Does Talc Cause Stains on Fiberglass Showers?

About Talc

• Talc is the softest of all of the minerals on the opposite end of the hardness scale from diamond. It forms naturally in the ground in the United States and other parts of the world, where it is mined for commercial purposes. Although it is most often associated with baby powder, talc is used in many common materials, from rubber to paint, shingles, foam, and even some food and medical products.

Talc in Soap

• Talc is a common filler in commercial deodorant soap. It absorbs oils, both in the soap and on the skin, and it makes the soap firmer, heavier and more long lasting. Not all commercial soaps contain talc. Some moisturizing soaps, beauty bars and pure white soaps are talc free and widely available. Soap, like food products, must include a list of ingredients on the packaging, so it's easy to spot the talc-containing soaps.

How Soap Scum Builds Up

• As you bathe, the water and soap work together creating foam that helps dissolve dirt and oils on the skin. Minerals in the water, such as calcium and magnesium, separate from the soap and water mixture. If you have hard water with a high mineral concentration, the separated material gradually builds up on the fiberglass as soap scum. Talc joins with the calcium and magnesium in the water instead of rinsing away.

Removing Soap Scum

• With regular cleaning, soap scum is easy to remove with any commercial bathroom cleaner. If it's allowed to build up, removing it requires more work. Sponge an acid-based abrasive cleaner mixed with hot water on the fiberglass, let it sit for several minutes, and then scrub it with a nylon scrub brush and rinse. If soap scum remains on the fiberglass, use a calcium and rust-removing product, available at hardware stores.