The Best Bathroom Scrubber to Remove Tough Stains

Bathrooms are home to all sorts of grime, including dirt, soap scum, and mold. To get your bathroom sparkling clean, add a bathroom scrubber to your cleaning arsenal. 

Best Overall

The Best Bathroom Scrubber Options Holikme

Holikme 20Piece Brush Attachments Set Power Scrubber

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Best Bang For The Buck

The Best Bathroom Scrubber Options OXO

OXO Good Grips Extendable Tub and Tile Scrubber

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Best Mini Power Scrubber

The Best Bathroom Scrubber Options Receal

Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber

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Moisture, dirt, mildew, and soap residue can cause buildup and staining, making the bathroom one of the toughest rooms to keep clean. A bathroom scrubber makes tackling this chore much easier.

The best bathroom scrubbers effectively clean soap scum, stains, and grime. Their ease of use makes them worth the upgrade from a plain old sponge or mop. With manual and powered options and a range of handles and scrubber types, these bathroom scrubbers offer effective deep-cleaning power.

  1. BEST OVERALL: Holikme 20Piece Brush Attachments Set Power Scrubber
  2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: OXO Good Grips Extendable Tub and Tile Scrubber
  3. BEST MINI POWER SCRUBBER: Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber
  4. BEST BATHTUB SCRUBBER: OXO Good Grips Heavy Duty Scrub Brush
The Best Bathroom Scrubber Options
Photo: amazon.com

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Bathroom Scrubber

Bathroom scrubbers come in a range of designs, from simple brushes to multifunction power scrubbers. Different brush and handle designs can make a scrubber more effective for certain tasks. Some scrubbers include extra attachments to tackle cleaning the entire bathroom or other rooms. Each of the following features can contribute to convenience and ease of use.

Manual vs. Power

Manual scrubbers are the simple pick to tackle bathroom chores. These scrubbers are lightweight, affordable, and intuitive to use. They are ideal for those who want a cheaper option and don’t mind using a little elbow grease.

Simple manual scrubbers can include a range of convenient features like replaceable heads, extendable handles, and antimicrobial coatings. Many manual scrubbers have an ergonomic handle with a nonslip grip. A well-designed grip is comfortable to use and helps to prevent frustrating slips.

Power scrubbers take the work out of cleaning and do the bulk of the scrubbing. They can be pricier but are ideal for those who want the most convenient deep clean. They are also a good pick for those with mobility issues. Like manual options, power scrubbers have a range of features like changeable scrubbing heads, ergonomic designs, and adjustable lengths.

Both corded and battery-powered power scrubbers are available. Corded options won’t run out of power while in use, but the cord can limit mobility. Battery-powered units can be used anywhere but need to charge or have the battery changed occasionally. When choosing a battery-powered model, consider battery life to make sure cleaning can be completed in one charge.

Brush

Different brush types are suited for various tasks. For example, larger, stiffer scrubbers are ideal for broad surfaces like bathtubs, while smaller, softer brushes work for cleaning fixtures. When choosing a bathroom scrubber, brush design, size, and shape are factors to consider.

  • Brush design: The ideal brush design depends on the cleaning job. Flat brushes work for surfaces like floors and countertops, while tapered brushes can help get into corners. Some scrubbers don’t use brushes at all, opting for cleaning sponges or pads instead.
  • Brush size: Choose a small brush for detail work like cleaning grout, faucets, and drains. Medium brushes are ideal for sinks and countertops, and large versions are the best pick for floors, bathtubs, and showers.
  • Bristle materials: Cleaning bristles usually feature synthetic materials like nylon, plastic, or polyester. Nylon bristles are common; they can be abrasive, which is ideal for scrubbing tough messes.
  • Number of brushes: Many power scrubbers include brush attachment kits with several brush sizes and textures. Some larger sets are equipped to clean the bathroom from top to bottom. Having several brush options can add to the convenience and value of a power scrubber.

Handle

A well-designed handle can make a scrubber much more convenient to use. Whether it’s a manual scrubber or a power unit, look for an ergonomic handle with a nonslip grip. Consider the following handle features in a bathroom scrubber:

  • Ergonomic handle: An ergonomic handle gives the scrubber a more comfortable and easier-to-hold grip.
  • Nonslip grip: Unlike some other cleaning tools, bathroom scrubbers are often exposed to a lot of water. A nonslip grip helps keep the scrubber in your hands instead of sliding around the tub or shower.
  • Length and extendability: Handle length can contribute to comfort and ease of use. A long handle can reach floors, corners, and tall shower walls without the need for stretching or crouching. An extendable handle gives enough length to clean but also makes a scrubber easier to store.
  • Material: The scrubber handle is often made of durable metal or plastic that won’t snap or bend with intense scrubbing.

Attachment Kit

An attachment kit with a flat brush and a rounded brush or pointed corner brush can handle most bathroom cleaning tasks. A flat brush is ideal for general cleaning. The flat surface has tons of small bristles to make sure no spot is missed. A rounded brush or corner brush can get right into corners, an area that flat brushes can miss.

Manual bathroom scrubbers are usually simple in design and don’t include an attachment kit. When it comes to power scrubbers, an attachment kit can offer a more versatile and thorough clean. Attachment kits can consist of anywhere from two to over 20 brushes, sponges, and cleaning pads. Most attachment kits include a range of sizes, shapes, and textures to handle household cleaning tasks in the bathroom and beyond.

Intended Use

Using the right brush size and shape can make cleaning easier. A large scrubber with a long handle will make quick work out of scrubbing large surfaces like the floor and shower walls. A short handle and small scrubber head are easier to control for detailed cleaning. For those looking for one convenient brush, midsize scrubbers can handle a range of bathroom cleaning tasks.

Also, consider brush texture. Tougher bristles are a good pick to scrub tub and shower tiles, which can use an abrasive scrubber to get rid of soap scum and grime. Softer scrubbers help clean and buff fixtures or glass doors, which can be more prone to scratching. Some scrubbers include a combination of harder and softer bristles to help scrub and buff away grime.

Our Top Picks

The best bathroom scrubbers are ergonomic and easy to use. They feature a durable and functional cleaning head, whether it’s a brush, sponge, or pad. The scrubber should cut through soap scum, dirt, and other bathroom grime for a quicker and more effortless clean. These top picks are durable and effective to leave your bathroom sparkling clean.

Best Overall

Holikme 20Piece Brush Attachments Set Power Scrubber

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With 20 scrubber attachment options, the Holikme Brush Attachment Set tackles grime in every nook and cranny of the bathroom. The set is super versatile with six scrubber brushes, nine scouring pads, three cleaning sponges, a backer attachment, and an extended reach attachment. The backer attachment has a ¼-inch hex to turn power drills or impact drivers into a power scrubber (drill not included).

This set includes a range of scrubber shapes, textures, and sizes to clean every corner of the bathroom. Flat brushes with varying bristle textures can clean everything from tile to upholstery. A rounded brush is ideal for tackling corners, and a pair of smaller brushes are useful for detailed cleaning. A variety of scouring pads and sponges are suitable for cleaning countertops and surfaces.

Best Bang For The Buck

OXO Good Grips Extendable Tub and Tile Scrubber

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The OXO Good Grips extendable scrubber offers a convenient design for an affordable price. The adjustable, telescoping handle extends up to 42 inches with a quick twist. Reaching upper shower corners or cleaning the bathroom floor becomes an easy task, with no need to bend over or crouch down. The extendable pole is lightweight and features a soft, nonslip grip. To make it easier to store, the scrubber handle contracts down to 26 inches.

Instead of a bristle brush, this scrubber has an antimicrobial mesh scouring pad. The mesh may have less scrubbing power than some hard-bristle brushes, but it is gentle enough to use on most bathroom surfaces. The cleaning pad has a pointed tip to reach tough corners and is mounted on a pivoting head. Replaceable heads are available (sold separately) for when a new cleaning pad is needed.

Best Mini Power Scrubber

Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber

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For detailed cleaning, reach for the Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber. This handheld mini scrubber oscillates 60 times a second to offer a deeper clean than manual scrubbing. It has two scrubbing settings to deep clean around bathroom fixtures and in grout and caulking lines.

The ergonomic rubberized grip and the cordless design make this scrubber easy to maneuver. It requires four AA batteries (included).

Three different brush attachments are included to make sure there’s the right brush for each detail cleaning job. The multipurpose brush is a flat brush for cleaning fixtures and tight spaces. A large multipurpose brush has a wide diameter to clean surfaces like sinks and counters. Lastly, the grout brush has a tapered shape to clean in grout and corners.

Best Bathtub Scrubber

OXO Good Grips Heavy Duty Scrub Brush

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The OXO Good Grips Heavy Duty Scrub Brush is ideal for scrubbing bathroom surfaces like tubs, tile walls, and countertops. The handheld brush features two types of durable nylon bristles. An outer layer of stiff bristles won’t splay over time, keeping their shape to effectively clean away soap scum, grime, and mildew. A softer inner layer offers more scrubbing power.

For convenience and comfort, this scrubber features a wide grip and large bristle area for a comfortable and broad clean. The handle fits comfortably in the palm and has a rubberized grip. The rubberized texture prevents frustrating slips when cleaning bathtubs, sinks, and showers.

FAQs About Bathroom Scrubbers

A good bathroom scrubber is worth the upgrade; it will offer better grime-busting power than a rag, sponge, or paper towel. Read on for tips on how to get the most out of this useful cleaning tool.

Q. How often should you clean your bathroom?

It’s best to clean the bathroom with a bathroom cleaner at least once a week and regularly give special attention to any tile using the best tile cleaner to keep germs and grime at bay.

Q. How do you use a power scrubber?

Power scrubbers require a power source (either a battery or an outlet). Attach the scrubbing head and turn on the power scrubber to start cleaning.

Q. How do I clean the corners of my bathroom?

To clean the corners of a bathroom, opt for brushes or cleaning pads with a rounded or pointed shape to allow the scrubber to reach all surfaces in the corner.

Q. How do professionals clean grout?

Professional grout cleaners often use specialized steam or high-pressure water cleaning tools to remove discoloration from grout.

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Jasmine Harding

Contributing Writer

Jasmine Harding is a freelance writer specializing in home products. She started writing for BobVila.com in 2020 and covers a range of product-related topics, from the best household appliances and tools to the latest gadgets and tech for the home.

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