Cleaning and Stain Removal - Soap Scum and Mineral Buildup in Shower Stall

I have a shower stall with acrylic or 'cultured marble' sides, sliding glass doors and a heavy duty plastic pan. The sides, doors and the shower pan all have what I believe is a large buildup of soap scum and mineral stains. Is there anything that you can recommend that will clean the shower without damaging the glass, cultured marble or plastic pan? Thank you in advance for your reply.

There are many very good commercial cleaning products available that remove scum and mineral deposits and that are nonabrasive. Proceed with caution on aluminum shower door frames and fixtures as some products can discolor and etch and damage finish. Read directions and precautions carefully. Most require giving product time to dissolve soap scum and mineral deposits. Repeat applications are necessary if build-up is severe.

Two old-fashioned powdered cleansers that are effective are BarKeeper's Friend and Zud. Both contain rust remover. Many recommend CLR (Calcium, Lime, Rust Remover) or The Works and others.

To prevent soap scum and mineral stains, once clean, keep cultured marble shower walls waxed with Gel Gloss, auto wax, or other product that will seal and provide sheeting action. Wiping shower after using with chamois or squeegie is recommended along with weekly cleaning. Switching to liquid shower gel is helpful, as bar soaps tend to contain talc which contributes to scum buildup. If water has a high mineral content, a filter system may be necessary.

Same situation here - I use Zud. Be warned, if the scum is bad (as it sounds like it is), there's a lot of elbow grease involved. My boss has been using that sprayer they're advertising on tv where you hang it from your shower head and then turn it on once you're done showering and it sprays cleaner all over the shower. He says it works pretty well and I'm going to pick one up this weekend. Can't for the life of me remember who makes it or what it's called, I just remember what it looks like.

The thing you hang from shower head is called Scrubbing Bubbles, I think its great!
It will clean over time, but I found if you clean your shower really well before installing Scrubbing Bubbles it will keep your shower cleaner longer over time.

Mark_ms

Price the refills before purchasing. In addition, many report damage to finish on faucets. If wiping shower after use sounds like too much work, you can put a bottle of the daily shower spray in the shower and mist after each use. Just takes a second. And, if you purchase it at the Dollar Store, it's cost is minimal compared to the Scrubbing Bubbles and its refills and is just as effective.

Do not expect either Scrubbing Bubbles or a daily shower mist to clean the shower. You must start with a clean shower. These interim cleaners are not substitutes for weekly cleaning, they help minimize the buildup. Buildup occurs because it is allowed to do so.