5 surprising things you can clean with shaving foam

A trusty stalwart of all bathroom cabinets – shaving foam is an essential bathroom body care component if you choose to remove your hair. But what about using it for cleaning?

This may sound bizarre, but most shaving foams on the market contain 20 to 30 percent soap, with surfactants and emulsifiers thrown in for good measure, all mixed together in a handy, foaming format.

Here, I spoke to professional cleaners for their cleaning tips on how to use shaving foam to clean around the home, as well as giving a viral hack a go of my own. It turns out it's affordable, effective, and efficient for cleaning – and a suitable soap solution for kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

5 surprising things you can clean with shaving foam

Much like cleaning with vinegar or cleaning with baking soda, it often pays to raid your pantry or bathroom cabinet for some cleaning inspiration. As with any cleaning hack, however, you should always test it on a small, inconspicuous spot first to make sure the foam doesn't stain or damage your surfaces.

1. Carpets

Does shaving foam clean carpets? According to Alessandro Gazzo, a professional cleaner at Emily's Maids, it's a surprising solution to clean a carpet without a machine.

He says, 'Shaving foam is good for spot cleaning stains in your carpet floors. Apply a bit of foam, and let it sit for five or ten minutes, before blotting with a damp cloth and clean water until you've removed the stain.'

Importantly, Gazzo advises that it's important to make sure you use shaving foam, rather than gel, and that shaving foam is not used for cleaning large surfaces, or anything bigger than the palm of your hand.

Gazzo continues, 'If you do, you will need an extractor [such as a carpet cleaning machine] to make sure the shaving foam is properly removed from the surface. Otherwise, your fabric will be filled with soap residue, and that's going to attract even more dirt.'

2. Suede

It's one of the most common, stylish and luxury home materials, but it can be difficult to know how to clean suede fabric without damaging it.

Carolina Kazimierski, co-owner and president of Sophia's Cleaning Service, says, 'Shaving foam is surprisingly good at breaking down grease and oils stains in my experience! Especially for suede, which is a more delicate material that's sensitive to moisture, shaving foam can be a great alternative to cleaning with water and soap.'

It's suitable for clothing, couches and washing couch cushions without damaging them, particularly when paired with a soft-bristled brush, such as The Laundress Stain Brush available at Amazon.

3. Tile grout

According to Forrest Webber, founder of Bear Brothers Cleaning, using shaving foam is one of the best ways to clean shower grout.

He says, 'Tile grout loves to collect dirt. Shaving foam's foamy action gets right in there, breaking down grime without needing an industrial-strength cleaner.'

To clean grout, Webber recommends squeezing shaving foam directly onto the grout lines, letting it sit for five to ten minutes, before scrubbing off with an old toothbrush, or the Great Value Tile & Grout Brush available at Walmart.

He continues, 'Rinse off with warm water, and just like that, your grout goes from drab to fab.'

4. Ovens

Admittedly, despite knowing how to clean an oven, it's one of the cleaning tasks I tend to neglect to do. But, according to Vanessa Terra Bossart, owner of Green Terra Cleaning, using shaving foam is an oven cleaning hack you have to try.

She says, 'Even ovens can benefit from shaving foam's grease-cutting properties. Apply it to greasy areas, let it sit for 15 minutes, then wipe it away with a damp sponge,' such as the Scotch-Brite Zero Scratch Scrub Sponge available at Walmart.

She continues, 'The foam's ability to break down oils makes it an eco-friendly alternative to traditional oven cleaners which are often filled with harsh chemicals.'

For eco-conscious consumers, Terra Bossart recommends using the Barbasol Thick and Rich Shaving Cream available at Amazon, which is free of dyes, and offers a simple, effective formula, without unnecessary additives.

Make sure the foam is completely rinsed away before you cook with your oven again, however, to avoid chemical contamination.

5. Mirrors

Recently, I tried a cleaning my mirror with shaving foam, and was genuinely impressed with the results.

It's not just an effective way to get rid of hard water stains on glass – it made my mirrors both streak-free and shiny when I wiped it off using a J-cloth, such as the Clorox Handi Wipes Multi-Use Reusable Cloths available at Amazon, and has since become a part of my achievable cleaning routine.

FAQs

How long do you leave shaving foam when cleaning?

Of course, it's dependent on what you're cleaning, but in general, shaving foam should be left on surfaces for at least 20 minutes before using a damp cloth or scrubbing brush to remove it, and is a good way to clean your home without harming the planet. Always remember to recycle the empty cans after use.

Can you clean a toilet with shaving foam?

While there are bathroom cleaning hacks that don't work, using shaving foam to clean your toilet is, luckily, not one of them.

Shaving foam can effectively remove odors and stubborn stains from your toilet bowl, as the foaming action can successfully destroy uric acid crystals, which is a tip pro cleaners swear by to make you bathroom smell fresh.

If you live alone, cleaning can seem like a momentous task. Our cleaning tips when living alone are a great way to make your home maintenance more manageable, without feeling overwhelmed by a never-ending list of chores.