Soap scum is an unsightly hard water residue left behind when the water mixes with soap (1). Finding a product that removes it effectively can be tricky.
Thankfully, after hours of dedicated research, we’ve found 10 reliable, effective, easy-to-apply, and mostly environmentally friendly products. With these 10 best soap scum removers, you can see your bathroom fixtures gleam again.
We investigated each product’s features, including where they work, what stains they remove, and their toxicity level. Backed by research into real customer reviews and expert advice, you can trust these thorough reviews.
Let’s get into it!
- Works on multiple surfaces
- Approved for food service facilities
- Industrial strength but eco-friendly formula
- Bleach-free, non-toxic
- Dissolves soap scum well
- No added fragrance
- Scrub free cleaning
- Multi-purpose
- Non-toxic formula
- Cleans mold & mildew too
- Kills 9.99% of bacteria
- Whitens tiles and grout
- Long-lasting formula
- Professional-grade cleaner
- Works multiple surfaces
- Eco-friendly and non-toxic
- Remove years of build up
- Works on hard water & other stains
- Plant-powered ingredients
- Dissolves mineral deposits
- Removes mold, mildew & rust
- Multi-use cleaner
- Removes multiple types of stains
- Works on tile & grout
- Fast-acting formula
- Works on many surfaces
- Great for heavy build-up
- Removes hard water spots too
- Works on various surfaces
- Easy to apply with damp cloth
Product Reviews
After hours of research into genuine customer reviews and expert advice, we concluded what makes an effective soap scum remover. We looked at each product’s ingredients, formula, and cleaning ability. With that in mind, here are 10 super soap scum removers to make your bathroom shine again.
CLR Pro Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover
Best for Heavy Soap Scum
If nothing else is working to remove your heavy build-up — try this. This professional-grade soap scum remover is made with an industrial-strength formula. It works to break down calcium, lime, and soap scum, leaving behind no residue or streaks.
You might be thinking… industrial strength? That must be full of harsh chemicals. Actually, no! It’s an eco-friendly, non-toxic formula with the same power as harsh chemicals but without nasty fumes!
Another thing you’ll love about this is how quickly it works. The fast-acting formula removes your stains, discoloration, and dirt quickly. You can use it for stainless steel, countertops, tubs, showers, tile, fixtures, and sinks. Talk about versatility.
Looking for something to take a dirty, old, nasty bathroom to brand new perfection? Then this is a well-loved and trusted product to try.
Pros
- It works on a variety of surfaces, including coffee machines.
- It’s approved for use in food service facilities.
- Industrial strength but eco-friendly formula.
- Works in as little as two minutes.
- Removes calcium, rust, and lime stains.
Cons
- You have to scrub quite hard on certain stains, such as calcium.
- Not as effective on rust or iron.
Product Specs
Type | Liquid |
Surface | Multi-purpose, such as stainless steel, countertops, tubs, showers, and tile |
Scented | Lemon |
Removes What Stains | Calcium, lime, hard water deposits, soap scum, discoloration, and dirt |
Toxicity | Eco-friendly |
Our Ratings
Rejuvenate Scrub Free Soap Scum Remover
No Scrubbing Required
Don’t want to scrub? We don’t blame you! Elbow grease is a big drawback for many people as it can take time and give you a sore arm!
That’s why we recommend this Scrub Free cleaner from Rejuvenate. It’s a liquid, but you can buy the spray bottle version if you’d prefer.
It works by instantly dissolving soap scum, leaving behind a streak-free finish. Just spray and rinse!
You’ll also love that it’s a non-toxic and non-abrasive formula that keeps you, your family, and your surfaces safe. You can use this on glass, ceramic tile, chrome, plastic, and many more surfaces.
It’s also free of added fragrances. If you experience headaches or irritation from artificial or even natural scents, then this is a great option to consider.
Pros
- Bleach-free, non-toxic cleaner.
- No scrubbing required, you can save time and energy.
- No added fragrance — skip the irritation.
- Dissolves soap scum and leaves behind a streak-free finish.
- Works on ceramic, glass, plastic, chrome, and more.
Cons
- You may need to scrub if you have heavy build-up.
- It may lighten stone after repeated use.
Product Specs
Type | Liquid |
Surface | Glass, ceramic tile, fiberglass, natural stone, and more |
Scented | Unscented |
Removes What Stains | Soap scum |
Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Our Ratings
The Bucko Soap Scum and Grime Cleaner
Best Non-Toxic Soap Scum Remover
While many of our product recommendations are non-toxic, here’s another to add to the pile. The Bucko Soap Scum and Grime cleaner is a non-toxic, septic-safe liquid that is gentle on surfaces but tough on dirt. It contains no bleach, no strong acids, and no harsh chemicals.
You can use it for heavy-duty jobs or daily maintenance.
It works without the need for any scrubbing, so you can leave the elbow grease in the past. It also leaves a streak-free finish on your surfaces, ensuring no evidence of dirt at all.
Although it’s an eco-friendly formula, it’s a commercial-strength product. It can dissolve tough soap scum and grime, leaving behind a sparkling shine. Use this to remove hard water stains from glass shower doors, acrylic tubs, chrome fixtures, tile, grout, sinks, and even wheel rims!
Pros
- Lemon scent for a fresh-smelling home.
- Scrub-free cleaning.
- Multi-purpose — more bang for your buck.
- Non-toxic formula, safe for kids and pets.
- Effectively dissolves soap scum and grime.
- Commercial-strength formula.
Cons
- The scent is quite strong and overpowering.
- It’s on the pricier side.
Product Specs
Type | Liquid |
Surface | Shower, tub, tiles, grout, fiberglass, chrome wheel rims, and more |
Scented | Lemon |
Removes What Stains | Soap scum and grime |
Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Our Ratings
Tilex Disinfecting Soap Scum Remover Spray
Best for Tiles
Give your tiles new life with the Tilex soap scum remover spray. Soap scum can scruff up your shower tiles and make your whole bathing area look really grimy — not relaxing at all.
With this spray, not only are you removing soap scum stains, but you’re also disinfecting. It kills 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria, leaving your bathroom as clean as can be.
It also removes tough mold and mildew, substances nobody wants in their bathroom. Another awesome feature is that it brightens and whitens tiles and grout. Of course, if your tile and grout aren’t white, test in an inconspicuous area first to ensure that it doesn’t bleach a colored bathroom.
This product uses a bactericidal formula to lift soap scum, leaving your surfaces sparkling clean. It also deodorizes surfaces, so if you’ve got a bad bathroom smell you can’t budge, this might be just the product.
Pros
- Works well on a variety of surfaces.
- Cleans soap scum, mold, and mildew, and deodorizes surfaces.
- Kills 99.9 percent of bacteria and mold.
- Smart Tube technology to get every last drop of cleaner out of the bottle.
- Whitens grout and tile surfaces.
- Great product for commercial use.
Cons
- Some customers had issues with the bottle leaking.
- It may whiten your colored tiles.
Product Specs
Type | Spray |
Surface | Ceramic tile, grout, fiberglass, shower doors, and more |
Scented | Clean, fresh scent |
Removes What Stains | Soap scum, mold, and mildew |
Toxicity | It does contain harsh chemicals |
Our Ratings
ForceField ScumBlaster Industrial Strength
Best Spray Option
Spritz, spritz! If you’re looking for a spray option, this ForceField ScumBlaster is a great one to have on hand. It comes with a spray bottle plus a concentrated refill for when you run out.
It even includes a grout brush for deep cleaning between tiles and other hard-to-reach places. Remove every last speck of soap scum with this cleaner.
We love how versatile this product is. You can use it on a huge range of surfaces. This includes fiberglass, acrylic, plastic, glass, porcelain, vinyl, shower doors, grout, bathtubs, and much more.
The professional strength formula works to remove soap scum. It also removes hard water stains, mildew stains, and rust. So your bathroom will be so much cleaner than before, giving you back your favorite spa-like atmosphere.
You’ll also be happy to know that this eco-friendly formula works up to professional standards. It’s made without bleach or corrosive acids. Instead, it’s made with organic salt that works well to clean but is also safe for septic tanks.
Pros
- Long-lasting formula with included refill — save more money.
- Professional-grade cleaner.
- Works on a variety of surfaces to remove a variety of stains.
- Eco-friendly formula.
- The formula works quickly.
Cons
- The smell is overwhelming.
- It requires quite a bit of elbow grease.
Product Specs
Type | Spray with liquid refill |
Surface | Many, including acrylic, plastic, glass, porcelain, vinyl, and more |
Scented | Overwhelming scent, fragrance not specified |
Removes What Stains | Soap scum, hard water stains, rust, mildew |
Toxicity | Eco-friendly |
Our Ratings
Bio Clean: Eco Friendly Hard Water Stain Remover
Best Liquid Soap Scum Remover
The Bio Clean eco-friendly stain remover is a popular choice, especially for a liquid option. We love that it’s eco-friendly and non-toxic, so you can tackle hard stains without harsh chemicals tackling you back.
So if you’re looking for a safe but effective way to bring life back to stained surfaces, this is an excellent product.
It can remove years of hard water, mineral stains, and soap scum build-up. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by these stains, put this product to the test.
It also works for limescale, phosphorus, calcium, iron, acid rain, and paint stains! And with minimal scrubbing, so you don’t have to break an arm trying to remove the stains.
This works on shower doors, windows, tubs, and shower pans, as well as brick, concrete, tile, and grout. Its versatility is a huge bonus! You can even use this on glass stovetops to get rid of other stains.
Overall, this is a safe, effective, and non-toxic way to blast away soap scum and hard water stains.
Pros
- Eco-friendly and non-toxic.
- It can remove years of build-up.
- Works on hard water stains, soap scum, and other stains.
- Works on a variety of surfaces.
Cons
- Strong medicinal smells customers aren’t a massive fan of.
- It’s not very effective on shower doors.
Product Specs
Type | Liquid |
Surface | Shower doors (though not very effective), windows, tubs, shower pans, brick, concrete, tile, and grout |
Scented | Scent not specified, hit or miss for customers |
Removes What Stains | Hard water, soap scum, limescale, phosphorous, calcium, and more |
Toxicity | Eco-friendly |
Our Ratings
Better Life Natural Tub and Tile Cleaner
Best Budget Choice
You may notice the price of soap scum removers is a little high in the market of cleaning products. If you’re on a tighter budget, we can recommend the Better Life natural cleaner, which is slightly cheaper per fluid ounce even though you’re not buying it in bulk. So it’s not a huge upfront cost, but you’re still making good savings over time.
This dissolves hard water and soap scum stains on tubs and tiles while brightening your bathroom. You’ll walk into your bathroom next time and just be wowed by how spotless it looks!
One of the coolest things about this product is that even though it’s budget-friendly, it’s also made with plant-powered ingredients. No more harsh chemicals.
This is made from plant-derived cleaning agents from coconut, corn, and citrus. It contains no alcohols, petroleum solvents, synthetic fragrances, dyes, chlorine, bleach, SLS, or SLES.
Pros
- Plant-powered ingredients, more eco-friendly.
- Dissolves soap scum, hard water, and mineral deposits.
- Budget-friendly.
- Removes mold, mildew, and rust stains.
- Never tested on animals.
Cons
- A lot of customers disliked the scent.
- It requires quite a bit of scrubbing.
Product Specs
Type | Spray with liquid refill |
Surface | Tub and tile |
Scented | Tea tree and eucalyptus |
Removes What Stains | Soap scum, hard water, mineral deposits, mold, mildew, and rust |
Toxicity | Non-toxic, naturally derived ingredients |
Our Ratings
Bring It On Cleaner
Best for Glass Shower Doors
Take those glass shower doors from opaque to translucent with the Bring It On cleaner. This is specifically designed to work super well on shower doors, as well as other surfaces.
It’s been created to remove even the toughest stains, including hard water build-up, soap scum, and more. Finally, you can say goodbye to these stains and enjoy a spotless bathroom once again.
As well as hard water and soap scum, this product also removes calcium, mineral, and rust stains. So if you notice a build-up of these stains around your bathroom, you can use this product to remove them.
How does the product work? It’s an innovative cleaner that uses oxygen bleach as its active ingredient. Unlike chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach is non-toxic and safe for use on multiple surfaces. You can even use it around kids and pets.
Lastly, enjoy the fresh mint scent this cleaner has to offer. Not only will your bathroom look good, but it’ll also smell good.
Pros
- Multi-use cleaner that can be used on a range of surfaces.
- Removes many different types of stains.
- It works on tile and grout.
- Fresh mint scent.
- Uses detergents, abrasives, and oxygen bleach.
- Easy to apply.
Cons
- It requires a bit of scrubbing and elbow grease.
- The consistency is strange and thick. You should test in an inconspicuous spot as it is a bit abrasive.
Product Specs
Type | Liquid |
Surface | Showers, tubs, sinks, window, stone, and more |
Scented | Fresh mint |
Removes What Stains | Soap scum, hard water, calcium, rust, and grime |
Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Our Ratings
Bar Keepers Friend Hard Water Stain Remover Spray
Most Versatile
Many of our suggestions are versatile products that you can use to clean all kinds of surfaces and stains. Bar Keepers Friend stain remover is another to add to your watch list.
It is designed for just about any bathroom surface. This includes glass shower doors, mirrors, windows, tiles, toilets, stainless steel, granite, and more. So you can spruce up the whole bathroom with just this one product.
It effectively removes hard water stains and soap scum easily. Just apply it to the area, leave it for approximately 30 minutes, firmly scrub and then rinse away. You’ll be super impressed with the spotless results.
Customers love how quickly this product works, even on surfaces with years of build-up. If you think your shower doors or other surfaces are past the point of repair, think again because this product can change the game.
Pros
- Versatile product which works on many surface types.
- Gentle on surfaces, tough on stains.
- Works quickly.
- It’s great for heavy build-up.
- Includes a scrubber.
Cons
- The formula may irritate your skin.
- New formula isn’t as effective.
Product Specs
Type | Liquid |
Surface | Most bathroom surfaces |
Scented | None |
Removes What Stains | Hard water and soap scum stains |
Toxicity | Non-toxic |
Our Ratings
Ettore Water Spot Remover Paste
Best Paste
The Ettore Water Spot Remover Paste is a handy product if you prefer a paste cleaner.
It’s designed to remove water spots and soap scum, so if you live in a hard water area — this may be your lifesaver! It works on glass, shower doors, windows, tile, porcelain, and chrome. This is very versatile, so you’ll get a lot of use out of this one product.
Simply apply the paste onto the affected area with a damp cloth and rub quickly in circular motions. Rinse off with water. Keep in mind it is mildly abrasive, so test in an inconspicuous spot first to be sure to avoid damage.
Customers have used this on heavy-duty stains and found that with repeated use and elbow grease, the surface has looked as good as new. So yes, it does require a bit extra work, but if you want a paste — this is the way to go.
Please Note
Pros
- Removes hard water spots and soap scum.
- It works on a variety of surfaces.
- Easy to apply with a damp cloth.
- Ready to use — no mixing required.
Cons
- Requires quite a bit of elbow grease and, sometimes, repeated use.
- Slightly abrasive, so you do need to test in an inconspicuous spot.
Product Specs
Type | Paste |
Surface | Glass, shower doors, windows, tile, porcelain, and chrome |
Scented | None |
Removes What Stains | Hard water and soap scum stains |
Toxicity | Ingredients not specified |
Our Ratings
Product | Best | Type | Surface | Scented | Removes What Stains | Toxicity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CLR Pro Calcium & Lime Remover | For Heavy Soap Scum | Liquid | Multi-purpose | Lemon | Calcium, lime, hard water deposits, soap scum, discoloration & dirt | Eco-friendly |
Rejuvenate Scrub Free Soap Remover | No Scrubbing Required | Liquid | Glass, ceramic tile, fiberglass, stone | Unscented | Soap scum | Non-toxic |
The Bucko Soap Scum Cleaner | Non-Toxic Soap Scum Remover | Liquid | Shower, tub, tiles, grout, fiberglass, chrome wheel rims | Lemon | Soap scum & grime | Non-toxic |
Tilex Disinfecting Soap Spray | For Tiles | Spray | Ceramic tile, grout, fiberglass, shower doors | Clean, fresh scent | Soap scum, mold & mildew | Non-toxic |
ForceField ScumBlaster | Spray Option | Spray | Many, including acrylic, plastic, glass, porcelain, vinyl | N/A | Soap scum, hard water stains, rust, mildew | Eco-friendly |
Bio-Clean: Eco-Friendly Stain Remover | Liquid Soap Scrum Remover | Liquid | Shower doors, windows, tubs, shower pans, brick, concrete, tile & grout | N/A | Hard water, soap scum, limescale, phosphorous, calcium, & more | Eco-friendly |
Better Life Tub & Tile Cleaner | Budget Choice | Spray | Tub & tile | Tea tree & eucalyptus | Soap scum, hard water, mineral deposits, mold, mildew & rust | Non-toxic |
Bring It On Cleaner | For Glass Shower Doors | Liquid | Showers, tubs, sinks, window, stone & more | Fresh mint | Soap scum, hard water, calcium, rust, & grime | Non-toxic |
Bar Keepers Friend Spray | Versatile | Liquid | Most bathroom surfaces | Unscented | Hard water | Non-toxic |
Ettore Water Spot Remover Paste | Paste Soap | Paste | Glass, shower doors, windows, tile, porcelain & chrome | Unscented | Hard water & soap scum stains | N/A |
Types of Soap Scum Removers
Knowing the pros and cons of each type of soap scum remover can help you make the best decision for you.
Liquid
Liquid cleaners are top-rated as they’re easy to dissolve, and a little goes a long way. These liquid cleaners usually come in a bottle with either a small opening or a nozzle, so you can apply the cleaner to a sponge or cloth first before cleaning the soap scum.
Pros
- There are lots of options on the market.
- A little goes a long way.
- They’re good value for money.
- Quite a few eco-friendly options.
- They’re easy to apply and dissolve.
Cons
- You do need to apply it to a cloth first.
- It’s easier to spill the entire contents of the bottle.
- Some use quite toxic chemicals.
Spray
Spray soap scum removers are the easiest to use because you just squirt out the liquid. You can easily aim it where you want it to go. If you’re used to using spray surface cleaners, this will be a breeze for you to use!
Pros
- Easy to use.
- There are many options on the market.
- They’re affordable.
- Many are multi-purpose.
Cons
- Many are made with harsh cleaning chemicals.
- Nozzles can get stuck.
Paste
Paste soap scum removers are the least common, but many prefer them. You apply the paste to the affected area with a cloth or sponge, and it doesn’t drip. This concentrates the product on the soap scum for longer, which can enhance cleaning results.
Pros
- No drip, so you can apply it directly to the affected area for longer.
- Many are eco-friendly formulas.
- You don’t need to dilute it beforehand.
- Many are multi-purpose.
Cons
- There aren’t as many options on the market.
- You may have to use more for each clean, meaning a little doesn’t a long way.
- You’ll have to wear protective gloves to avoid getting it on your hand.
How to Choose
Before you start your shopping spree, be aware of these criteria. This will help you find the most suitable for your surface and preference.