To help you in your search, we researched the best bathtub cleaners, evaluating each product on ease of use, effectiveness, and value. Our favorite bathtub cleaner, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber Sponge, contains a soap scum-eliminating solution that activates with water. It’s extremely effective and reusable. Below, the best bathtub cleaners on the market. These magical sponges make cleaning the bathroom incredibly quick and efficient—and who doesn’t love that? The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber Sponges are larger than the beloved Magic Erasers, so you can cover more surface area (and clean your tub more quickly). Plus, they’re infused with foaming cleansers to help remove soap scum, stains, and other dirt and grime from the walls of your tub. With these sponges, you don’t have to deal with any messy spray or liquid. To activate, you simply add water and get to work. The sponge has a contoured shape that makes it easier to hold than a traditional sponge, and it’s textured so it can erase those really tough spots, like hard water stains. It also has a nice fresh scent that helps make the entire bathroom feel just as clean as it looks. A nice bonus: You can use the sponge on just about any surface in the bathroom, so it’s versatile, too. There is one downside worth knowing about: Like the standard Magic Eraser, the bath scrubber sponge does flake apart as you use it. In addition, Katie Berry, The Spruce’s Cleaning Review Board member, notes that the sponge “(or any melamine sponge) can scratch acrylic tubs if you aren’t gentle” when using it. However, you’ll still get multiple uses from each sponge—especially if you start by using the corner and then work your way down the sponge once it starts to thin. Price at time of publish: $14 A little bit goes a long way, so even though the cleaner is relatively pricey, it offers a good value in the end. What’s more, you can use the formula beyond your bathtub, too. Polish brass, remove gummy sticker residue, clean burnt-on grime from glass stove tops, and even scrub down stained pool walls with this highly versatile cleaner. In case it doesn’t leave your surfaces looking brand new, the manufacturer offers a 100 percent money-back guarantee. Price at time of publish: $17 Though it lacks a targeted spray top for precision, we love the versatility of this cleaner. You can use it to clean your outdoor furniture, kitchen, cars, and more—just don’t use it on wood, painted surfaces, natural marble, stone, brass, or colored grout. Price at time of publish: $19 Price at time of publish: $17 However, this cleaner isn’t great for tough mold and mildew stains, because it doesn’t adequately foam and doesn’t contain harsh ingredients like bleach. For a long-standing stain or other issue, you may need to use something just a bit tougher. Price at time of publish: $23 Despite its efficacy, the biodegradable formula doesn’t contain any bleach or ammonia, and it meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Product standards. That’s why it’s an excellent choice for use in kids’ bathrooms. Fair warning for tough stains: You may need to use another product, like a Magic Eraser, in tandem to remove set stains and spots. Price at time of publish: $4 This cleaner will tackle your tub stains, but it can also be used around the house. It’s a great overall cleaner for everything from hardwood floors in your living room to the countertops in your kitchen. Don’t expect it to work miracles on tough hard water stains, though. While Puracy removed surface dirt, shampoo, and conditioner residue, water spots and rust remained on our product tester’s shower doors, and it did little to clean dirty grout. Price at time of publish: $6 It’s highly concentrated, so it does have a very pungent chemical smell, but it’s also highly effective—it can remove buildup and clear drains in a matter of minutes. The process is a breeze. Pour one-fifth of the bottle into your drain, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then flush the drain with hot water. Just be sure to not use this cleaner right before or after cleaning with other cleaning products, or even using other drain cleaners. Berry notes that, “Combining it with other products, or even using it at the same time the vapors are still active, can result in dangerous fumes and even explosions.” Handling it, and all cleaning products for that matter, with the utmost care is key. Precisely following the directions on the product is also key. Heavy clogs may require longer wait times—even overnight—and repeat applications. A nice bonus: in addition to remedying your clog, this gel-based formula helps coat pipes to protect them against corrosion over time. Price at time of publish: $8 There are also some combination products, like the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber Sponge, that act as both a scrubbing tool and the cleaning formula. These are the most convenient options, but they typically aren’t as abrasive as other liquid cleaners. With all cleaners, be sure to check out the directions on the label in advance, so you know how and when you should use the cleaner. You’ll need to precisely follow those directions to ensure you are using the product safely. In addition, you should never mix cleaners or use them immediately before or after each other. Mixing cleaners and ingredients, as noted by Katie Berry, The Spruce’s Cleaning Review Board member, can be highly dangerous.
Ingredients
Bathtub cleaners that are capable of tackling the toughest stains—like mold and mildew—usually contain harsh ingredients like bleach and ammonia. While these ingredients may be effective for removing particularly tough stains, they should be handled with extreme care and kept out of children’s reach. If you’re concerned about the ingredients in the products you’re using, look for the EPA’s Safer Choice program seal on the cleaner in question. Products with this seal are generally gentle and safe but still effective.
Tub Material
In general, bathtubs are typically either acrylic or porcelain. It pays to know what type of tub you have before selecting your go-to cleaning solution. Certain ingredients can damage these materials. For example, bleach and ammonia can cause acrylic to crack over time. If you’re not sure, Martin says to give your tub a knock. “You’ll know your bathtub is porcelain if the surface is very hard—think as hard as marble or steel,” she says. Acrylic, on the other hand, will sound hollow.
Scent
Any scented cleaning product may get its aroma from synthetic fragrances, so if you have any sensitivities to these types of ingredients, look for plant-derived formulas—just note that they might not be as strong as conventional ingredients. And remember: Even some unscented products, like bleach-based cleaners, may have a very harsh chemical smell. For those types of products, it’s always safest to wear a mask while cleaning.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This roundup was written by Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer and editor with nearly 15 years of experience. She has written extensively about cleaning products, including bathroom cleaners, for various publications like The Spruce. She has personally tested a number of products on this list. That experience, combined with hours of research reviewing bestseller lists and reading hundreds of product reviews, helped inform her choices for this list. Brigitt also spoke to Gabby Martin, a supervisor for Bio Recovery, a cleaning company that specializes in biohazards, and Justin Carpenter, the CEO of a national house cleaning service. Additional reporting was done by Julie Evans. For additional background on bathtub cleaners, she spoke to Christine McNerney, senior director of merchandising (non-food) at Thrive Market.
