Any tips on getting hardened soap scum off of a tub?

[Tobin S.]

This soap scum has been in the tub since before we lived here. I've tried everything I can think of on it. I've tried the traditional bathroom cleaners, magic erasers, scrub pads, and a white vinegar and soap concoction that didn't do anything but stink up the place. This stuff seems like it's like granite.

[liberal N proud]

1. Lime Away

Then scrub!

[blogslut]

2. Maybe a pumice stone?

[dawg]

3. S.O.S. pads.

The steel wool ones with the soap built in.

That's what I've had the most luck with. But it still took lots of hard scrubbing.

[Tess49]

4. ZUD. Will clean anything. I've used it for years. n/t

[Major Nikon]

5. Hydrochloric acid

In addition to the recommendations found in the video, I suggest you get a decent respirator before you try this as the fumes are quite caustic. If you don't want to try something this strong, then vinegar is available in 10,20, and 30% concentrations if you look around hard enough. Household vinegar you get from the market is only around 5%. Anything above 10% also is quite caustic and the same precautions should be used. All acids are going to work for this problem, but the stronger they are, the less time and effort is required.

[hunter]

9. That's the product of choice in our hard water hell. But it is NASTY.

Bad fumes, so yep, a respirator is recommended. Good gloves are essential. If you spill a droplet on your skin or your clothes, you might not notice it at first, but you will notice later.

I wear clothes I don't care about, neutralize everything with baking soda when I'm done, and throw the clothes straight in the washer.

The stuff will quickly destroy die cast or stamped metals of the sort frequently used in inexpensive plumbing fixtures.

Honestly, I mostly just live with non-shiny ceramic tiles, porcelain, and fiberglass.

I remember store-bought lime cleaners had phosphoric acid in them, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

[Major Nikon]

10. Most lime cleaners rely on some type of acid

CLR has a PH of 2.1-2.3 which makes it very acidic.

[demmiblue]

6. Bar Keepers Friend. Here is an interesting link:

http://www.themanlyhousekeeper.com/2011/03/11/solved-soap-scum-and-hard-water-stains/

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. Love that stuff! n/t

[underahedgerow]

11. I find the toilet ducks with bleach and for lime scale make a great cleaner for the worst of stains

on sinks and tiles. Gloves necessary. Let it sit a while, it helps when it's a gel.

Do you have Bang with Bleach over there? I don't remember if it's a US product or not, but it's awesome too.

[B Calm]

8. Sand paper

Just kidding. Let me know if you find something that works.

[intrepidity]

12. I ended up using a razor blade.

Tried everything else mentioned above, and then some, before finally accepting that a sharp blade was the only way.

[vanlassie]

23. Yep. Razor Blade.

[IcyPeas]

13. seconding Pumice stone. (no chemicals, no fumes)

test surface first, rub gently (it can scratch certain surfaces).

Elbow Grease
If you have a porcelain tub, you can use a wet pumice stone to remove soap scum—so long as you work carefully. Improper technique or a dry stone can scratch glass doors or tile. To give it a try, wet both the pumice stone and the surface you’re working on. Then, very gently rub the wet stone over the soap scum. As the soap scum transfers to the pumice stone, use a stiff-bristle brush to clean it off, then go at it again. Alternatively, on a surface with very bad soap scum, you can try scraping it off with a razor. But avoid using any abrasive technique on a fiberglass or acrylic tub or shower.

http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-soap-scum/#.V09zTPkrKUk

[NV Whino]

14. You can get concentrated vinegar (acidic acid) at ag supply stores

I use it as a weed killer. It is/was used in the darkroom as well. Gloves are a must. Better off with a respirator, too.

[grasswire]

15. how about a paint scraper?

would that work?

[rug]

16. If you had the life soap scum had, you'd be hardened too.

[Mendocino]

17. Borax

made a thick paste with water, apply and let it sit a bit, then use a scrub brush and rinse.

[herding cats]

18. Spray on white vinegar and let it sit a few minutes.

Then take a damp sponge with either baking soda or borax on it and scrub it away.

I just had to clean up a relatives home which had been neglected for some time. This worked great!

[lunatica]

19. Baking soda can do wonders sometimes

I tried it in a shower with a sliding 'glass' door which should have been clear but was almost white from the soap scum on it. It left it looking like it was new. And without a whole lot of scrubbing. Make a paste.

[Generic Brad]

20. Simply ask me to move off your tub

But I may not comply. After all, I am hardened scum.

[uppityperson]

21. Vinegar and paper towels. Put down a layer of paper towels, then pour vinegar on them

Let it sit for an hour before removing. Leave the fan on in the bathroom with the door shut. After an hour, the scaling should scrub off pretty easily.

It take a while to penetrate and loosen so be patient. It's not like squirt, rub, it's all clean. Next weekend we are doing the walls of the enclosure, the tub is white again after doing this last weekend. And yes, we tried all sorts of products with minimal results before the paper towel, vinegar, patience routine.

[Tobin S.]

22. THANK YOU ALL. I appreciate all of the suggestions. We'll see how it goes.

[MrScorpio]

24. I have just the man for the job...