A great trick to clean bathroom tiles from soap scum and water stones.

1. Mix the Solution

In a small bowl, combine the baking soda and dishwashing detergent first. Slowly add the vinegar and lemon juice (it will fizz—this is normal!). Finally, stir in the toothpaste until you have a thick, consistent paste.

2. Prepare the Surface

Remove any loose hair or debris from the bathtub or shower floor. For the best results, lightly dampen the tiles with warm water to help open up the “pores” of the grout.

3. Apply and Scrub

Using a sponge (as shown in the images), apply a generous layer of the paste to the stained areas. Use the abrasive side of the sponge for heavy water stones and the soft side for general soap scum on the tile faces.

4. The “Secret” Soak

For deep orange or brown stains (like those in the “before” photos), let the paste sit for 15–20 minutes. This allows the vinegar and lemon juice to chemically dissolve the mineral bonds.

5. Rinse and Dry

Rinse thoroughly with warm water. For a streak-free finish, wipe the tiles down with a dry microfiber cloth.

Recent Articles

The ring you choose reflects your personality.

Pecan Cream Pie

Cases are on the rise

My 9-year-old daughter baked 300 Easter cookies for the homeless — the next morning, a stranger showed up at our door with a briefcase full of cash. My daughter, Ashley, has always had a heart too big for her chest. Since my wife died, we’ve barely been making ends meet. We spent everything we had trying to save her from cancer. But when Easter came this year, Ashley told me she’d been saving up her own money to buy ingredients. “For the homeless,” she said. Her mom used to be one of them. She was thrown out by her parents when they found out she was pregnant with Ashley. When I met her, she had nothing — but she had the brightest smile and the sharpest mind I had ever seen. I fell in love with her. I took her and Ashley in. And from that moment on, Ashley became my daughter in every way that matters. So when Ashley said she wanted to help people like her mom once was… I didn’t stop her. For three nights straight, after school and homework, she baked. Her little hands worked nonstop. She found her mom’s old cookie recipe. She rolled every piece of dough herself. She decorated every cookie. She made three hundred cookies. On Easter, she handed them out one by one. She looked people in the eyes. She wished them a Happy Easter. Some of them smiled. Some of them cried. I stood there thinking it was the proudest moment of my life. I thought that was the end of it. The next morning, I was washing a mountain of dishes when the doorbell rang. I opened the door. An older man stood there in a worn-out suit, holding a scratched aluminum briefcase. His eyes were locked on Ashley. Before I could ask anything, he set the case down and opened it. I froze. Stacks of hundred-dollar bills — more money than I had ever seen in my life. “I saw what your daughter did yesterday,” he said, his voice shaking. “I want to give all of this to her.” My heart skipped. Then he added: “But you have to agree to ONE CONDITION.” My chest tightened. “What condition?” I asked. He stepped closer. He lowered his voice. And what he asked for in return made my blood run cold.