Two sides of the showers in both of my bathrooms are glass (and a glass door) and have a noticeable accumulation of soap scum that I am having a really difficult time getting off. The other two sides are a smooth granite tile and don't have any noticeable soap scum buildup.

About once a week I spray some Tilex shower cleaner on the glass walls and doors when I get out of the shower, and twice a month a cleaning person comes and cleans. With her cleaning, not all of the soap scum comes off. I told her about it, and she says she has tried everything she can and it won't all come off. I just figured she wasn't putting enough elbow grease into it, and I decided to try getting it off myself.

I bought a real rough sponge and used all sorts of cleaners (some had a gritty texture to it) and the stuff just won't seem to come completely off. I even tried scraping the glass with a straight blade, and while that worked best of all, it is still noticeable when you look at it (especially in the sunlight).

Is there anything else that yall might know about that I could try? Perhaps some stronger cleaners that won't hurt the glass? I googled a little and some suggestions were to use CLR with a fine steel wool. I'm going to go pick some of that up, but thought I'd ask here first to see if there is anything else I should pick up at the store to try.

Thanks!

7/15/2006 5:42:36 PM

CLR and let it soak in to dissolve the scum

7/15/2006 5:48:11 PM

I'm gonna throw out another vote for CLR


that's some good stuff

7/15/2006 6:36:44 PM

I bought some soap scum cleaner from Food Lion (Lysol or something) and it worked wonders...smelled good as well.

7/15/2006 7:04:08 PM

instead of steel wool, use one of those green scrubbers.

7/15/2006 7:13:28 PM

I didn't even have to scrub and my tub was looking like new

7/15/2006 7:13:53 PM

Quote :

"I even tried scraping the glass with a straight blade"

Quote :

"Perhaps some stronger cleaners that won't hurt the glass?"

lolz

7/15/2006 7:33:54 PM

he obviously didn't scrape it all

7/15/2006 7:34:44 PM

A similar thread was done a few weeks ago...

http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=415817&page=1#8924106

But really, MR. CLEAN MAGIC ERASERS! They are awesome.

7/15/2006 7:54:58 PM

^^^ i'm not getting the LOL, but its probably cause im pretty clueless about cleaning... ive always just had a cleaning lady do it for me

I used one of those scraper blades (not an x-acto knife), and it did quite well, but it wouldn't get all of it off. i didn't know if there were any chemicals that would go in deeper (i guess the glass is pourous) and dissolve the scum better than the blade. but i didn't know if there are any chemicals that would damage/stain/whatever the glass

7/15/2006 11:36:01 PM

I use any of the soap scum cleaners that you can buy in the grocery store. Most of the ones I use list citric acid as a primary ingredient.

You do NOT wet the area before applying, and apply it LIBERALLY. And I guarantee you'll get good results. Or I will come and clean the bitch...

7/16/2006 12:13:32 AM

i was loling because you used a razor on the glass

then were concerned ab damaging it glass with cleaning products

please tell me someone else sees the funny...

7/16/2006 12:39:32 AM

Razors aren't bad for glass, I don't think.

7/16/2006 1:04:48 AM

I think you are correct. I use them all the time to clean up stray paint...

7/16/2006 1:06:53 AM

Seriously, Joe, try the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. They are really cheap and there are no chemicals involved.

I used one to clean the grout on the tile in my bathroom - it worked great. I also have an oak roll top desk that somebody gave me that had a paint smudge on it - it took that off as well!

I have never used them on glass, but it does take the soap scum off the fixtures in my shower really well.

[Edited on July 16, 2006 at 6:49 AM. Reason : f]

7/16/2006 6:48:42 AM

Quote :

"Seriously, Joe, try the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. They are really cheap and there are no chemicals involved."

1. There are chemicals involved. Formaldehyde-Melamine-Sodium Bisulfite Copolymer
2. Really cheap? Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are the most expensive "magic erasers" available.

However, the magic eraser is a good idea for cleaning showers, and Mr. Clean magic erasers are the only ones I've seen available at all the grocery stores.

And, yes, I did just look up the ingredients in a magic eraser. I'm trying to stay awake and being contrary helps me do that.

7/16/2006 7:19:07 AM

for future reference, use some rain-x on the glass. treat it just like you would the windshield of your car. works wonders in keeping the soap scum to a minimum.


may have to reapply every 3-4 weeks. worth it, though.

7/16/2006 9:42:58 AM

Try No Scrub Mildew Remover from Walmart. Its the cheapest cleaner they have and works wonders.

My in laws had very moldy shower doors. I believe they soaked the doors in CLR and it did wonders.

sadly, you might have to scrub your doors more than twice a month to keep it from forming

7/16/2006 5:28:44 PM

lemon oil, found in the cleaning products section of most stores will help remove soap scum and other things, plus it will help keep it clean afterwards.

7/16/2006 6:28:46 PM

Quote :

"I even tried scraping the glass with a straight blade"

Quote :

"Perhaps some stronger cleaners that won't hurt the glass?"

Quote :

"lolz"

ive used a straight blade to remove sheets of that purple film tint from the inside of car windows, and it worked fine, with rubbing alcohol that is. the only damage you can really do to the glass is scratch it, with a straight razor. -- just fyi

7/16/2006 6:46:06 PM

Go get a bottle of Grease Lighting. That stuff works wonders. Just spray it onto the glass (do not get it wet before you spray) and around other areas that need to be cleaned in the shower. Wait a minute or two and then use a sponge to wipe the dirty areas. Then use your shower head (hopefully you have a removable handle that you can aim) and rinse off the scrubbed areas. Im like you. I used to have no clue about how to clean shower. I was in wal-mart one day and this random black guy told me about grease lightning and i was like ok. It works, trust me.

7/16/2006 7:09:57 PM

scrubbing effin bubbles

those little bastartds do all the work for you

Quote :

"But really, MR. CLEAN MAGIC ERASERS! They are awesome."

these really are magic. and the fine grit on the "eraser" sounds perfect for removing soap scum (after trying bubbles of course)

7/16/2006 8:44:14 PM

another vote for CLR. Get the CLR Bathroom and Kitchen cleaner - I bought a bottle at Eckerd today for $2.99 and cleaned some seriously scummy glass shower doors. They (sadly) haven't been this clean since I moved in.

Spray it on, use a scrubby sponge to work it in, and let it sit 2-3 minutes. Rinse it off with cold water and you're good to go.

7/16/2006 9:27:48 PM

you wont find anything that will 'hurt' the glass chemical wise, you might scratch the shit out of it with steel wool however.....

get one of those green scrubbing things.... and some CLR etc

7/16/2006 9:30:53 PM