Removing Soap Scum & Orange Stains in Shower Surrounds

Jul 19, 2022

Eew! Why is my shower orange?? here are four common causes of Orange stains in shower areas, and how to deal with them.

From the type of shampoo and shower products your family uses, to hard water in your area, orange stains in shower areas are a common occurrence. The more you know about what causes them, the easier it will be to keep the stains from cropping up. In most cases, the issue comes down to regular shower cleaning, but what you use for each issue may differ.

What Are the Orange Stains in My Shower?

Soap Scum

Soap scum is commonly a whitish color, but can also appear as an orange, yellow, or gray film in your shower area. This waxy film will continue to build up over time, and can harbor mold and mildew, so removing soap scum regularly will make it easier to manage and prevent additional issues.

Hard Water

Water hardness is based on concentrations of calcium and magnesium in your local water supply, which varies heavily by region. Improveit’s Central Ohio customers, for instance, have some of the hardest water in the country, while the water is softer for customers in southern Ohio and most of Kentucky. Over time, these excess minerals can stain the finishes of your tub and shower with an orange tint.

Iron in the Water

Often found in areas that use well water, excess iron your shower water can come from naturally occurring iron deep in the ground. As these iron particles are pulled to the surface and exposed to oxygen, they turn a rusty red that can stain your bathroom fixtures.

“The material is VERY easy to clean. Everything looks so great and looks high quality. We've had nothing but compliments and love showing it off. I would buy from them again (in fact we are having some windows replaced by them) and would recommend them highly. The install team was also willing to go the extra mile to make sure that we were happy and it was done right.”

“My experience was great. My new tub and shower is very nice and I really like it. It is so easy to clean.”

“I had my tub and tile replaced. It looks beautiful! It was more expensive than I had imagined it would be, but my worker did a thorough job, replacing the wall behind the tub with anti mold treated dry wall, removing all of the old stuff, and cleaning up carefully after the work. Do expect the work to take 2 days, and you are supposed to not use it for 24 hours afterward so it can fully seal.”

“We are very satisfied with our bath remodel. We already had the area done several years ago and the mold was becoming a problem. Your guarantee made our decision easy to go with Improveit. Our first contact was with your salesman Mark. He was very easy to work with. When Duke showed up to do the work, we were very pleased that he was so knowledgable in what he was doing. He cleaned up his work are every day before he left. He has a great sense of humor, which we liked. We are happy how everything turned out and would highly recommend Improveit for any type of remodeling that they can do.”

Pink Mold

Though not technically a “mold,” a common strain of airborne bacteria called Serratia marcescens can cause pink or red substance to form on your bathroom fixtures under the right conditions. The bacteria itself is often found in both water and dirt, so it’s no surprise that pink mold develops where family members bathe. The bacteria produces a pink pigment when fatty particles and wet conditions combine, such as in areas around the bathtub where soaps and shampoo particles collect. Though common, untreated Serratia marcescens can cause health concerns ranging from infections to respiratory illness, to gastrointestinal ailments.

how to clean Orange Stains in Shower Areas & REmove soap scum

As mentioned, regular cleaning will help deter orange stains from building up in your bath and shower, but using the right combination of cleaning products can help remove existing stains.

In addition to mild cleaners like Formula 409, many household ingredients are useful for cleaning these stains. A 1-to-1 ratio of water to white vinegar can help remove all of the stains mentioned above. For tough stains, or when scrubbing stained grout, try using a paste made from equal parts salt, baking soda, and vinegar.

Heavier stains or harsh conditions may call for stronger chemicals including bleach or ammonia, or readily available cleaning solutions like CLR.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE OF CAUTION:

NEVER combine bleach and ammonia! The solutions create a toxic gas called chloramine that can cause dangerous respiratory damage. Additionally, be sure to read all manufacturer instructions when using any of the cleaning options above. Abrasive cleaners, including baking soda, can wear down shower finishes and may void your warranty. You can find a full list of approved and unapproved acrylic cleaning solutions here.

The Best Way to Get an Easy Clean Shower – Permanently

If you’re tired of removing soap scum with lots of scrubbing and elbow grease, or the orange shower stains no longer come clean, it’s probably time for a bathroom update.

Acrylic shower walls are the best way to get an easy clean shower permanently.

Unlike porous tile and grout that harbor mold, mildew, bacteria, and minerals that stain your shower, Improveit’s acrylic shower walls and tub surrounds are impermeable and feature special protective layers to prevent pesky orange stains.

With smooth, non-porous surfaces, acrylic makes the ultimate easy clean shower material! No matter the color or pattern you choose, Improveit’s acrylic shower walls wipe clean with soap and water (or anything else on our list of approved cleaners.)

Call us today to learn more about the benefits of acrylic over tile and grout, and then get the freedom from scrubbing that thousands of other Improveit customers already enjoy! We can’t wait to give you the easy clean shower of your dreams!