ceramics, porcelain, stainless steel, and glass surfaces.

Product Dimensions: ‎4.68 x 2.32 x 10.95 inches | Item Weight: ‎1.79 pounds

Pros

  • Perfect for mosaics
  • Cleans professionally
  • Does not harm surfaces
  • Easy to use
  • Biodegradable formulation

Cons

  • May have a strong smell
Price at the time of publication: $9.99

How To Choose The Right Soap Scum Remover?

To help you choose the right soap scum remover, we have listed a few points that you must keep in mind when buying:

  1. Surface type: The choice of soap scum remover depends on what kind of bathroom surface your bathroom has because some cleaners are effective on metals and fiberglass. In contrast, some soap scum removers are effective for ceramics and porcelain. Always check the surface type to choose the right product.
  1. Formulation: Thoroughly read the ingredients in the product. It is best to choose products that do not contain chemicals, bleach, ammonia, and phthalates.
  1. Ease of cleaning: It is best to choose easy-to-clean products. Compared with products that only require spraying and wiping, products that require a lot of scrubbing and manual labor are certainly not a good choice.
  1. Scent: It is crucial to buy a soap scum remover that does not have a strong and unpleasant odor. Choose a product that has a soothing and pleasant scent.

Why Trust MomJunction?

Wedetso Chirhah writes well-researched content and compiles product lists that make choosing products effortlessly. Here, he brings you a comprehensive list of the best soap scum removers to make your cleaning experience a lot easier and ensure there are no traces of dirt or stain lurking behind. These solutions can clean soap scum and grime on bathroom tiles, septic tanks, doors, glass windows, or other household items.

Paula Tarling, an experienced domestic cleaner and influencer, says, “Soap scum can build up quickly, and if left for too long, it can turn gray and look unsightly. While most bathroom cleaners are made to specifically target soap scum, I’m a fan of cleaners containing citric, as they are great at eliminating limescale too.”

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What causes soap scum?

When minerals found in hard water such as magnesium and calcium chemically combine with dirt and soap, they form a scaly film on metal surfaces, tiles, grouts, and other bathroom surfaces.

2. How should I get rid of thick soap scum?

One of the ideal ways of getting rid of thick soap scum is using a professional-grade soap scum cleaner. However, go through the product details to make sure that it is a non-corrosive and non-abrasive soap scum remover.

3. What is most effective against limescale and soap scum?

One of the most effective ways to get rid of limescale and soap scum is to use a commercial soap scum cleaner that is versatile on most surfaces, free of harsh chemicals, and easy to use.

Sometimes cleaning can be challenging, especially when you have to remove soap scum. However, by using an effective soap scum remover, you can maintain your bathroom, showers, and other surfaces properly. You can consider choosing a soap scum remover with a pleasant and mild smell to give a fresh feel without being overbearing. It should remove stubborn stains from any surface and so pick a versatile product suitable for different materials. However, ensure the remover is free of harsh chemicals to prevent damaging the surface.

Infographic: How To Reduce The Chances Of Soap Scum Buildup?

Soap scum removers are effective and hassle-free solutions to eliminate scum and soap residue buildup. However, it is essential to follow specific measures to avoid the buildup of scum in the first place. Check out the following infographic to learn about these anti-scum precautions.

Best Practices To Reduce The Chances Of Soap Scum Buildup (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.

Download Infographic in PDF version Download Infographic
Download Infographic in PDF version


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