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Why is your shower covered in soap scum? A cleaning expert recommends this $5 hack for crystal-clear doors

Better Homes & Gardens / Getty
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Getty

It’s not just for floor scuffs and wall marks.

It’s not just for floor scuffs and wall marks.

I hold my loo to a certain cleaning standard, and let’s just say the man I live with doesn’t know how to clean shower glass. Or tile. But now that a cleaning expert told me that the best soap scum remover for shower doors is this $5 hack, I’ll leave one right in his sink.

“In my experience, a melamine sponge, such as a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, is one of the most effective and affordable products for removing shower screen scum,” Lisa Macqueen, CEO of Cleancorp, a commercial cleaning company for offices, hospitality venues, and shared residential buildings, tells Better Homes & Gardens.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Whole Home 4-Pack

Mr Clean Magic Eraser Original Cleaning Pads Multi Purpose Cleaner
Credit: Amazon

$5 at Amazon

Most people use the miracle sponge for buffing out wall or floor scuffs, but Macqueen’s recommendation is an eye-opener. In fact, you probably already have a Magic Eraser under your sink, and if you don’t, it’s only $5 for a four-pack on Amazon. Since each Eraser can last up to 100 uses—well, you do the math.

As Macqueen explains, a Magic Eraser is made of melamine foam, a porous material that is water activated, gentle on surfaces, but tough on stains. And that includes soap scum stains.

“Soap scum has a waxy and clingy texture because it’s made from a mix of soap residue, body oil, and minerals from water,” Macqueen says. “Melamine sponges work because they provide fine mechanical abrasion that removes this film off from the glass without needing any harsh chemicals.”

Even if you’re already using a Magic Eraser on your shower doors, you could be making this common cleaning error. “The biggest mistake people make is cleaning dry glass,” Macqueen explains. “You should always dampen the surface first, then use light pressure in circular motions with the sponge. Rinse thoroughly and finish with a microfiber cloth or squeegee to prevent streaking, and get a beautiful finished product.”

The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Whole Home is hands-down the best soap scum remover for shower doors, but Macqueen says the product itself isn’t the key takeaway. Yes, keep it nearby, but most importantly, use it after every wash-down. 

“Most importantly, consistency beats intensity,” Macqueen says. “Wiping down the glass weekly prevents the heavy film that makes shower doors look permanently cloudy and gross. No one wants that. If you only adopt one habit, make it this: Keep a squeegee in the shower and use it after each time you shower. Preventing soap scum is much easier than removing it.”

Grab a four-pack of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Whole Home for $5 on Amazon, and keep scrolling for more shower cleaners below.

E-Cloth Glass and Polishing Cloth

E-Cloth Glass & Polishing Cloth
Credit: Amazon

$20 at Amazon

Alflod 2-Pack Shower Squeegees

ALFLOD Two Pack Shower Squeegee
Credit: Amazon

$13 $10 at Amazon

Rain-X 2-Pack Shower Door Water Repellent

Rain-X 630542 Shower Door Water Repellent
Credit: Amazon

$22 $21 at Amazon

Wet & Forget Shower Cleaner Spray

Wet & Forget Shower Cleaner Spray Multi-Surface
Credit: Amazon

$20 at Amazon

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