The Best Shower Cleaners We Tested for a Spotless, Healthy Bathroom

A clean shower not only keeps your bathroom looking and smelling lovely, but it also helps you and other members of your household stay healthy. Bacteria, mold, and mildew can grow in your shower, which can irritate asthma and allergies and lead to other illnesses. Cleaning your shower once a week can remove these harmful irritants, along with dirt and soap scum. We recently put nine popular shower cleaners to the test, using them in our home to find the best.

Shower cleaners come in a variety of formulas designed for specific surfaces (such as glass or ceramic), certain water types (hard or soft), and targeted problems (grimy grout, streaky doors, or mildew stains). After a month of testing, our favorite was the CLR Brilliant Bath Foaming Cleaner. Not only did it clear every mess we put it up against, but it’s EPA Safer Choice Certified, which means it uses chemicals that are safer for human and environmental health. It wasn’t the only option that performed well, though. Read on for reviews of some of the best shower cleaners on the market to find the one that best suits your needs.  

1. BEST OVERALL: CLR Brilliant Bath Foaming Bathroom Cleaner Spray 
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2. RUNNER UP: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sponge Shower Cleaner
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3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Scrubbing Bubbles Foaming Bleach Shower Cleaner
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4. BEST NO-SCRUB: Wet & Forget Shower Cleaner Spray
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5. BEST MULTI-SURFACE: Jaws Foaming Bathroom Cleaner
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6. BEST DAILY: Method Daily Shower Spray Cleaner
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7. BEST SCENT: Attitude Shower & Tile Cleaner Spray
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8. BEST FOR SOAP SCUM: Clorox Bathroom Ultra Foamer
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9. BEST FOR GLASS: CLR Pro Industrial Strength Bath Daily Cleaner
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Our Top Picks

This list rounds up some of the best shower cleaners for solving common bathroom cleanup challenges. Get to know some of your most reliable options for shower cleaners and what makes each so effective, based on a series of hands-on tests.

Our Ratings

The CLR Brilliant Bath foaming bathroom cleaner features a thick foam that penetrates tough soap scum and hard water stains, as well as everyday dirt and grime. Because the foam clings, it’s easy to target the cleaner right where you need it most. It only needs to sit for 2 to 3 minutes before wiping or scrubbing and then rinsing away. The multi-surface formula is EPA Safer Choice Certified and suitable for fiberglass, porcelain, ceramic tile, bathroom sinks, toilet bowls, caulk, and white grout. 

We used this hard water shower cleaner on a fiberglass shower, a tile shower surround, a porcelain sink, and a cast-iron tub, and it delivered excellent results every time. It quickly dissolved the mineral deposits that other products failed to remove. One of our showers repeatedly develops orange buildup on its caulking, and this cleaner practically melted it away. While the smell wasn’t great, it wasn’t bad either. There were no harsh fumes, and we didn’t feel the need to open the bathroom windows to ventilate as we worked.

If you have hard water stains or constant soap scum on your fiberglass, ceramic, or porcelain tiled shower, this cleaner is hard to beat. However, skip it if you have real or synthetic stone or vinyl showers, as it’s unsafe for these surfaces. 

What our tester says: “My showers repeatedly develop hard water spots and soap scum. This cleaner practically melts the buildup off, so I don’t have to spend any time scrubbing.”—Katie Barton, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the CLR Brilliant Bath shower cleaner at Amazon (2-pack), Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Walmart.

Our Ratings

If you’re tired of messy shower sprays or dealing with buildup that nothing seems to touch, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sponge Shower Cleaner is worth a try. We expected it to perform fairly well for small messes, but we weren’t expecting to be blown away by its effectiveness the way we were. Not only was using it quick and easy, but it tackled every grimy, soap-scummy mess we put in its path. The sponge features Mr. Clean’s traditional melamine formula and is also infused with Dawn dish soap, so it lathers when wet.

This sponge is safe for most showers, bathtubs, sinks, grout, and toilets. In our shower, it cleared hard water stains, sticky soap residue on the shower shelves, and even hardened splatters of purple shampoo on the surround. We used it to clean our shower from top to bottom, and when done, it was sparkling white. It practically looked brand new. 

With that said, we went through two sponges while giving a relatively small shower stall a deep clean, so be aware that if you’re dealing with tough messes, it might take a few of these Magic Erasers to get the job done. You’ll also want to avoid using it on any polished or glossy surfaces, as well as wood and copper.

Get the Mr. Clean shower cleaner at Amazon (5-pack), Walmart (3-pack), or Target (5-pack).

Our Ratings

Mold and mildew are common problems in showers due to the damp, humid environment. The Scrubbing Bubbles foaming bleach cleaner wipes out these mold and mildew stains, and it’s also effective against soap scum and daily messes. The bleach-based formula is safe for a number of hard surfaces, including fiberglass and plastic shower surrounds, tubs, porcelain sinks, toilets, stainless steel, and chrome. 

One of our test showers has a recurring mold problem along the caulk line where the shower surround meets the bathtub. We liberally sprayed Scrubbing Bubbles on it and let it sit for a couple of minutes. After scrubbing, the mold was completely gone. The foam was a little thinner than some of the other cleaners we tried, which made it hard to spot-treat vertical surfaces without it dripping. However, with a couple of reapplications, it was also able to remove mold from the grout lines in our tiled shower. 

Because this is a bleach-based cleaner, the fumes can be strong. As such, we recommend ventilating the room and wearing protective gear when handling. 

Get the Scrubbing Bubbles shower cleaner at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Walmart.

Our Ratings 

Wet & Forget no-scrub shower cleaner makes shower cleaning quick and easy because its active ingredients remove mildew stains, soap scum, oil, and other dirt with no scouring. That’s right: no scrubbing or even wiping is needed. To use this product, spray down the shower once a week. Let the spray sit on the shower surfaces for 8 to 12 hours, then rinse it off. The stains rinse off with the cleaner. This spray comes in two scents, fresh or vanilla, and the 64-ounce bottle provides enough solution to keep the shower clean for 12 weeks.

The brand recommends it as a weekly treatment for already clean showers. However, it can also be used in conjunction with scrubbing if a shower has buildup. We first tried it on a dirty shower surround, and it quickly broke down the grime, making it easy to wipe away. From then on, we used Wet & Forget as a weekly treatment, and no additional scrubbing was needed. We tested the brand’s “fresh” scent, and it was light and enjoyable—no harsh fumes and no need to open the bathroom windows. 

Though it didn’t earn one of the top two spots in our lineup, this was one of our favorite shower cleaners and a great fit for those who don’t want to or aren’t able to scrub the shower. We did notice, however, that if you tip the bottle, it will leak from the spout, making it important to carry it upright.

What our tester says: “This Wet & Forget cleaner not only smells great, but it worked well without much effort on my part. It’s a welcome addition to my bathroom cleaning routine.”—Katie Barton, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Wet & Forget shower cleaner at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Ace Hardware.

Our Ratings

Lugging around multiple cleaners to clean the bathroom isn’t just cumbersome—it also requires storage space for the various products. Those looking to simplify their cleaning routine will want to check out the Jaws foaming bathroom cleaner, which is safe for all hard surfaces that can be cleaned with water. The kit includes an empty spray bottle with a specialized foaming sprayer and two refill pods. Getting started is as easy as filling the bottle with water, inserting a pod into the neck of the bottle, and then screwing on the sprayer. The solution in the pod automatically releases into the water.

We tested this cleaner on multiple bathroom surfaces, including fiberglass shower walls, sinks, faucets, bathroom counters, and even baseboards. We loved that we didn’t have to worry about switching out cleaners as we worked through the bathroom, and appreciated the very light scent and the absence of harsh fumes. However, we found that this cleaner works best for small to mid-size messes. 

If you clean your shower at least weekly, this will do a great job of removing soap scum, dirt, and other residue. On the other hand, if you have really hard water or go long stretches between cleanings, you might need something more heavy-duty.

Get the Jaws shower cleaner at Amazon or Walmart.

Our Ratings

Daily shower cleaners can help prevent soap scum buildup, requiring less scrubbing the next time you deep clean. Method’s daily shower cleaner is one such product you can use every day after you get out of the shower—no scrubbing or rinsing needed. It’s formulated with plant-based cleaning power and is safe for most non-porous shower surfaces, including tiles, shower surrounds, glass shower doors, and fixtures. It also features a 100% recycled plastic bottle (excluding the sprayer lid), which we appreciate.  

We found the eucalyptus-mint scent of this spray enjoyable, though it still had a light cleaning product smell. It wasn’t harsh, and we didn’t need to ventilate the bathroom while spraying. We used this product over the course of 2 weeks, spraying it in the shower daily after use. It cut down on grime, as there was a lot less elbow grease needed during weekly deep cleans. 

While we appreciate that this cleaner helps combat soap scum buildup in the shower with repeated use, it’s not the best option if you’re trying to eliminate mold or mildew stains. It’s an effective preventive cleaner, but look elsewhere if you need to banish tough buildup. 

Get the Method shower cleaner at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Target.

Our Ratings

Those looking to prevent soap scum rather than wipe out tough buildup may be interested in this shower cleaner from Attitude. It’s meant to be used daily on wet shower surfaces to prevent soap scum without wiping, scrubbing, or rinsing—simply spray it after you get out of the shower. According to the directions, you can also use it on dirtier showers, but it may take 3 to 4 weeks of daily use to be effective. Alternatively, you can wipe after the first use to remove some of the gunk, then use it as a daily cleaner thereafter. 

The first thing we noticed about this cleaner was its smell. The citrus scent was strong but refreshing, and there were no harsh fumes as you’d find in most typical shower cleaners. We used it over the course of a couple of weeks as a daily cleaner and saw great results. It also worked well for wiping soapy grime off our shower shelves.

The Attitude cleaner is Environmental Working Group (EWG) verified, meaning its ingredients meet strict standards set by the company regarding human health and safety. The bottle it comes in is reusable, and refills are available. 

Get the Attitude shower cleaner at Amazon.

Our Ratings

The Clorox Bathroom Ultra Foamer is effective on 100% of soap scum and delivers a thick foam that targets cracks and tight spots. For mildly soiled surfaces, users can spray the cleaner, allow it to sit for 3 minutes, and then rinse it away. For tougher stains, the product will need to sit longer before being removed. The spray trigger is reusable, and refill bottles are available, helping to reduce plastic waste. 

The spray trigger on this bottle is the best of any we tried. It emits a wide mist of solution, which helps to quickly coat target surfaces. Because of its harsh fumes, we ventilated the room before use and thoroughly rinsed the product afterward. It worked well on soap scum and minor grime, allowing us to simply rinse—no scrubbing needed. However, it wasn’t effective on old hard water spots and took several minutes to break down purple shampoo stains on the shower wall.

Users can spray this foaming cleaner on hard, nonporous surfaces such as showers, bathtubs, counters, sinks, and toilets. Since it’s suitable for multiple surfaces, it can reduce the number of bathroom cleaners needed; however, it’s not registered as a disinfectant, and the smell may be off-putting to some. 

Get the Clorox shower cleaner at Lowe’s or Target.

Our Ratings

CLR Pro spray is a nontoxic multi-surface restroom cleaner. Use it on most hard, non-porous surfaces, including glass, fiberglass, stainless steel, plastic, tile, toilets, shower doors, and more. It’s an EPA Safer Choice-certified product, free of harsh chemicals, yet still effective. It can remove hard water stains, soap scum, grime, calcium, and limescale, making it useful for most soiled bathroom surfaces.

To use the CLR Pro, simply spray it onto the desired surface, let it sit, then wipe with a cloth or sponge. The amount of time the cleaner should dwell and how hard you’ll need to scrub will depend on just how much grime there is it bust. We tested it in a shower riddled with hard-water stains in a hard-to-reach spot between the sliding glass shower doors. It removed a lot of the buildup, but it was unable to completely eliminate some of the most stubborn, old buildup. It worked well on the glass shower doors, and we liked that we could use it on multiple surfaces, so we didn’t need to switch products as we worked through the bathroom.

The brand doesn’t recommend applying this product to natural or synthetic marble, colored grout, mirrors, wood, or fabrics. 

Get the CLR Pro shower cleaner at Amazon. 

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Tested the Best Shower Cleaners

Not all showers suffer from the same buildup, and when you’re dealing with tough stains, even the best all-purpose cleaners aren’t going to cut it. Water source, showering frequency, bathroom humidity levels, and cleaning schedules can all contribute to the buildup in a shower. We took this into consideration when choosing the best shower cleaners, looking for products that wipe away the most common messes, such as soap scum, grime, mold, mildew, and hard water stains. Before choosing 9 products for hands-on testing, we scoured product listings and user reviews to find good shower cleaners capable of meeting a variety of needs.

We tested these cleaners in a home with three shower types (fiberglass, tile, and vinyl) over 4 weeks. The cleaners were also used on any other compatible surfaces in our home. We kept track of our results in a standardized rubric, carefully evaluating and rating each shower cleaner based on its ease of use, effectiveness, scent, and value. At the end of testing, we tallied up scores and awarded each cleaner based on its strengths. 

Our Testing Scores

What to Consider When Choosing a Shower Cleaner

Choosing the right shower cleaner requires considering more than just the type of buildup you’re targeting. Not every bathroom cleaner is safe for every surface, so it’s important to read labels carefully, especially if your shower is made of a more delicate material such as synthetic or natural stone. Ingredients, application, and ease of use are also key considerations before making a purchase. 

Types of Shower Cleaners

Shower cleaners typically come in three forms: liquid sprays, foams, and gels. Sprays and foams are the two most common because they can quickly coat surfaces to remove soap scum, gunk, mold, or mildew, depending on their formulation. Gel formulas are often better for spot-treating problem areas such as stubborn mold and mildew in grout or caulk lines. 

Spray

Spray shower cleaners are among the easiest to use, emitting a fine mist that can cover shower walls, floors, bathtubs, and glass doors. They can remove soap scum, daily grime, mold, and hard water stains, depending on their ingredients. Because they are drippy, they’re not the best choice for spot-treating stubborn stains on shower walls or grout lines.

Foam

Foam shower cleaners also come in spray bottles, but they dispense a thicker foam rather than a liquid formulation. These shower tile cleaners are particularly handy for targeting shower walls, since they can cling to surfaces, increasing product dwell time. This makes them more effective on tough buildup as it gives the cleaner ample time to break down stains before scrubbing and rinsing. 

Gel

Rather than being used to clean an entire shower, gels are commonly used for spot-treating specific challenges, such as mold or mildew, or, sometimes, formulated to work as shower drain cleaners. Thick gel formulations cling to surfaces, allowing these products to remove stains from shower walls. A gel cleaner works well as a shower grout cleaner and also for dingy caulking. 

Surface Compatibility

Surface compatibility varies from one shower cleaner to another. While many are okay to use on fiberglass, vinyl, ceramic, and porcelain tile, not all are safe for plastic, colored grout, or delicate surfaces such as natural and synthetic stone. That’s why it’s vital to check surface compatibility before selecting a shower cleaner. Products containing strong acids or bleach may work well for removing mineral deposits and soap scum, but could result in etching, dullness, or discoloration, depending on your shower material. 

Also, check that the cleaner is safe for shower fixtures. A quick read of the label can go a long way toward ensuring you’ve selected a compatible product. 

Type of Buildup and Cleaning Power

Some shower cleaners target a range of common problems, while others specialize in eliminating only one or two shower messes, such as soap scum or mildew. Bleach-based products, for example, are effective at killing mold and mildew. For tough hard water stains, soap scum, or mineral deposits, acidic cleaners are often the better option. 

It’s important to never mix shower cleaners, so choose one that matches the problem you deal with most often. If your shower is constantly developing mold, a cleaner with the ingredient sodium hypochlorite (bleach) will be a good match. If hard water spots are your biggest issue, an acidic cleaner should do the trick. Of course, most of the time, the cleaner’s label will tell you exactly what it’s capable of cleaning, so you don’t have to worry about combing through the ingredients list.

Ease of Use and Application

Shower cleaners are available in daily, weekly, or as-needed formulations. Some require you to spray the product, let it dwell on the surface for a specific amount of time, and then scrub or rinse. While others, like daily cleaners, can be sprayed every day on a wet shower surface, with no rinsing required. 

If you want to prevent tough buildup, using a daily or weekly no-rinse shower cleaner can help dissolve stains and prevent new ones from forming. These products are as easy to use as spraying and walking away. However, they’re typically intended for already-clean shower surfaces. If you’re dealing with stubborn stains, you might need to pair a heavy-duty bathroom cleaner with some elbow grease. You may also need a powerful glass shower door cleaner if you’re dealing with old hard water stains.

Scent and Ingredients

Traditional shower cleaners that contain harsh ingredients like bleach or strong acids might clean effectively, but can create harsh fumes and require ventilation during use. Today, there are many “safer” or nontoxic shower cleaner formulations on the market, some of which are plant-derived. One way to find safer cleaners is to look for the Environmental Protection Agency’s EPA Safer Choice–Certified label or the Environmental Working Group’s EWG-Verified stamp on the products. To earn one of these titles, cleaning ingredients have to meet a strict set of criteria. However, no matter the shower cleaner you’re using, it’s still important to take appropriate safety measures while cleaning. 

Aside from ingredients, shower cleaners are also available in a range of scents to suit users’ preferences. 

FAQs

Still not sure how to choose the best shower cleaner for you? Read on for tips to help you make a decision.

Q. How can I deep-clean my shower?

When deep-cleaning your shower, focus on the areas that may get overlooked during a weekly cleaning. Remove hair or other clogs from the drain, eliminate hard water buildup from the showerhead, scrub the shower caddy, and wipe down the shower curtain or door. If it’s washable, consider taking it down and running it through the washing machine.

Q. How do I clean my shower without chemicals?

Many chemical-free shower cleaners serve as alternatives to those made with bleach or other harsh chemicals. Often made with plant-based agents or other natural substances, when used properly, these disinfectants are typically effective as chemical cleaners. Natural disinfectants can kill bacteria and viruses, but they work more slowly than chemical disinfectants.

Q. How often should I clean my shower?

You should clean your shower once a week. If your shower has a glass door, using a squeegee after each shower can help keep it streak-free.

Q. Can I keep my shower clean without scrubbing?

Yes, many shower cleaners are designed to help clean the shower without scrubbing. Their ingredients do the work for you, using chemicals or natural materials to break down the residue and buildup. Usually formulated in a gel or foam, you typically spray the cleaner, leave it on the surface for a brief period, and then wipe or wash it away. 

What tools should I use to properly clean a shower?

The best shower cleaning tools come down to personal preference and shower type. Popular options include a long-handled shower scrub brush, a grout brush, a squeegee, and microfiber cloths.

What bathroom cleaning products shouldn’t I mix?

Never mix any bathroom cleaners, as doing so can create dangerous fumes. 

How long should I wait to shower after cleaning it​?

If you use cleaners with strong fumes, wait at least 30 minutes or until the fumes dissipate before showering. Ventilate the bathroom in the meantime. If you use natural cleaners, you can shower immediately after cleaning. 

How do you rinse the shower after cleaning it?

If your shower has a handheld shower head, use that to rinse it after cleaning. If not, rinse with a cup, a small bucket, or even a watering can.

Meet the Testers

Katie Barton is a writer and editor specializing in all things home. With three showers and five people in her household, she knows a thing or two about dealing with hard water stains, soap scum, and grime. 

Stacey L. Nash has written about home and garden products, home design and decor, and home improvement for 5+ years. She lives on 12 heavily wooded acres, where she and her family put home and outdoor products to the test while avoiding bears and cougars. 

Additional research provided by Deirdre Mundorf and Stacey L

 

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