10 Best Cleaning Products for Bathroom [Must-Try Choices in 2023]

Having problems with dirt, grime, and soap scum build-up in your bathroom? Not sure which best bathroom cleaners to use? Need some advice on keeping your bathroom clean?

You came to the right place! In this article, I’ll discuss the 10 best bathroom cleaners to make your bathroom spotless.

Good bathroom cleaners can clean most surfaces without being too harsh on softer materials. But when dealing with specific types of grime and stains, you need IMPROVED TOOLS than your good ol’ traditional cleaners. 

Choosing the best product to tackle tough stains and stubborn grime might get a little tricky. Hence, I listed cleaning solution brands you can try and when to use them. 

To top it off, I included bathroom cleaning tips, plus a guide on picking the best bathroom cleaners and homemade cleaners to substitute commercial ones. Let’s dive right into it!

Why It’s Important to Use the Right Bathroom Cleaning Products

Using soap and water or wiping with toilet paper isn’t enough to properly clean parts of your bathroom. 

Most bathroom surfaces accumulate bacteria and germs that cause illnesses. Unpleasant-looking and bad-smelling mold and mildew stains might also be lingering around. 

You must get rid of them as soon as possible to keep your bathroom surface CLEAN and HYGIENIC.

With good bathroom cleaners, you can efficiently remove bacteria, germs, dirt, and other visible residue from different surfaces.

Specialized solutions are also formulated for delicate surfaces and specific types of stains — whether homemade or commercial. These solutions can help you remove tough stains a lot easier.

Understanding Different Types of Cleaning Products For Bathroom

Different types of products keep your bathroom clean. Each serves a specific purpose and has its ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES, which you should remember when deciding which ones to get.

General Bathroom Cleaners

General or all-purpose cleaners are the most common ones you’ll find. They’re also the most versatile because they can act as a disinfectant and stain remover on most bathroom surfaces.

This type of cleaning formula has a pretty strong cleaning power, which means no mold and mildew stains can escape them; you only need MINIMAL SCRUBBING to remove stains.

However, bleach-based products can damage non-hard surfaces, and they might also cause stains when spilled on clothes. 

Eco-friendly Cleaning Products

Eco-friendly options aren’t necessarily less effective, but they’re less than the typical multi-surface cleaner brands. Without strong and harsh chemicals in its formula, its cleaning power is MILD.

But the thing about eco-friendly cleaners is that they don’t damage your skin or clothes if you accidentally spill them. They also tend to smell a lot more pleasant than a bleach-based cleaner.

Finally, these are amazing for the environment. When water washes the cleaning formula away, it’s guaranteed to NOT pollute the environment compared to a chlorine bleach-based cleaner.

Bathroom Cleaners for Specific Surfaces

Other surfaces are TOO DELICATE for general-purpose cleaners when removing mold and mildew, as well as stains. In this case, bathroom cleaners for specific surfaces are the best solutions.

For surfaces like unfinished marble, wood, stone, or fabric, you want cleaners specifically noted to be safe for these materials. You’ll notice disclaimers on product labels, such as “safe for chrome fixtures.”

Getting cleaners specialized for particular materials is essential. Using eco-friendly or general-purpose formulas might damage your bathroom’s aesthetic, and they could be ineffective in dealing with tough grime and stain. 

Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Homemade cleaning solutions are a GREAT OPTION to remove some stains and molds. They’re also helpful if you run out of general-purpose cleaners and need something else in an instant.

The great thing about homemade alternatives is easily finding ingredients around your house, plus they’re simple to make! They’re also COST-EFFECTIVE since you’ll probably use them for other purposes.

However, they’re less versatile than general-purpose cleaners and require more equipment and effort. You’ll need to scrub harder or combine it with warm water for good results.

Specialty Bathroom Cleaners (For Mold, Limescale, Etc.)

The final type of bathroom cleaner are specialty products meant for cleaning a specific type of dirt, grime, or stain. These come in handy if you’re dealing with hard water stains, soap scum, as well as other types of mold and mildew or limescale.

They contain certain chemicals targeted to dissolve and remove specific types of stains, which helps if general-purpose cleaners can’t do the job.

However, they’re only good at removing the actual stain, and they CAN’T DISINFECT your bathroom. You must run over the area again using a sanitizing spray bottle or general-purpose cleaner. 

10 Best-Rated Cleaning Products for Bathroom- A Detailed Review

Here are the 10 best bathroom cleaners to remove all kinds of stains, mold, and mildew.

You’ll want to look for a safe brand for your bathroom surface. On top of it all, you should consider your needs and personal preferences when choosing your next go-to bathroom cleaner.

1. Clorox All-Purpose Cleaner with Bleach – Best Overall

Source: Amazon

What I liked

• Strong and can remove almost any stain
• Works with most bathroom surfaces like tiles
• Comes in a good squirt bottle
• Disinfects from bacteria and viruses like COVID-19
• Smells good even if it has bleach

What I didn’t like

• Can’t be used on porous and delicate surfaces

This Clorox cleaner is perfect for those who want a cleaning solution that can DO IT ALL. 

This bathroom cleaner removes stubborn stains on any surface, whether it’s the toilet bowl, shower walls, tile floors, bathroom floors, or the bathroom sink.

Like a true cleaning expert, it cuts through accumulated dirt, grime, and soap scum while disinfecting the area. It even eliminates bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19.

You can also get this bathroom cleaner in a non-bleach form. So, if you want to ditch harsh chemicals, Clorox still has the perfect choice for you!

Bundled packages of bleach and non-bleach versions are available in online and retail stores — both of which come in convenient spray bottles.

Specifications:

• Disinfectant: Yes
• Bleach/No Bleach: Bleach
• Application Type: Spray bottle

2. CLR Brilliant Bath Foaming Action Cleaner – Best for Cleaning Grout

Source: Amazon

What I liked

• Works perfectly on white grout
• EPA Safer Choice verified
• As the foam dries up, it continues to whiten grouting
• No bleach, but still has high cleaning power

What I didn’t like

• Might stain colored tile grout

The CLR Brilliant Bath Foaming Action Cleaner is the best option if you need to clean the white grout between your tiles so they look good as new.

This formula uses less harsh chemicals for a deep clean. It has minimal effects than other chemical-based solutions but is still strong enough to clean the grout of your glazed ceramic tile.

You don’t need to scrub too much when using the CLR Brilliant Bath Foaming Action Cleaner. All you need to do is wipe clean to get dirt and grime off your tile grouting.

It cuts through everything, including dirt, calcium deposits, lime, hard water stains, and soap scum, WITHOUT the need for bleach. However, don’t use this on other grouting colors except for white, as it might cause discoloration.

Specifications:

• Disinfectant: Not stated
• Bleach/No Bleach: No Bleach
• Application Type: Spray bottle

3. Scrubbing Bubbles Disinfectant Bathroom Grime Fighter Spray – Best for Bathroom Sink

Source: Amazon

What I liked

• Versatile while still working best for sinks
• Disinfectant; Kills 99.9% of viruses and germs
• Doesn’t require heavy scrubbing
• 4 scent options: citrus, floral fusion, lavender, and rainshower

What I didn’t like

• No unscented option

The bathroom sink is one of the MOST USED parts of your bathroom. It accumulates dried-up toothpaste, hard water stains, and soap scum from daily use. Hence, you should never overlook it when cleaning. 

This bathroom cleaner from Scrubbing Bubbles can give your sink a streak-free shine, removing all sorts of soap scum, hard water stains, mold, and mildew. 

You only need to spray this solution six to eight inches away from the area and let it sit for at least five minutes before wiping to guarantee a spotless sink.

This bathroom cleaner can be used for the entire bathroom as it’s labeled as a multi-surface bathroom cleaner. It works as a tile cleaner on shower walls, vinyl shower curtains, and glass shower doors.

You can choose from four fresh scent options, including a fresh citrus scent. However, there’s no scentless bathroom cleaner option up for grabs.

Specifications:

• Disinfectant: Yes
• Bleach/No Bleach: Bleach
• Application Type: Spray bottle

4. Clorox Plus Tilex Daily Shower Cleaner – Best Shower Cleaner

Source: Amazon

What I liked

• No bleach or ammonia & the smell that usually comes with it
• Preventive spray to keep the shower clean
• Works as a tub, glass shower doors, and tile cleaner in one
• No scrubbing brush, wiping, or elbow grease required

What I didn’t like

• Not as much cleaning power as bleach/ammonia bathroom cleaners

The Clorox Daily Shower Cleaner is more of a preventative sanitizing spray than the typical deep shower cleaner we’re used to. You’re supposed to use it in your shower to prevent molds and soap scum build-up.

This daily shower cleaner isn’t too strong and doesn’t contain bleach or ammonia in its formula. Hence, it’s safe to use on various surfaces, including glazed and unglazed ceramic tile, grout, and plastic.

If you spray this shower cleaner after showering, you can prevent soap scum and other unwanted stains from ever clinging to the walls, glass surfaces, or tiles.

This shower cleaner will help a lot, especially in humid places or if you have a hard water source. Prevention is ALWAYS BETTER than fixing the problem afterward.

Specifications:

• Disinfectant: Yes
• Bleach/No Bleach: Bleach
• Application Type: Spray bottle

5. Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach – Best Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Source: Amazon

What I liked

• Minimal scrubbing required
• Cap is child safe, and no accidental spills
• Angled nozzle helps get to hard-to-reach places
• Extra strength for toilet bowl germs and bacteria

What I didn’t like

• Hard to see the liquid in the toilet bowl

When looking for the best toilet bowl cleaners, one thing you must consider is EXTRA STRENGTH, like the cleaning power of Clorox. It kills 99.9% of germs and deodorizes the toilet too.

As we all know, toilet bowls are contaminated with different types of germs like bacteria and viruses. That’s why Clorox formulated their toilet bowl cleaner with bleach to completely sanitize the area. 

To use, directly apply the liquid to the toilet bowl and lightly scrub with a brush. Let it sit for 10 minutes before flushing to work its magic. This allows it to soak and kill as many germs as possible.

It can be hard to see the toilet cleaner inside toilet bowls due to its transparent gel color. However, it isn’t a big deal since you’ll spread it around the entire area anyway.

Specifications:

• Disinfectant: Yes
• Bleach/No Bleach: Bleach
• Application Type: Resealable flow cap

6. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber – Best for Soap Scum

Source: Amazon

What I liked

• Very convenient to use
• No need for extra equipment
• Light and pleasant scent
• Works on multiple surfaces

What I didn’t like

• A bit difficult to store after use

This is a unique bathroom cleaner because instead of a spray bottle, you get a pad that can wipe almost any surface. It works best when trying to remove soap scum on multiple surfaces.

This Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works as a minor stain remover, too, whether you’re using it on porcelain toilets’ exteriors or shower doors.

It isn’t too harsh because it doesn’t use bleach and has a pleasant light scent. However, storing it can be a hassle because it falls apart pretty quickly after it gets wet and used.

Specifications:

• Disinfectant: No
• Bleach/No Bleach: No Bleach
• Application Type: Wiping pads

7. 9 Elements Bathroom Cleaner – Best Eco-Friendly

Source: Amazon

What I liked

• EPA Safer Choice certification
• Uses all-natural materials
• Three essential oils-based scents

What I didn’t like

• A bit more expensive than other cleaners

This bathroom cleaner from 9 Elements is your best pick if you want one that only uses NATURAL INGREDIENTS. It’s septic-safe and won’t harm the environment as it goes down the drain.

It doesn’t contain harsh chemicals like bleach, making it great for delicate materials. It works as a stain remover and can deep clean too.

However, it is on the pricier side, and it doesn’t come in fragrance-free options.

Specifications:

• Disinfectant: Not stated
• Bleach/No Bleach: No Bleach
• Application Type: Spray bottle

8. Stoner Invisible Glass with EZ Grip Sprayer – Best Glass Cleaner

Source: Amazon

What I liked

• Light mist spray that doesn’t drip
• No residue after wiping
• Streak-free

What I didn’t like

• Can’t refill the bottle when depleted

This is one of the best glass cleaners for bathroom mirrors. It doesn’t leave any residue, and the spray mechanism feels PREMIUM.

I’m pretty sure you’ll want a bathroom cleaner like Stoner’s, especially if you want a flawless-looking mirror. The only downside is that it can’t be refilled when it runs out.

Specifications:

• Disinfectant: Not stated
• Bleach/No Bleach: No Bleach/Ammonia
• Application Type: Spray bottle

9. OxiClean Foam-Tastic Bathroom Cleaner – Best Foam Spray

Source: Amazon

What I liked

• Foam clings onto surfaces without dripping
• Value for money
• Mild, good-smelling scent
• Great for spot-cleaning

What I didn’t like

• Not the best for full bathroom cleaning

This foam-based bathroom cleaner from OxiClean specializes in cleaning small or specific parts of your bathroom. What I like about this foam formula is it’s not messy and doesn’t drip everywhere.

You can clean a small portion of the wall without affecting other objects near it since the foam won’t spill and drip compared to a traditional spray.

However, it isn’t ideal for cleaning large surfaces, and the entire bathroom — the content for each bottle is not enough to cover the whole area.

Specifications:

• Disinfectant: No
• Bleach/No Bleach: Not stated
• Application Type: Foam spray

10. Scrubbing Bubbles Mega Shower Foamer Aerosol – Best Bathtub Cleaner

Source: Amazon

What I liked

• Foam can be easily aimed
• Takes away most stains and buildup
• Also a disinfectant
• Cleans as it sits on the surface

What I didn’t like

• Hard to spread it over a large surface

Another great foam spray option is one from Scrubbing Bubbles, specifically the Mega Shower Foamer Aerosol. It can be used as a disinfectant while cleaning grime and stains.

This bathroom cleaner can also remove stains as it sits on the surface — the longer you leave it there, the more effective it will be. 

However, it requires MORE SCRUBBING than traditional liquid or gel applications.

Specifications:

• Disinfectant: Yes
• Bleach/No Bleach: Not stated
• Application Type: Foam spray

How to Choose the Best Cleaning Product for Your Bathroom

When choosing a bathroom cleaner, you should pick one based on the kind of bathroom you have, where you live, and your personal preferences with regard to the materials being used.

Consider your Bathroom Specifics (materials, surfaces, type of dirt)

Each bathroom is built differently, with varying materials. Some harsher bathroom cleaner options might NOT be suitable for the surfaces in your specific bathroom.

Therefore, you need to check the product description to see if it’s compatible with the materials used for your bathroom’s construction.

Understand Product Ingredients

Bleach and ammonia are two common materials you’ll hear when researching for a bathroom cleaner. These are VERY STRONG formulas that remove stains and disinfect surfaces.

However, if your surfaces aren’t suitable for any of these, you must avoid them at all cost. They’re also not great for your clothes or skin if exposed for a long period.

Take into Account Cost-Effectiveness

While it may be tempting to go for ones that advertise the most features, the most premium option isn’t always the best choice. 

You can SAVE MONEY by buying products that are just as good in serving your needs well. You can even go for homemade cleaners, especially when dealing with minor stains. 

Assess Environmental Impact

The bleach and ammonia I mentioned earlier are just two of the many harsher chemicals used in bathroom cleaners — these aren’t good for the environment once they go down the drain.

You might want to consider getting eco-friendly options if that’s really important to you.

Tips for Effective Bathroom Cleaning using Selected Products

• Only use products on surfaces they’re advertised to work on.
• Let the product sit for a specified time before flushing with water.
• Use a combination of preventative and deep-cleaning products.
• If the product has bleach or ammonia, WEAR GLOVES.
• Follow these effective bathroom cleaning steps.

Comparison: Branded Products Vs. Homemade Solutions

Branded products generally have more research and development and use stronger chemicals than homemade solutions. They are great if you want the ultimate convenience and performance.

However, homemade solutions are great if you want to SAVE MONEY and use natural ingredients as bathroom cleaners. These are also good alternatives when you’re in a pinch and have nothing else to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

After learning more about bathroom cleaners and how to pick the best one, you might have some related questions. I’ve answered the most commonly asked questions below.

Conclusion

Cleaning your bathroom regularly with the appropriate cleaners is important. Disinfecting surfaces contributes to keeping your bathroom virus and bacteria-free.

There isn’t one product on this list that will work for everyone. It depends on your bathroom materials, your preference, and how much you care about the environment.

Whether you’re cleaning your toilet, shower curtains, sink, mirror, or any other parts of your bathroom, always remember that different cleaning options may work DISTINCTLY for different surfaces.