Really, if you think leaves too much, there is no bar soap to use LOL. Dove and Lever leave the least soap scum - not much tub or tile buildup. I'm very picky about my tile shining, and neither of those work me nearly as much as other bars. I should insert that I have only used pink Dove for the past 12 or 13 years. Haven't used the white, so I don't know about that one. Just bought 4 bars yesterday, so I'll see. Coast is the absolute worst. Stopped using Lever after they took out the scent.

Really, if you think Dove leaves too much

Missed it after I proofed it. Dang

Could it be your water? I've used Dove for as long as I can remember and I sure don't see a problem w/ it leaving scum. I wouldn't give up Dove soap for anything!

I never have a bathtub ring problem with either Dove or Caress....original Zest (for ones who prefer a deodorant bar) is the best for leaving no ring.....Coast, Dial and Irish Spring or the WORST I've seen for "scum-i-ness". I'm with Vannie...could be a hard water problem.....

~Kathy~

I'm finding that the liquid soaps leave less residue then the bar soap.

ML

Forgot about Caress. Kathy's right, it doesn't leave much soap scum either. I had to stop using it 20 or so years ago because of my allergy. I have eczema and the oil in Caress irritated me something awful. I really liked the soap though.

Zest, however, does not clean. I couldn't believe how dirty my light-colored drying towel was after showering with Zest. I stepped my butt back into the shower and used whatever liquid soap I had. They never promised Zest will clean you, only that it won't leave soap scum on you.

And if there are musty underarms, they will still be musty. LOL

Liquid soap doesn't leave all that scum behind. Took me awhile to convince DH to change but he finally did and it really made a difference.

Linda

I have a chocolate brown shower/bathtub combo. The only thing not leaving scum is liquid soap.

All others do leave a really visible soap rest.

Moni

There was a discussion about this topic on one of the other forums (maybe kitchen or bath) and several people said that liquid soap has a different make up and doesn't leave scum. One fellow was a chemist and he went into a lengthy explanation about the differences - bottom line - he said to use a liquid soap too.

I know about liquid soap, but I just don't like to use it. So I guess our hard water is most the problem?

shequit makes an excellent point. I don't know about the product she mentioned, but we actually applied boat wax to our tubs/showers when we moved in. About a one-minute swipe after each use is all it takes to keep it looking new.

Hard water definitely could be your problem.

I use a product called Shower Shine by Scrubbing Bubbles. I spray down the sides of the shower after I'm done. It seems to help a lot.

PS.. another Dove bar soap user here. AND we have hard water. Double whammy :(

I battle Bath Scum on my old pitted tub. Thanks for all the info.

Gayle

Don't know if it is available in your area, but I used to use a bar soap called VEL. It's the only one I ever found that didn't leave soapscum. Had to quit using it, made my husband itch.

Nancy

Nannybird....my Grandmother always used Vel....a nice creamy soap....I love it. Too bad your DH had a problem with it. Its still available at a few stores here. Love it and Sweetheart soap (my favorite).

~Kathy~

Sweetheart soap is such a pretty bar. Woodbury soap was great with my allergies, but it is no longer available too.

Lever 2000 leaves soap scum in the tub.

After seven years, Sheilajoyce has probably made a decision on the soap. :-)

That's a long time to go with no shower. With the drought, she'll have to wait even longer once she decides what soap to use.

I don't think body wash leave a scum

Bar soaps leave that nasty white scum. Body wash does not, But my hubby will not stray from his Irish Spring bar soap!

Hellion, I had the same problem but was eventually able to convince him to use the Irish Spring body wash. I explained how much easier it would be to clean the shower without all that scum. Good luck.

I trade between using liquid soap and Ivory bar soap in a stone (slate) shower. I was warned about soap scum but I spray the shower with hot water afterwards and it was never an issue, until I started using Redkin hair conditioner! Never noticed it with other conditioners but Redkin is like a fabric softener and has so much wax in it, that even hosing it down doesn't get it all off. So it's not always the soap that's the problem.

For that very reason, I myself was encouraged to try the Irish Spring body wash. I found it left an unpleasant slippery feeling as if it were difficult to rinse off. So much for that. A happy compromise we've moved on to is any one of a number of french-milled type soaps, they seem to leave less of a film.

I gave up on bar soap until I discovered Amish Farms soap - this product is all natural and leaves my skin feeling wonderful AND no scum in the tub!

http://amishfarmssoap.com/

bath and shower gel does leave soap scum! Some more than others. I've heard it's the lanolin that causes the build up. If anyone finds one that doesn't leave scum, please advise!

DH uses plain glycerin soap, having become allergic to others about five years ago. At home I use Aveno body wash. I just bought some Dial 'Spring Water' body wash to use here on Maui, where I 'perspire' more (sniff, sniff). I think the Dial could be used to wash dishes; it leaves the tub sparkling. (Me, not so much.)

Other than different soaps, hard water is a major culprit for scum build up. A good water softener set to combat the harness component and amount in your water is very helpful in reducing scum - and greatly improves hair washing.

I realize this is an old thread, but jemdandy hit the nail on the head. Hard water is the culprit. Just study the chemistry of soap and detergent and how it's made and how it reacts in hard water and you will solve the issue with soft water. Most bath bars are actually a detergent, which work good/better/best in hard water over soap. It's the same reason people used rainwater (collected in rain barrels) to rinse their hair and clothes pre-WWII - rainwater doesn't have the minerals in it that ground water has.

Yes, I do have hard water. That is the culprit. I find that a Magic Eraser and either a blob of shampoo or Dawn does the trick on the shower.

I understand that some water systems supply very hard water. Ours is at the medium point but I myself would never have a water softener installed. I hate the feeling that softened water produces, of being unable to rinse off soap and shampoo when showering. And making the shower floor slippery.

We once bought a house that had a water softener installed. The seller had commented that the water in that area was very hard. I activated the bypass after a week and then had it removed. Some hotels have overly soft water too. I make a mental note of those so that I can stay elsewhere on any return visit to the area.

Hard water can often taste better to drink because various minerals contribute to the flavor. Some water bottlers add minerals to the product for that very reason. Try drinking distilled water sometime, it's tasteless and not very enjoyable. The spring water we buy to drink is loaded with minerals and is very flavorful.

Ditto regarding resurrecting old threads. Better to start a new conversation if the old one is getting moldy.

My wife and I use different soaps. My preference is Irish Spring bar soap, and hers is Bath gel , but uses only goats milk soap for her face. It seems here is hard water everywhere we travel to, and so I talked her into putting Rainex on the shower doors and walls, It made a huge difference.

They say to use body was for less or no scum

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

Well I didn't realize how old this thread was until I read I comment I wrote back in 2008 under my previous sign in name!