Soap scum disappears from showers when you use 2 common items

Cleaning your bathroom is no easy task. You might think that your shower and sink remain relatively clean, since the only activities you do in these areas are washing yourself and brushing your teeth. Surely using water and soap in an area can't make it dirty, right?

But while these substances are great for cleaning our bodies, they aren't healthy for our bathroom appliances. If you don't take action to wipe down your bathroom every time you use it, you could find yourself with stubborn soap scum and water stains that refuse to budge - and then cleaning becomes a chore.

The easiest way to get rid of unwanted marks in the bathroom is simply to wipe down surfaces once you've used them. This means taking a squeegee or a cloth and wiping down your taps and shower glass after every shower.

But this can be time-consuming, and it's likely that after a while, marks will appear anyway - especially if you forget to wipe everything down a couple of times, or you're in a rush and don't have time immediately after your shower.

According to cleaning fans on social media, however, there is an easier way to get soap scum and other marks off of your taps and other bathroom furnishings. All you need are two household items you should already own.

The hack was shared on Reddit after someone asked for help cleaning soap scum from their shower. They didn't want to use harsh cleaning products and ideally wanted a "natural" solution, but claimed that attempts to use white vinegar to do the job hadn't worked effectively.

They said: "What are the best cleaning products for cleaning natural soap scum off tile, grout, and the bathtub? I have tried vinegar, vinegar and baking soda, Charlie's Soap, and unscented magic erasers when desperate (but they ruin the finish on everything). The best clean I've gotten is with Charlie's Soap, endless amounts of scrubbing, and pouring near-boiling hot water over the bottom of the tub (which is probably terrible for the plumbing)."

Commenters on the post offered a variety of tips, but one of the most popular methods involved mixing washing up liquid with white vinegar in a spray bottle, spraying it on the affected areas, and leaving it to sit for a while before wiping it off.

Most commenters mentioned Dawn dish soap specifically, which is a US brand similar to Fairy in the UK. However, any brand of washing up liquid will do the job.

One person said: "I use equal parts Dawn and vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray it on, wait a couple of minutes, and wipe it off. I was shocked how well it worked."

Another added: "Seconding this. I keep one of those refillable dish brushes in my shower with a vinegar/Dawn mix and give a quick scrub at the end of every shower. Still have to properly clean at some point, but it makes a huge difference."

How to clean soap scum in your shower

1. Ventilate the area: Open a window or turn on the bathroom fan for good airflow.

2. Make a cleaning solution:

• Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
• For stubborn soap scum, heat the vinegar (not boiling, just warm) before mixing.
• Add a few drops of dish soap for extra grease-cutting power.

3. Spray the affected areas: Generously spray the solution on the shower walls, doors, and fixtures.

4. Let it sit: Allow the solution to sit for 10–20 minutes. This helps dissolve the soap scum.

5. Scrub: Use a non-scratch sponge or brush to scrub the surfaces. For tough spots, sprinkle a little baking soda on your sponge for gentle abrasion.

6. Rinse: Rinse thoroughly with warm water to remove all residue.

7. Dry: Wipe down with a microfiber cloth or towel to prevent new buildup.