Soap scum is a combination of soap, bacteria, dead skin, and body oils that builds up builds up on showers and bathtubs.

This waxy film can often be difficult to remove, if you don't have the right products.

Throughout my cleaning career, I have cleaned a lot of showers and tubs -- many times without great success. But over time, I've found what I consider to be the best products and methods for soap scum removal.

Trying to choose a good cleaner can be a hassle because the store shelves are full of so many different cleaners, and a lot of them basically do the same thing.

Personally, I clean about 200 homes in a year's time -- not including my own home. So I use a lot of cleaning products.

I have tried a variety of different cleaning products, but I usually stick to the ones that I think are the best. 

These household cleaners work the best, in my opinion:

Got an email from a visitor to this site the other day:

I'm hoping you could give us some insight here. Our son used a permanent purple hair dye, and very badly stained our vinyl tub surround [it's BRAND new] that is only 6 months old. We no longer have the manufacturers info on the tub, so ANY help you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for having the site. -- M.W.

Since I seem to be on a mission to document every possible way that Magic Erasers can be used to solve unique problems around the house (see below), I thought I'd share.

Perhaps others can use this info, should you happen to get a bad stain in a bathroom tub surround.

According to The Family Handyman (February 2006), the top upgrades and remodeling projects for bathrooms are:

1. Whirlpool tubs.
"Water-jet" tubs ($800 to $8,000) provide a more powerful water stream. "Air-jet" tubs ($1,200 to $20,000) massage by blasting air through tiny holes. When it comes to whirlpool tubs, some people prefer the tingle of air massage; others find it too gentle. Air-jet tubs are often louder and incoming air cools the water faster.

Did you know?...
When you look at prices for whirlpool tubs, remember to add at least $200 for the faucet, plumbing and electrical supplies. You may also want to replace your water heater, since you'll need one with a heater capacity at about 75% of the tub's capacity.

2. Soap & shampoo dispensers.
Push-button dispensers mean less clutter, more convenience, and quicker cleaning. Many even dispense three or four different liquids (soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion) from one mechanism. You can either screw it to the wall or fasten it with double-sided adhesive tape.

Did you know?...
Many shower soap dispensers have indicators on the side to let you know when it's time to refill -- before getting into the shower and finding out that they're empty.