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No, soap scum doesn’t cause mildew, but the two substances often appear in the same spots. If soap scum is left to sit long enough and if the area stays damp, mildew and mold can grow on top of it. When these fungi combine with soap scum, your surface can become discolored, grimier, smelly, and more difficult to clean.

Yes, if you’re strapped for supplies, boiling hot water can be a great alternative for getting rid of soap scum. However, as this method calls for a bit of soaking, it’s best used when cleaning your bathroom sink or bath basin (or on small objects you can submerge). All you have to do is plug your sink or bathtub drain and pour in enough boiling water to cover the soap scum. Allow it to soak for five minutes, drain, and follow up with an additional hot water rinse to remove any lingering residue.

While you might get away with once-monthly vacuuming in rooms you hardly use, it’s not ideal in other parts of your home. Your living spaces will look untidy, and leaving all that dirt lying around is not the most hygienic. Plus, the longer abrasive debris sits on your surfaces, the more chance of scratches or damage to carpet fibers. 

You can always use a homemade vinegar solution as a natural alternative to commercial cleaning products. To make and use a vinegar cleaning solution, fill a spray bottle with equal parts white distilled vinegar and warm water. Spray the solution liberally across the tub surface. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping it down with a non-abrasive sponge or cleaning cloth, then rinse with clean water. If a line of soap scum is still visible, spray it with the vinegar solution. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to gently scrub the residue away before wiping it down and rinsing again.