7 Best Shower Cleaners for a Sparkling Clean Tub

When searching for a shower cleaner that does it all, choose this not-so-humbly named Miracle Bathroom Foam Cleaner, part of the globally beloved The Pink Stuff line of cleaning products from the British company Stardrops. As a multi-surface cleanser, you can use it on, well, every surface of the tub and shower to power off dirt and limescale.

“Couldn’t wait to try it out on my bathtub, with a lot of soap scum build up many years in the making,” writes one 5-star Amazon reviewer. “Had tried bleach and other products. Bleach was too harsh and strong odor. However, this product—I sprayed it on and use a sponge with a light abrasiveness, and the soap scum came off. This saved me a ton of money, no more need to reglaze tub.”

Pros

• Works on multiple surfaces
• Makes fixtures shine
• Non-drip foam allows for targeted, precise cleaning
• Over 6,800 ratings, averaging 4.3 stars, on Amazon

Cons

• Some users find the spray pump hard to operate

Scrubbing Bubble’s Mega Shower Foamer is comparable to The Pink Stuff Bathroom Cleaner in terms of its multi-surface capabilities, except that it costs less, making it an excellent budget-friendly option. This cleaner cuts through soap scum and pink slime and leaves your shower clean—though for best results, you’ll want to leave it for at least five minutes—or longer—to break down the grime.

“I have very hard water with my well and it will leave the orange yuck you see in the pictures,” writes happy Amazon reviewer Carolyn Gassner. “I sprayed this and left it for 30 minutes and came back to just literally wipe—no scrubbing needed and my shower looked new again!”

Pros

• Attractive price
• Works on many different surfaces
• Pleasant scent enjoyed by most
• Almost 900 ratings, averaging 4.6 stars on Amazon

Cons

• May need extensive time to sit in order to work well

If you’re more the type who doesn’t want any specialty cleaning products at all, SC Johnson’s Family Guard Disinfectant Cleaner may be your one-stop shop. Though not specifically for the shower, it works well on shower tile walls, grout and fixtures. You may also use it on laminate vanity tops, toilet seats, quartz counters, sink bowls, doorknobs and so on. As a disinfectant, it kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on nonporous surfaces when used as directed. It’s a true multipurpose cleaner, in other words.

What’s more, it’s well-suited for cleaning showers in households with anyone easily susceptible to allergic reactions. The Family Guard line of cleaners is safe for people (and pets) affected by fumes of traditional cleaning products, and that’s appreciated even more in the close confines of a shower stall.

Pros

• Works on multiple surfaces throughout the home
• Clinically proven to kill viruses including cold, flu and COVID
• Safe to use around allergy sufferers, kids and pets
• Pleasant scent is not overwhelming

Cons

• Not effective on hard water stains or well-established grime

Like all of Aunt Fannie’s products, this glass cleaner features vinegar as its star ingredient, so no need to worry about some of it getting on the skin while cleaning the glass doors of a shower or the bathroom mirror.

One 5-star reviewer, Erin C., sums up the sentiments of many: “After trying many glass cleaners, this is the only product that has worked. I’ll never purchase any other glass cleaner.”

Pros

• Vinegar-based ingredients
• Works on grout and tile as well as glass
• Streak-free finish after wiped with a clean cloth or squeegee
• Nearly 1,000 5-star ratings on Amazon

Cons

• Some people don’t like the vinegar smell

Tile can be pretty dirty stuff for two reasons: First, the grout is like a magnet for grime, and because it’s recessed, it is one of the hardest material to reach with a rag or brush. Second, many types of tile have texture to them, which presents countless little ridges, nooks and crannies into which soap scum, dirt, and even pink slime or black mold take hold.

The Zep tile cleaner has an acidic solution that penetrates into built-up deposits of soap, rust and hard water stains formed by mineral deposits, so they all lift off grout and tile with less elbow grease.

Pros

• Breaks up tough established deposits of soap scum, rust and more
• Minimal scrubbing required for effective cleaning
• Works on hard water stains
• Over 1,700 5-star ratings on Amazon

Cons

• Reviewers complain the bottle is prone to leaking

Again, Stardrops isn’t too humble with its product names, but once you put The Pink Stuff Miracle Cleaning Paste to work on the shower floor, you may just find it near-miraculous yourself.

This abrasive-yet-no-scratch paste breaks up even months-old deposits of soap scum that’s leaving a film all over the tile, river rock or other material, and it whisks away rust and hard-water buildup. Grab a good scrub brush and add some elbow grease for the full effect.

Pros

• Breaks up hard water stains, soap scum and more
• Works on many surfaces, from metal to ceramic to fiberglass
• Won’t leave streaks or scratches
• Over 176,000 ratings, averaging 4.4 stars, on Amazon

Cons

• Some shoppers say it’s awkward to scoop out