The 3 Best Bathtub Cleaners, Tested by BHG

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Step into a sparkling-clean tub or shower with these top-performing solutions.

Brittany VanDerBill is a writer for Better Homes & Gardens with 9 years of experience. Brittany is skilled in writing about a variety of topics, but her specialties are shopping, home, and travel.

In This Article

Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson

Though cleaning the bathtub isn’t very glamorous, it’s a necessary chore that’s likely on your regular to-do list. And with a dizzying number of bathtub cleaners out there, including spray, foam, powder, disinfecting, and plant-based options, picking the best one for your bathtub relies on a variety of factors.

You want to consider a few things about bathtub cleaners before deciding on one. First, you’ll need to determine what material your bathtub is made from because not every cleaner can be used for every type of bathtub.

Debbie Sardone, owner of Speed Cleaning, advises, “Never use harsh powdered cleansers or abrasives on fiberglass as it will scratch.” Be sure to consider whether you need disinfection or if you have stains that may need some extra cleaning power, too.

To find the best bathtub cleaners, we tested 27 bathroom cleaning solutions, evaluating each based on their performance, ease of use, and scent. To learn more about how we tested bathtub cleaners, check out our testing process below.

It’s an effective cleaner that disinfects when used properly.

There’s no mist option, so it may be difficult to cover larger areas.

For an all-around strong performer to leave your bathtub sparkling clean, we recommend the Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Grime Fighter Spray. When used properly, it’s a disinfectant that’s safe on tubs, shower walls and doors, and even vinyl shower curtains.

To test the spray, we spread a mud mask on a grouted tile, letting it sit and harden before cleaning. We sprayed the Scrubbing Bubbles and let it sit for five minutes before wiping it off, as recommended for disinfection. The spray cleaned the mud mask thoroughly from the grout and tile, leaving the area just as clean as our untouched tile. Two minutes after cleaning, we wiped the surface with a clean paper towel, which came up clean—meaning the spray left no residue behind.

The bottle itself has just one spray option, which is more of a direct stream than a mist. While this was helpful for precise cleaning, like in the corner of a tub, having a mist would have been nice for covering larger areas like a shower wall.We tested the citrus scent, which we found neutral and not overpowering. However, it’s also available in floral.

Product Details: Type: Spray foam | Scents: Citrus, Floral Fusion | Recommended Surfaces: Glazed ceramic tile, stainless steel, chrome fixtures, fiberglass, vinyl and glazed porcelain | Size: 32 ounces

The lavender scent is pleasant and subtle.

It’s not a disinfectant.

If you prefer milder cleaning solutions, we recommend the Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Tub and Tile spray. In our tests, it was just as effective at removing the mud mask as our best overall pick, leaving the surface completely clean with no residue left behind, and the grout was visibly whiter and brighter after cleaning.

Like our top pick, there’s only one concentrated stream spray, no mist. When sprayed, the solution becomes thick and foamy, which makes it easy to wipe off the surface.

The Mrs. Meyer’s spray is scented with essential oils. We found the lavender scent subtle and pleasant, and it didn’t linger too long.

Keep in mind, this bathtub cleaner is not a certified disinfectant, so you may want to grab another option after a family member recovers from a cold or for cleaning toilets and door handles. It’s safe to use on most bathroom surfaces, but it shouldn’t be used on natural marble, brass, or wood.

Product Details: Type: Spray | Scent: Lavender | Recommended Surfaces: Shower doors, tile, toilet seats, sinks, doors | Size: 33 ounces

The solution disinfects in less than a minute and can be used to prevent mold and mildew for up to a week.

It left a faint residue on our tile.

Bathrooms are often dark and damp, making them the perfect place for mold and mildew. When you’re dealing with persistent mold in the corners of your tub, we recommend a stronger solution like the Mold Armor Mold and Mildew Killer.

While other disinfectants, like the Scrubbing Bubbles, typically require waiting a few minutes before wiping the solution off the surface, the Mold Armor can sanitize in just 10 seconds and disinfect in 30 seconds. When it comes to mold and mildew, it’s recommended to let the solution sit for 10 minutes until the stains disappear, then wipe clean. You can also spray the solution and let it air dry to prevent mold growth for up to a week.

We let the cleaner sit for five minutes in our mud mask test, and we found it cleaned effectively. While it left a faint residue when tested with a paper towel, the cleaned surface was visibly the same as our untouched tile.

The spray bottle provided a generous mist, which we think will provide enough coverage for larger surfaces. And despite being a stronger cleaner, we didn’t detect an overpowering scent from the solution.

Product Details: Type: Spray | Scent: Lemon | Recommended Surfaces: Sealed grout, vinyl, garbage cans, plastic surfaces, sealed fiberglass, sealed granite, glazed porcelain tile, glazed ceramic tile, laminate, and linoleum | Size: 32 ounces

The best bathtub cleaner we tested was the Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Grime Fighter, a foamy solution that left our tile sparkling clean. The Mrs. Meyer’s Tub and Tile cleaner was a close runner-up and a great option for those who don’t need a disinfectant. And if you’re dealing with tough mold and mildew in the tub, we recommend the Mold Armor Mold and Mildew Killer.

To find the best bathtub cleaners, we tested 27 bathroom cleaning solutions, including sprays, pastes, and gels. The solutions included standard cleaners, disinfectant solutions, mold and mildew fighters, and grout whiteners.

We tested each solution on a section of tile to test their effectiveness on hard surfaces and grout. We spread a mud mask mixture on the tile and left it to dry. Then, we applied the cleaning solution to one tile square, letting it sit as long as stated by the manufacturer. If no time was stated, we let it sit for five minutes. In a second square, we applied a DIY cleaning solution made of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap.

Once the solutions were ready to wipe, we used water, a scrub brush, and a microfiber cloth to remove the cleaner and mud mask. We scrubbed and rinsed as necessary until the area was clean, or until five minutes had passed. We then let the surface dry for two minutes and wiped it with a dry, clean paper towel to assess for any leftover residue from the cleaning solution or the mask.

While testing the bathtub cleaners, we evaluated them based on their effectiveness and ease of use. We also noted how well the actual bottle worked, noting any faulty triggers or tough-to-turn nozzles. Lastly, noted how strong the scent was and whether it lingered after cleaning.

After testing all the cleaning solutions, we ranked our favorites based on their overall performance and value.

While a cleaning solution can do much of the heavy lifting, you may need some additional tools to effectively clean your bathtub.

A steam cleaner is a great way to clean tough stains with water alone. Our top pick, the McCulloch MC1275, comes with 18 cleaning accessories, including microfiber scrub pads and a squeegee—essential for cleaning glass shower doors. The steam hose is 9 feet long, so you’ll be able to easily reach into your bathtub’s corners.

You may have seen these electric spin scrubbers on social media, and they’re not just a gimmick—they actually make cleaning easier. For cleaning a bathtub, we recommend this cordless model from HattyRoom because it has a long handle (over 40 inches) that can reach into corners without bending over.

A high-quality scrub brush is a bathtub cleaning essential for getting into tight corners and grout. We recommend the Full Circle Grunge Buster thanks to its ergonomic handle, which prevented sore hands in our tests. It was effective at removing tough residue, but that residue didn’t get stuck within the bristles; it rinsed right out with warm water.

Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson

Bathtubs can be made from a variety of materials, including fiberglass, steel, cast-iron, and newer composite materials like porcelain enamel. Sardone advises you should know whether your tub is porcelain or fiberglass before shopping. She cautions, “Never use harsh powdered cleansers or abrasives on fiberglass as it will scratch.”

If you’re not sure of the material, a quick way to test is to push on the side of the tub. If it moves just a bit, it’s likely an acrylic or fiberglass material because they’re more flexible.

It’s important to understand what ingredients are in a bathtub cleaner before you begin using it. Some cleaners have harsher ingredients than others, which may require extra protection like safety goggles or gloves.

“Always read the label for instructions regarding ventilation when cleaning with shower cleaners,” Sardone advises. She also recommends “the use of rubber gloves to protect hands against acid-based cleaners.”

She adds that bleach can work wonders on removing stains from porcelain bathtubs while a rust remover can help with some types of rust-stained metal tubs.

Some bathtub cleaners may have a scent added to make the cleaner more pleasant to work with. “If you can smell it, you are ingesting it,” Sardone says.

“Be careful around cleaning products with strong fumes that make you cough," she warns. "Ventilate the area if possible or wear a protective mask.”

Bathtub cleaners come in a variety of forms, including spray, foaming spray, and powder. Choosing the application type comes down to your tub material and how you prefer to clean. Powder cleaners can be more abrasive, so they are often not suitable to use on fiberglass tubs.

Foaming cleaners tend to cling to surfaces easier, making them a helpful pick for cleaning shower walls. “Always use cleaning products for their intended purpose and never mix them together to avoid toxic fumes,” Sardone says.

Sardone says bleach won’t damage a bathtub. “Powdered cleaners with bleach work great on stubborn stains in porcelain tubs,” Sardone says.

However, it’s always best to read the owner’s manual that came with the tub if it’s available. You may also want to spot test a new cleaner on your tub before cleaning the entire bathtub, just to be sure.

If you’d rather not scrub your bathtub, you may want to look for a cleaner that foams. “Spray a foaming scum cleaner for tubs and showers on the grimey surface, let it soak just a few minutes, then use a melamine sponge to wipe off with just a little pressure," Sardone says.

Depending on the cleaner and whether the tub is stained or has a lot of buildup, you may want to repeat this process.

Some cleaners may be formulated for only certain types of bathtub surfaces, while others may be safe to use on more than one material.

“Some multi-purpose cleaning products are safe on most surfaces, but can damage marble, natural stone, and any surface finished with a varnish or polyurethane,” Sardone says. “Follow the bottle instructions carefully and only use where recommended.”

Brittany VanDerBill is Better Homes & Gardens writer who has covered a variety of topics, including shopping guides, cleaning and organizing, and home improvement. To learn more about bathtub cleaners, she consulted Debbie Sardone, owner of Speed Cleaning.

Jessica Comstock is an associate editor for Better Homes & Gardens. She updated this article with insights from our testing team, who tested 27 bathroom cleaners.