Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner Review

Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner (ASC) promises to magically clean your shower with the push of a button. Can a little jet stream remove mold, mildew, and soap scum? 

Let me start by saying I hate...loathe...despise...having to clean the shower. I do it, but I grumble and whine the entire time, so anything that could actually do this dreaded chore for me had to be checked out. Since the ASC says it will not only keep an already clean shower spotless but also clean one that's...shall we say less than spotless, I purchased two kits and planned my own experiment.

After running home with my miracles in a box, I unpacked them and found: one power sprayer, two 34 oz refill bottles, four AA batteries (extra points for including those!) and one hanger. Assembly was easy - pop in the batteries, attach the hanger and snap in a refill bottle.  While the ASC is not recommended for showers with brass fixtures, natural marble or finished wood, I have none of those to contend with. Dimpled glass doors and ceramic tile are my main concerns.

Operation is simple. After the last shower of the day, you push the button and close the shower door (or curtain). A fifteen-second beep warns you that the unit is about to activate. If you accidentally bump the button or need to turn the unit off, you just push the button again within that 15 second period. Once activated, the ASC spins all the way around for 12 seconds, spraying the cleanser. The directions state that the spray will reach over 8 feet.  Maintenance is a matter of changing batteries and replacing the bottle of cleanser when needed. Each bottle is supposed to last up to 21 cleanings and batteries up to four months.

When using the automatic shower cleaner, you can clean the shower before using the product or let the product clean the shower, taking as long as 10 days to do so. I opted for the 10-day method in the shower/tub combo. Within 4 days, the cleaner had done its job and done it well! Seeing as the primary user of this bathroom is my pre-teen son, this alone got a thumbs up from me! (Moms of pre-teens & teens can relate, I'm sure!) The other bathroom has a shower stall with dimpled glass doors that is approximately 7 feet square. This shower started off clean and I was looking for something to keep it that way.  After the same 4 day period it still looked great, all except for one strip of soap scum under the soap dish. I think the way the dish extends from the wall blocks the cleanser from hitting that area. I ended up having to wipe down that area myself. It did get into all those dreaded dimples on the doors and that more than made up for having to clean under the soap dish.

The shower isn't slick after cleaning. It smells clean, but there is a hint of bleach that gets stronger when hot water hits it. I didn't find it strong enough to obnoxious and it didn't set off my husbands sensitive sinuses. The package states that the cleaning spray is safe for bath sponges. However, after forgetting to remove my bath sponge I found it felt rough and smelled of bleach...ick. The cleaner doesn't affect plastic bottles (shampoo, etc.) but can cause some fabrics to fade. Be careful with your exterior (decorative) shower curtains.  I found that each bottle of cleanser lasted a bit longer than the predicted 21 cleanings - closer to 30.

Bottom Line:
Its been a month since I installed the ASC and except for the small strip under the soap dish, I haven't had to fully clean my shower or bathtub since! While there are a few little things I would like to see improved, I'm happy with Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner. I love stepping into a clean shower every day....especially when I didn't have to sweat to get it that way!