Soap scum is an unsightly chalky residue that covers surfaces where people tend to wash themselves. The residue is actually made of calcium stearate and magnesium stearate and is produced when mixed with hard water.
Unfortunately, soap scum can be found in a plethora of places around the home including shower curtains, bathroom fixtures, tiling, shower doors, baths, bathroom floors, mirrors and more.
Homes located in hard water areas are likely to be more susceptible to soap scum, especially if it’s left to buildup over time.
Removing soap scum can be difficult but there is a “natural solution” for removing the unsightly substance.
Cleaning brand Marigold has teamed up with expert and influencer @dazlincleaning, aka Lindsay, to share her hack for removing soap scum.
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She exclusively told Express.co.uk: “For a natural solution to break down soap scum in your sink, mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and hot water and spray down.
“You can pick up a bottle of vinegar for under 50p – so it’s hard-working and cost-effective.
“Don’t forget to wear your gloves to protect your hands.”
Vinegar can be bought cheaply from supermarkets, online or from hardware stores.
Sainsbury’s Distilled Vinegar costs 40p and ASDA Distilled Malt Vinegar costs 29p. Wilko Original White Vinegar Spray costs just £1.50.
Dri-pak Clean & natural White vinegar costs £2 from B&Q while Stardrops White Vinegar Multi-Purpose Cleaning Spray costs 99p from Asda.
Lindsay also suggested wearing gloves to clean the bathroom. Ideally, homeowners should aim to wear hard-wearing rubber gloves to protect their hands.
Marigold Medium Longer Bathroom Gloves cost £2.50 from Wilko, Essential Sensitive Household Gloves cost £1.50 from Waitrose & Partners, and RINNIG Cleaning gloves cost £1 from IKEA.
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White vinegar is a great all-round cleaning product that can be used to remove limescale and clean windows.
The natural cleaning solution is often used to remove limescale from kettles, shower heads and taps, and is great at removing streaks from windows.
Anna McEntee, home insurance comparison expert at Comparethemarket exclusively told Express.co.uk that most people won’t realise they have cleaning products like vinegar at the back of their cupboards.
She also suggested some other natural cleaning methods that can be used instead of chemicals.
She said: “Most people will have ingredients stashed in their cupboards that they may not even have realised can be used as cleaning products.
“Baking soda, vinegar and salt are among the common ingredients that can be used to create cleaning product alternatives, such as an all-purpose cleaner.
“Talcum powder and lemon juice can also be used as cleaning product alternatives, making great home-made stain removers for when accidents happen.
“Not only do homemade cleaners produce good results, but they also tend to be inexpensive, and reduce the amount of plastic you use in your cleaning routine, making a great option for those looking for more sustainable cleaning alternatives.”
