September 2008
Best shower cleaners
Our tests reveal the top products for your tub and shower
As frightening as the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" is, many of us encounter something equally upsetting every time we shower or bathe, a shower or tub spotted with soap scum,
mildew, rust, or hard-water stains. These unsightly bathroom messes won't have us screaming like Janet Leigh did in that 1960
thriller but rather running away from the horror—to the supermarket. Last year Americans spent about $200 million on shower
cleaners, according to research company Nielsen.
Before you choose a particular shower cleaner, determine whether you're a daily scrubber or a someone who cleans every week or two. In general, our tests of 12 powders, sprays, and aerosols found that most trigger sprays and pumps can prevent scum and mildew if you use a cleaner every day. Powders with bleach are ideal for occasional removal of built-up tough stuff.
Aerosol foams proved least effective overall. We also found a green cleaner that was better than many conventional ones and that price was generally not indicative of performance.
We tested such well-known names as Ajax, Comet, Lysol, Scrubbing Bubbles, and X-14. We also tested products claiming to be green from Bon Ami, Green Works, Method, Mrs. Meyer's, and Seventh Generation.
For our report we first scrubbed 265 ceramic tiles. To simulate the mess you'll find on shower walls, we sprayed the tiles daily for two weeks with hard water, soap shavings, shampoo, and body oils. We followed each product's general cleaning instructions, not those for tougher specific tasks, and checked how well each cleaned soap scum and mildew. We also checked for streaks. The tested products should generally be safe on all but delicate surfaces.
In a harsher test that shows what could happen if you don't thoroughly clean up after using, we applied the products on common bathroom surfaces and left them overnight. Even though we didn't scrub, we found that most products stained or damaged marble, solid surfaces, and stainless steel. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day, $5, damaged the fewest surfaces, but was poor at removing scum and mildew. Lysol Basin, Tub & Tile, $4, Scrubbing Bubbles Antibacterial, $3.20, and Seventh Generation Natural Tub & Tile, $4.50, were the harshest.
Here's what else we found:
Best for occasional wipedowns. Two powders, the Comet Scratch Free Disinfectant with Bleach, $1.25, and Ajax with Bleach Scratch Free, $1.20, excelled at removing established mildew and left no streaks. These require some elbow grease, so they¹re better for weekly rather than daily scrubbings.
Tops for frequent cleanings. When used every day, Kaboom Shower Tub & Tile trigger-spray cleaner, $4, stopped mildew and soap scum from forming in the first place. This cleaner is meant for those who prefer preventing slime, instead of combating it.
Leading green product. Green Works Natural, $3.50, was the best of the cleaners whose manufacturers made claims (often unverifiable) such as "natural." Green Works, which maker Clorox says has "plant and mineral-based ingredients," prevented scum and mildew from building up, removed rust, and left no streaks. But it was poor at removing established mildew, so you need to use it often to prevent slime. Learn more about eco-friendly cleaners in Greener cleaners go mainstream.
One thing you shouldn't buy is all the claims. For example, the maker of X-14, $4, says it "removes tough soap scum," but it was poor at that job. Likewise, a well-known name didn't guarantee excellence: Lysol Basin, Tub & Tile Cleaner, $4, was just fair overall when sprayed, left for 15 seconds, then wiped off.
Follow package instructions when using the cleaners. None of the manufacturers suggest using the cleaners while showering. When you do clean your shower or tub, wear gloves, and never mix a shower cleaner with other cleaning products, especially ones that contain ammonia. Dangerous fumes could result.
Before you choose a particular shower cleaner, determine whether you're a daily scrubber or a someone who cleans every week or two. In general, our tests of 12 powders, sprays, and aerosols found that most trigger sprays and pumps can prevent scum and mildew if you use a cleaner every day. Powders with bleach are ideal for occasional removal of built-up tough stuff.
Aerosol foams proved least effective overall. We also found a green cleaner that was better than many conventional ones and that price was generally not indicative of performance.
We tested such well-known names as Ajax, Comet, Lysol, Scrubbing Bubbles, and X-14. We also tested products claiming to be green from Bon Ami, Green Works, Method, Mrs. Meyer's, and Seventh Generation.
For our report we first scrubbed 265 ceramic tiles. To simulate the mess you'll find on shower walls, we sprayed the tiles daily for two weeks with hard water, soap shavings, shampoo, and body oils. We followed each product's general cleaning instructions, not those for tougher specific tasks, and checked how well each cleaned soap scum and mildew. We also checked for streaks. The tested products should generally be safe on all but delicate surfaces.
In a harsher test that shows what could happen if you don't thoroughly clean up after using, we applied the products on common bathroom surfaces and left them overnight. Even though we didn't scrub, we found that most products stained or damaged marble, solid surfaces, and stainless steel. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day, $5, damaged the fewest surfaces, but was poor at removing scum and mildew. Lysol Basin, Tub & Tile, $4, Scrubbing Bubbles Antibacterial, $3.20, and Seventh Generation Natural Tub & Tile, $4.50, were the harshest.
Here's what else we found:
Best for occasional wipedowns. Two powders, the Comet Scratch Free Disinfectant with Bleach, $1.25, and Ajax with Bleach Scratch Free, $1.20, excelled at removing established mildew and left no streaks. These require some elbow grease, so they¹re better for weekly rather than daily scrubbings.
Tops for frequent cleanings. When used every day, Kaboom Shower Tub & Tile trigger-spray cleaner, $4, stopped mildew and soap scum from forming in the first place. This cleaner is meant for those who prefer preventing slime, instead of combating it.
Leading green product. Green Works Natural, $3.50, was the best of the cleaners whose manufacturers made claims (often unverifiable) such as "natural." Green Works, which maker Clorox says has "plant and mineral-based ingredients," prevented scum and mildew from building up, removed rust, and left no streaks. But it was poor at removing established mildew, so you need to use it often to prevent slime. Learn more about eco-friendly cleaners in Greener cleaners go mainstream.
One thing you shouldn't buy is all the claims. For example, the maker of X-14, $4, says it "removes tough soap scum," but it was poor at that job. Likewise, a well-known name didn't guarantee excellence: Lysol Basin, Tub & Tile Cleaner, $4, was just fair overall when sprayed, left for 15 seconds, then wiped off.
Follow package instructions when using the cleaners. None of the manufacturers suggest using the cleaners while showering. When you do clean your shower or tub, wear gloves, and never mix a shower cleaner with other cleaning products, especially ones that contain ammonia. Dangerous fumes could result.
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