The 6 Best Shower Tile Cleaners for Restoring Drab Grout and Tile

Corrie
by Corrie

By Corrie Pelc


Cleaning shower tiles is not always as easy as a lot of homeowners think. While multipurpose bathroom cleaners can usually do the trick, shower tiles are made of materials like granite and marble that are porous and sometimes need special care. And don't even get us started on tile grout — dirt and mold sometimes seem to take it over no matter what we do to prevent it.


For that reason, a shower tile cleaner is an important weapon to have in your cleaning arsenal. The right bathroom tile cleaner helps make short work of soap scum, can remove — and prevent — mildew, and can keep your tile grout as clean-looking as the day you first had it installed. This guide will walk you through the best shower tile cleaners on the market right now.

Yellow gloved hand and sponge wiping white tile

Top Picks

Test Factors We Considered When Picking the Best Shower Tile Cleaners

Let’s take a look at the test factors we used to determine our list of the best bathroom shower tile cleaners:

  • Bottle Size: How much bathroom tile cleaner does the user get for their money?
  • Application: How is the shower tile cleaner applied — is it a spray? Does it come preloaded in a wipe? Is it a concentrated liquid that needs to be diluted before using?
  • What It Cleans: What types of surfaces does this shower tile cleaner also remove grime from?


Here’s a look at our list of the best shower tile cleaners you can buy right now.

Best Multipurpose Shower Tile Cleaner: CLR Brilliant Bath Foaming Action Cleaner

Bottle Size: 26 ounces Application: Spray bottle What It Cleans: Porcelain, ceramic tile, shower doors, sinks, white grout and caulk, bathtubs, toilet bowls, fiberglass, countertops

If you like the idea of a cleaner that not only cleans shower tiles but can be used on the rest of your bathroom, then you'll love the CLR Brilliant Bath Foaming Action Cleaner. This multi-surface cleaner uses a powerful foam to easily cut through soap scum, hard water deposits, calcium and lime build-up, and other grime on shower tiles, sinks, shower heads, faucets, and bathtubs. Just spray the cleaner directly onto what you want to clean and wipe — easy as that. And the CLR Brilliant Bath Foaming Action Cleaner is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safer Choice Program as a safe option for cleaning — it contains no harsh chemicals like ammonia, bleach, or phosphates.

Pros

  • Super affordable
  • Can be used throughout the entire bathroom
  • Certified by EPA’s Safer Choice Program

Cons

  • None that we can see!

Best Shower Tile Cleaner for Removing Mold and Mildew: Clorox Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover

Bottle Size: 2-pack of 16-ounce bottles Application: Spray bottle What It Cleans: Glazed and unglazed ceramic tile, grout, vinyl, fiberglass, and plastic

Because bathrooms are usually warm and humid, they are the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. To help combat these organisms you may have in your shower, we suggest giving Clorox Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover a try. Containing Clorox bleach, this cleaner kills 99.9 percent of household mold and mildew and helps eliminate stains from shower tiles by killing off the fungus that causes them, all while removing soap scum. This cleaner is safe for use on glazed and unglazed ceramic tile, grout, vinyl, fiberglass, and plastic. And Clorox Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover can also be used to kill mildew and mold on bathtubs, shower doors, vinyl shower curtains, sinks, countertops, and no-wax floors.

Pros

  • Kills 99.99 percent of mold and mildew
  • Eliminates stains and soap scum
  • Can be used on a variety of bathroom fixtures and materials

Cons

  • Since it contains bleach, it needs to be used in a well-ventilated area

Best Natural Shower Tile Cleaner: Better Life Natural Tub and Tile Cleaner

Bottle Size: 32 ounces Application: Spray bottle What It Cleans: Ceramic, porcelain, stainless steel, fiberglass, acrylic, chrome

Get your bathroom shower tiles sparkling clean with all-natural ingredients thanks to the Better Life Natural Tub and Tile Cleaner. This shower tile cleaner uses all plant-based, biodegradable ingredients, such as essential oils from botanical extracts and natural cleaning agents. While its ingredients may be gentle on the planet, it's still plenty tough on shower tile grime such as soap scum and hard water stains. This cleaner can also be used throughout the entire shower, including the doors, grout, and fixtures, as well as countertops, toilets, and bathtubs. Better Life Natural Tub and Tile Cleaner is safe to use around kids and pets and is produced by a cruelty-free Leaping Bunny-certified company.

Pros

  • Plant-based, biodegradable formula
  • Uses essential oils from botanical extracts
  • Can be used to clean shower tiles, as well as the rest of the bathroom

Cons

  • Bit expensive

Best Shower Tile Grout Cleaner: It Just Works! Grout-Eez Super Heavy Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner

Bottle Size: 2-pack of 32-ounce bottles and brush Application: Pour bottle What It Cleans: Grout, ceramic, and porcelain tiles

While most bathroom shower tile cleaners can be also used to clean tile grout, sometimes extra-dirty grout calls for a cleaner designed just for it. In those instances, turn to It Just Works! Grout-Eez Super Heavy Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner. This heavy-duty strength cleaner makes short work of dirt, stains, and grease from tile grout, and can also be used on both ceramic and porcelain tiles. The cleaner is safe for use on both white and colored grouts and helps return your grout to its original color. This set also includes a specially-shaped brush that easily attaches to a standard broom pole, which allows you to use the cleaner on tile flooring as well.

Pros

  • Can also be used to clean porcelain and ceramic tiles
  • Safe for both white and colored grouts
  • Comes with a specially-designed grout cleaning brush

Cons

  • Not for use on natural stone tiles

Best Shower Tile Cleaner for Natural Stone: Granite Gold Shower Cleaner

Bottle Size: 24 ounces Application: Spray bottle What It Cleans: Natural stone tile, ceramic tile, bathtubs

Because they are very porous, natural stone tiles like granite, marble, and quartz can be damaged by normal shower tile cleaners. We recommend always using a cleaner designed for natural stone tiles, such as Granite Gold Shower Cleaner. This cleaner is able to deeply clean natural stone tiles without any harm. It can also be used on ceramic tiles and bathtubs. When used regularly, the cleaner helps prevent soap scum, hard-water deposits, mold, and mildew from appearing. And the Granite Gold Shower Cleaner contains no phosphates or ammonia.

Pros

  • Designed specifically for cleaning natural stone tile
  • Can also be used to clean ceramic tile and bathtubs
  • When used regularly, helps prevent mold, mildew, soap scum, and hard water deposits

Cons

  • Not for all bathroom-cleaning purposes

Best Shower Tile Scrubber: OXO Good Grips Extendable Tub and Tile Scrubber

Bottle Size: N/A Application: N/A What It Cleans: Shower tile walls, shower doors, bathroom flooring

While having a powerful bathroom shower tile cleaner is a good thing, sometimes you need a little extra scrubbing power to really get tiles clean. In those cases, turn to the OXO Good Grips Extendable Tub and Tile Scrubber. This bad boy is designed to scrub clean bathroom tile walls, shower doors, floors, and many more surfaces without you needing to get on your knees or crouch down. The nylon scrubber head, which is replaceable, even pivots to get into all the hard-to-reach corners and crevices in showers and bathtubs. Lastly, the OXO Good Grips Extendable Tub and Tile Scrubber comes with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty.

Pros

  • Designed to scrub shower walls and doors without the user needing to kneel or crouch
  • Scrubber head pivots to get into hard-to-reach areas
  • Backed by a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty

Cons

  • Scrubber heads need to be replaced over time

More Shower Tile Cleaning Tips

Having a great shower tile cleaner is great, but there are things you can do to help make cleaning shower tile less of a chore. Here are three easy things you can do to help keep grime, soap scum, and mildew from building up on your shower tiles:

  • Break Out the Squeegee: Spend a few dollars and purchase a rubber squeegee for your shower. Then after every shower, use it to quickly remove water and any soap residue from the tiled walls and on any glass shower doors or partitions. You’ll be amazed at how just spending a few extra seconds before you jump out of the shower makes a huge difference the next time you clean your shower tile.
  • Remove Humidity: Hot showers create humidity, which can get trapped in your bathroom. This is what causes mildew and mold to grow in the small crevices around showers and tubs, as well as in between tiles. After taking a shower, crack a window or open the bathroom door to remove excess humidity. And try to run the bathroom fan for as long as possible to help shower tile surfaces dry out faster.
  • Use a Grout Sealant: After you get your tile grout nice and clean, apply a tile grout sealant to keep it that way. The sealant keeps new dirt from clinging to the grout and will stop stains from setting in.


Do you have a shower tile cleaner that keeps your bathroom sparkling? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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  • Dee Dee on May 24, 2022

    Heat up 1 cup of white vinegar, mix in about 1/4 cup of Dawn Premium. Not the dollar store kind, because it is too thin. When mixed, pour into a spray bottle and fill with water. Shake. Spray down the grout and let it sit overnight. In the morning rinse. If you have stubborn stains, spray again. Use this mixture a few times a week. It will keep your grout and tiles clean. Also works wonders in the toilet bowl to keep hard water stains at bay. Oh you only have to heat the vinegar one time when you add the Dawn.



    If you want to completely change the color of your grout. There is a product by Mapei called Grout Refresh. You can find it in Floor and Decor and Home Depot sells a few colors, but Amazon has many colors. It is not hard to use, just time consuming. I changed the color of my 2 bathrooms grout several years ago. It has a sealer that prevents stains, and it still looks brand new.


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