Browse Forums Bathrooms and Laundry Removing soap scum build-up 81Apr 01, 2011 9:35 am First I tried the vinegar, did absolutely nothing. Next was a tile and grout cleaner containing diluted acid. This stuff made the tiles so slippery I almost fell over. Also, and I freaked out when this happened, it bought out the soap scum that wasn't even visible before....not happy Jan. So now I had some white tiles same as you Southies. Got out my trusty White King foam bleach and sprayed all over the floor tiles and worked it in with a rubber broom. Left for 5 mins and rinsed. White tiles still there. Sprayed only white soap scum tiles with foam bleach and scrubbed with a scourer and then with a magic eraser which has a pink side on it for harder cleaning : soap scum ALL GONE!!!!!! Re: Removing soap scum build-up 82Apr 02, 2011 7:59 pm suh First I tried the vinegar, did absolutely nothing. Next was a tile and grout cleaner containing diluted acid. This stuff made the tiles so slippery I almost fell over. Also, and I freaked out when this happened, it bought out the soap scum that wasn't even visible before....not happy Jan. So now I had some white tiles same as you Southies. With this problem now being so evident, I can now see that the fall in the shower is not done well . Where the white stains are, is where the sudsy water sits or drains away veeeerrrry slowly Quote: Got out my trusty White King foam bleach and sprayed all over the floor tiles and worked it in with a rubber broom. Left for 5 mins and rinsed. White tiles still there. Quote: Sprayed only white soap scum tiles with foam bleach and scrubbed with a scourer and then with a magic eraser which has a pink side on it for harder cleaning : soap scum ALL GONE!!!!!! Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Removing soap scum build-up 83Apr 02, 2011 8:06 pm Domestos is fine, I use it all the time, even on white t-shirts that have a stain, I just rub it it and wash seperately, the stains come straight out, just get a soft brush, from the supermarket or bunnings. Removing soap scum build-up 84Apr 02, 2011 9:19 pm The scourers are ones I use on my pots, very gentle non scratching types. There were no marks left on my tiles Southies and I use the foam because it seems to sit nice and thick on the stain not running away. As you say, it can't be any worse Re: Removing soap scum build-up 85Apr 03, 2011 8:41 am Hey thats what we do Suh( DW actually) Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Removing soap scum build-up 87Apr 03, 2011 6:03 pm Southies, I feel so sad for you that you still have the problem When you do actually get rid of it, how do you prevent it from happening again do you think? We're going to be having darker floor tiles too Building an Eden Brae Saville 27 http://karry327.blogspot.com/ Building thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=44247 Re: Removing soap scum build-up 88Apr 03, 2011 7:44 pm karry327 When you do actually get rid of it, how do you prevent it from happening again I was thinking the same thing myself karry 327 I guess it'll be a matter of plenty of 'elbow grease' . So much for building a modern, low maintenance house - ha! Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Removing soap scum build-up 89Apr 03, 2011 8:36 pm Exactly! Not to mention the "modern" gas SS cooktops I guess polished porcelain would not have these problems? But they would be more slippery ... Where did all the good old tiles disappear?! My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Removing soap scum build-up 90Apr 04, 2011 9:47 pm Hi, just came across an ad in a bathroom mag - no idea if this product is any good but the ad describes your problem to a tea! www.handihome.com.au You just popped to mind when I read it.....so I posted it!!! Rebecca Custom Build with Kersbrook Constructions - SA https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37762 Current Status: Handover on Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Re: Removing soap scum build-up 91Apr 16, 2011 11:19 am Southies Hey all.........I'm back with NO solution to the problem DH refused to try acid on the marks. He didn't htink it'd make any difference. So the tiles stay as is, unless someone comes up with a miracle suggestion OR we get teh shower base re-tiled. Like that'll happen any time soon - Not!!! GP, could I have caused the problem by my varied attempts at cleaning the tiles ? Commercial tile cleaner, CLR, scourer, AJAX, etc............not necessarily in that order ??? Sorry have been away for while, No I do not think using what you have already has caused this problem the problem is the qualitity of the tile, there are some cheapy tile manufactures these days and the tile surfaces can get etched by hard water deposits just like your shower screen glass and tile. I am unsure what you can do to fix this besides replacing the floor tiles, I am also unsure but have you tried magic cook top glass stove cleaner yet it may work, if you have tried everything than yes replacement is the only option. Craig Re: Removing soap scum build-up 93Apr 19, 2011 12:20 pm suh The scourers are ones I use on my pots, very gentle non scratching types. There were no marks left on my tiles Southies and I use the foam because it seems to sit nice and thick on the stain not running away. As you say, it can't be any worse thanks for the advice suh! But no luck - it didn't make one iota of difference Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Removing soap scum build-up 94Apr 19, 2011 12:21 pm rebeccaT Hi, just came across an ad in a bathroom mag - no idea if this product is any good but the ad describes your problem to a tea! http://www.handihome.com.au You just popped to mind when I read it.....so I posted it!!! thanks RebeccaT - but I've pretty much given up, having tried everything. Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Removing soap scum build-up 95Apr 19, 2011 12:25 pm Grout Perfect Sorry have been away for while, No I do not think using what you have already has caused this problem the problem is the quality of the tile, there are some cheapy tile manufactures these days and the tile surfaces can get etched by hard water deposits just like your shower screen glass and tile. I am unsure what you can do to fix this besides replacing the floor tiles, I am also unsure but have you tried magic cook top glass stove cleaner yet it may work, if you have tried everything than yes replacement is the only option. Craig You know GP, my DH says the same thing - cheap tile . I should have expected as much, choosing from EB's builder's range So much for trying to keep within budget ! sometimes it pays to upgrade DH says that the only solution is tile replacement, but I'd imagine the same thing would happen At the moment, this issue is in the 'too hard' basket ! I'm truly over it ! Thanks all for your input! Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Removing soap scum build-up 97Apr 20, 2011 7:43 am That's so disappointing, Southies. We have a bit of light discolouration on our shower floor tiles - I'm going to attack it next week and see what I can do. I remember we had a problem with the polymarble shower bases in our old place discolouring too. Must be something in the water. I managed to get that off with a lot of scrubbing and a lot of trial and error. Hopefully I can shift this too. Re: Removing soap scum build-up 98Apr 23, 2011 6:17 pm I have found Domestos to work best. I usually squirt it around, spread it around the entire shower with a cloth. Then I wait around 20 minutes and wipe it down and rinse it off. I find that works really well. Custom downslope build Build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=61873 Blog http://www.buildingroyalmanor.blogspot.com.au Re: Removing soap scum build-up 99May 13, 2011 10:29 pm Has anybody had any success with DIY sealants? I'm particularly interested in something this is easy to apply. I'm worried about build-up in the back corners of the wall recess in the shower. For general shower cleaning, I've found the White King Foam the best although it's awful to use, I feel like I need to wear a gas mask. Re: Removing soap scum build-up 100Sep 01, 2011 3:40 pm We have a large frameless shower screen and I tried sugar soap and while it did an OK job, it was not great + I slipped over in the shower since it was so slippery even though it was well diluted. I'm pleased to say I have just found a product from Aldi called Powerforce professional, a bathroom cleaner and it is brilliant. You spray it on and can rinse it off after 10 minutes (I gave it a wipe over with a sponge) and for thicker soap scum (I have not cleaned the screen for ages), I gave it a light scrub with a white plastic scourer so it does not scratch the glass. Works a treat and costs less than $3.00! 6 11153 The best advice is for you to get a competent building consultant to guide you through your build 7 4689 Thank you so much everyone. This all makes a lot of sense. I guess when you talk to a builder who butters up everything to look very polished, you get to start believing… 7 17629 |