Bathroom Surface Cleaners
Product Comparisons
Lingering residues from ingredients in conventional bathroom cleaners, such as ammonia and glycol ethers, can dissolve in shower steam and leave behind harmful vapors that can cause respiratory irritation and central nervous system depression (read more in The Backstory). The best way to ensure the safety of bathroom cleaners--and to save money--is to make one at home. Soap and water, or baking soda for scrubbing soap scum, work for most bathroom cleaning needs. See "DIY Household Cleaners" for quick and easy cleaner recipes. Or scrub down bathroom surfaces with one of the products below, which will clean your tub without dirtying indoor air.Also, check the label of your favorite all-purpose cleaner which may be suitable for bathroom surfaces.
GG Rating
Good: These products are preferable to their conventional counterparts, although they still contain one or more potentially harmful ingredients and may contain other unnecessary petroleum-based ingredients solely for aesthetic purposes, such as synthetic dyes or fragrances. The manufacturer may use vague terms to describe ingredients, i.e. "biodegradable surfactants" and "preservative," which prevent consumers from confirming that the product is free of hazardous ingredients, and may not make ingredient lists readily available on packages and/or online.
Better: The manufacturer of these products may use vague terms to describe ingredients, i.e. "biodegradable surfactants" and "preservative," which prevent consumers from confirming that the product is free of hazardous ingredients, but ingredient lists are readily available on packages and/or online. These products also may contain one or more potentially harmful ingredients but no unnecessary petroleum-based additives.
Best: These products contain no potentially harmful ingredients or unnecessary additives. The manufacturer lists specific ingredients and makes ingredient lists readily available on packages and/or online.
Wondering what these table headings mean? They're the criteria we used to choose and evaluate the products in the chart below. Learn more about their importance in What To Look For.
| Name | GG Rating | Ingredients | Packaging | MSRP | Purchasing Information | Reader Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bon Ami Cleaning Powder | Best | feldspar, tallow soap | cardboard and aluminum | $9.95/6 12 oz. cans | www.agelong.com, 800-892-8022 |
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| Bon Ami Earth Friendly Polishing Cleanser | Better | feldspar, calcite, sodium alkyl-benzene, soda ash | cardboard and aluminum | $6.95/ 6 14 oz. cans | www.agelong.com, 800-892-8022 |
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| Bi-O-Kleen Soy Cream Cleanser | Better | water, xanthan gum, zeolite, linear alcohol surfactant from coconut, coconut surfactant (no DEA or SLS), low pH silicate, food grade lime extract, grapefruit seed extract, soybean oil extract, less than 0.2% environmentally friendly polymer, natural volcanic perlite | #1 PETE | $6.95/32 oz. | www.planetnatural.com, 800-289-6656 |
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| Earth Friendly Creamy Cleanser | Better | water, xanthan gum, crystalline silica, lemon oil | $3.09/16 oz. | www.ecos.com, 800-335-ECOS |
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| Ecover Limescale Remover | Better | water, citric acid, plant-based nonionic tensio-active surfactants, plant-based fragrance | #1 PET (bottle), #1 PET & #5 PP (trigger) | $5.03/16 oz. | www.herbtrader.com, 800-669-3275 |
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| Mrs. Meyers Shower Cleaner | Good | water, plant-derived nonionic surfactant, essential oils, fragrance, preservative | #2 HDPE | $4.99/22 oz. | www.mrsmeyers.com, 877-865-1508 |
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| Naturally Yours Basin, Tub, and Tile Cleaner | Better | water, citric acid, ionic surfactant, distilled fruit oil, organic preservative | #2 HDPE | $5/32 oz. | www.naturallyyoursclean.com, 888-801-7347 |
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| Seaside Naturals Bathroom Cleaner | Better | filtered water, vinegar, borax, a blend of pure essential oils (if scented), grain alcohol, polysorbate 20, naturally derived cleaning agent (vegetable-based surfactant) | #1 PET | $6.99/32 oz. | www.seasidenaturals.com, 800-870-1697 |
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| Seventh Generation Natural Citrus Bathroom Cleaner | Better | hydrogen peroxide, biodegradable surfactants, citrus oil, food-grade, non-toxic oxygen stabilizers, water | #2 HDPE (minimum 25% PCR) | $5.39/32 oz. | www.drugstore.com |
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| Seventh Generation Natural Shower Cleaner | Better | hydrogen peroxide, plant-derived surfactants, whole and natural plant essences (a blend of mandarin, spearmint and petitgrain essential oils), water | #2 HDPE (minimum 25% PCR) | $5.39/32 oz. | www.drugstore.com |
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| Sound Earth's The Velvet Hammer | Best | baking soda, vinegar, borax, castille soap, hydrogen peroxide | #1 PET | $7.99/20 oz. | www.soundearth.com, 888-608-9678 |
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1 Reader Comment Rate/Review This Product |