If you have a white or grayish film all over your bathroom, you have soap scum buildup. Anything from shower curtains to tiles can be affected, but when this substance enters your drains, you will need to call a plumber for drain cleaning. Below are a few ways to curb soap scum before plumbing gets clogged.

How to Stop a Soap Scum Problem

1. Regular Cleaning

Soap scum forms when minerals in water, specifically hard water, combine with soap and dirt, leaving behind a layer of gunk on bathroom surfaces. The best way to stop a buildup is regular cleaning to remove scum before it sets in. Over time, soap scum hardens and mixes with mold and mildew, making it incredibly difficult to purge.

2. Apply Wax & Salts

After cleaning your bathroom, apply a gel polish for bathrooms and kitchens, or even car wax. Soap scum has a harder time sticking to slick surfaces. The less soapy residue in your bathroom, the fewer chances that film will make its way into your drains and cause a blockage. Epsom salts also make it easier for residue to break down in your drain.

3. Switch Out Soap

Bar soap, specifically paraffin soap, tends to produce more residue than liquids or gels. Consider switching your soap to shower gels and liquids or synthetic soap options to reduce how much scum is produced with each shower or bath.

4. Boil Water

If you notice a buildup forming, boil water and pour it right down your drain to melt any residue hanging around the trap and pipes. After dumping boiling water, run your faucet or shower at its hottest to ensure anything remaining is washed away with ease.

5. Add Baking Soda

Baking soda is a fantastic way to break up soap scum that is threatening your drains and pipes. One teaspoon of baking soda to a gallon of water should help stave off a call to the plumber. If that does not work, bump up to two teaspoons. Baking soda will also freshen your drains.

6. Install a Mesh Trap

Mesh traps will catch soap scum before it can make its way into your plumbing. It also catches dirt, debris, and hair, which are the other major culprits of clogged pipes. Mesh traps are easy to clean and replace when they begin to degrade.

When you need the help of a professional plumber in Lakeville, MN, trust Drain Pro Plumbing. Since 1988, their plumbers have helped residential and commercial customers with anything from drain cleaning and clogged pipes to sump pumps and water softeners. Their team brings more than 50 years of combined experience to every job, and their affordable rates and top-notch customer care earned them the 2018 Angie's List Super Service Award. Call (952) 469-6999 for emergency plumbing services or contact them online.