When I first started writing a cleaning advice column, I wasn’t a cleaning expert — I was a person with a soul-deadening corporate job who simply knew a lot about cleaning and was willing to answer any question that came my way with great enthusiasm.
That enthusiasm was what set my work apart from other instructive cleaning content that was available on the internet at the time — these were the days before #CleanTok and #FridgeGoals and all the other cleaning-obsessed hashtags that now abound on social media. And there was no product that I was more enthusiastic about than a foaming bathroom cleaner called Scrubbing Bubbles. (One reader commented, on my passion for Scrubbing Bubbles, “I wish I loved anything in life as much as Jolie Kerr loves Scrubbing Bubbles.”
Well over a decade later, I still love Scrubbing Bubbles with the same —?if not more — passion than I did when I first started out as a cleaning advice columnist. I think it’s just about the best out there, and I’d like to tell you about it!
Scrubbing Bubbles is an aerosol foam cleaner designed for use in the bathroom. The foaming formula provides more thorough coverage, clinging to vertical surfaces much better than liquid tub and shower cleaners.
Besides Rainshower, you can also find the Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Grime Fighter in several other fresh and fruity scents, such as Floral Fusion, Citrus and Berry Burst.
How I found Scrubbing Bubbles
I actually can’t remember a time when I didn’t know about Scrubbing Bubbles. It was the bathroom cleaner of choice in my house when I was growing up, and when it came time to move into my first post-college apartment, Scrubbing Bubbles was among the cleaning supplies I bought for my new place.
In the years since, I’ve tried other brands of foaming bathroom cleaners, including Kaboom (the blue color-changing spray that’s enjoying a viral moment thanks to TikTok), as well as an uncountable number of other bathroom cleaning products, from cream cleansers to scouring powders to hard-surface cleaning sprays to pre-moistened wipes. And none of them —?not a single one —?has come close to being as good as my beloved Scrubbing Bubbles.
Why Scrubbing Bubbles is a score
I believe that Scrubbing Bubbles is the best foaming bathroom cleaner out there — and in general, foaming bathroom cleaners are the best type of bathroom cleaner to use. They provide more coverage than other formulas since they cling to vertical surfaces (like bathtubs, shower walls and doors) much better than liquid cleaners. It also works on sinks, countertops and other bathroom surfaces made of tile, glass, stainless steel and more.
And when used properly, the foaming formula will do most of the hard work for you. It penetrates and breaks down buildup from soap scum, mineral deposits and personal care products. Once the foam has had enough time to do its work, all you have to do is wipe it away using a damp microfiber cloth. If deeper cleaning is needed, a more heavy-duty cleaning tool, like the non-scratch Scrub Daddy sponge or an electric scrub brush, may be called for.
But when it comes to regular bathroom cleaning, truly all you need is Scrubbing Bubbles and a microfiber cloth —?those two items, paired with a multi-surface cleaner for use on glass and plastic, make up the list of items needed to execute a 10-minute bathroom cleaning routine.
When people ask me what my favorite cleaning product is —?and boy do they ever ask! — I respond by telling them, first, that they are monsters for trying to make me choose just one. Then I tell them, “But fine, if I had to pick … it would be Scrubbing Bubbles.”
