Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to wash away soap scum and prevent mold without the smelly side effects of harsher products like bleach, which causes ear, throat, and lung irritation1. If you’re looking for an effective DIY cleaner, skip through to the end for some all-time favorites from the mbg vault. So to decide if a product is up to your cleaning standards, you’ll need to check out its ingredient list—if you can find it. The FDA doesn’t actually require cleaning companies to disclose their ingredients to consumers. Lack of transparency is a red flag—especially when it comes to products we’re going to literally bathe in—so skip over any company that doesn’t have this list. Then onto the next layer of scrutiny: If a product contains chemicals that can harm the environment when rinsed down the drain or worse, harm you when you breathe them in, you’ll want to skip it. “Some bathroom cleaners may be more acidic (low pH) or basic (high pH) with higher concentrations of acids or alkalis compared to some all-purpose cleaners,” explains Samara Geller, a senior research and database analyst for the Environmental Working Group (EWG). “These formulas can be irritating or corrosive to eyes, skin, and airways and can worsen asthma.” Some potential problem ingredients in bathroom cleaning products include triclosan (linked to antibiotic resistance), 1,4 Dioxane (potential carcinogen), and 2-butoxyethanol acetate (causes irritation, headache, and vomiting). Geller adds bleach-based products, ammonia or ammonium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide to the list. Any drain de-clogging liquid you buy will likely contain multiple potentially harmful chemicals, so you’re better off avoiding those altogether and using another method. Sleuthing through product labels can get tedious. We did the legwork and chose six shower cleaners that are safe, effective, and suitable for a number of surfaces. One all-purpose cleaner, one spot treatment, and a glass cleaner if you have a glass shower door should be all you need in your cleaning arsenal. Always test out new products on a small patch of surface first to make sure your shower is OK with them. Lemi Shine Shower + Tile Cleaner, 28 oz., 3 pk. ($19.99) Seventh Generation Emerald Cypress & Fir Tub & Tile Cleaner, 32 oz. ($2.99) Earth Friendly Products ECOS Shower Cleaner with Tea Tree Oil, 22 oz., 2 pk. ($16.79) Their Oxygen Boost takes it up a notch to fight tougher stains sans bleach, ammonia, fragrances, or dyes. Sprinkle it on top of dirt buildup or mold, let sit for one to five minutes, then wipe clean with a scrub brush. The Branch Basics team recommends finishing by spraying hydrogen peroxide on the area and letting it dry. Branch Basics Oxygen Boost, 2 lbs. ($10) Concrobium Mold Control Spray, 32 oz. ($10.23) Citra Clear Natural Window and Glass Cleaner Valencia, 32 oz. ($14.76) Really get in the crevices where the tub or shower floor meets the wall since that’s where buildup tends to form. A bathroom scrubber or designated tub toothbrush comes in handy here. Don’t forget to wipe down your faucets, shower head, and shower tracks, too. Staying proactive with this weekly shower scrub should protect against mold. Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
