Very simply, do NOT use bar soap. Use liquid soap only. Bar soap contains animal fat fillers and it is this that produces soap "scum." Anytime I do a tile shower for a customer, that is the advice I give them. In addition, either squeegee or towell the walls dry when you're done. If you do this, the shower will last forever.

If you must use bar soap I've read that Zest is best at not leaving soap scum.

I might have to take back my last post. I just googled some info on Zest, and it seems that it no longer is the same formula.

Here is an old thread on soap scum.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia article on Zest

I've always been a Zest fan. We have about 90 of the 4.5 oz "old formulation" bars on hand in the bathroom pantry.

It's a pity if the article is true and they did indeed change the formulation.

Still Zest-fully clean,

Mongo

It's true alright. This change appears to be the personal hygiene industry equivalent of New Coke. I have not seen a single positive comment about this change. And now my shower is destined to be scummy. Rats.

Argh! Why did I read this?

I have so much bar soap in the linen closet...maybe I should just drop it off at a shelter or something when my renovation is done. Every time I see a bar of soap, I'm going to think about animal fat. Bleck!

My goodness, I had no idea. Will any liquid soap do? DH has skin allergies so I am limited to very mild soaps (like unscented Dove bar soap). I hope I won't have to choose between the health of my husband's skin and the cleanliness of my new shower. :-)

And while we're on the topic of keeping our glorious new tile clean :-) I wonder what else is good to do? I do have a squeegee and have been using that after each shower. My excellent tile guy also wanted to recommend a spray that can be used regularly to keep mildew etc at bay, but he couldn't remember the name. Does anyone here know of such a thing?

Dial Clean Rinse is very nice but not a first choise for sensitive skin.

may be a myth but i think clear glycerine soap doesn't leave soap scum... at least i've never had a problem with it. i buy mine from the Body Shop.

lisa

Here is a link that might be useful: mango soap

What about the Dr Bronners's Castille bar soaps. They are made with vegetable based fats?

I just discovered these liquid and bar soaps and use them for both personal and household use and would think they would minimize scum???

Here is a link that might be useful: Dr Bronners

While I'm not certain, I believe that Dove uses no animal fat as a binder. Aside that, almost any good liquid soap is fine. Me? VITABATH FOREVER!!

With the new bathrooms I only allow liquid soap and just what - no soap scum what so ever! What a breeze to clean. We love - Neutrogena rainbath in the large pump bottle.

From what I've read it's the talc in bar soap that creates the scum.

From everything what

Used to be that Zest was the go-to brand for no-scum bar soap. The name was bought by another brand, and now it is one of the scummiest. Ick. I have found that Lever 2000 is a good quality, inexpensive bar soap that leaves virtually no scum.