scrubbing bubblesThe Scrubbing Bubbles automatic shower cleaner was discontinued years ago, but those of us who love not having to spray or scrub our showers are still mourning its loss. Have you wondered why such a successful, beloved product as the Scrubbing Bubble automatic shower cleaner would be discontinued?

We haven’t heard from anyone at Scrubbing Bubbles, but we have a few guesses as to why they took this product off the shelves. Plus, we have some new products you can use to get a cleaner shower with less scrubbing.

Problems with the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner

The automatic shower cleaner was likely discontinued because of manufacturing defects. Unfortunately, it’s a real challenge to create a cleaning product that sits in the shower, holds and sprays liquid, and that is waterproof to protect its electronics and battery. There’s just too much humidity in a typical bathroom.

As early as 2009 there were online reports that water would get into the casing of the scrubber, making it useless after it had been charged. There’s even an online guide from 2012 where a hobbyist describes how to fix this problem—although we don’t recommend you try it. No one knows better than a plumber that electronics and water make for a real safety hazard.

If you need a new one, you can still find some of these automatic shower cleaners on Amazon, now going for a fortune. You’ll see in the reviews there that consumers are still complaining the product only lasts a few months, so we wouldn’t say it’s worth the price.

And, unfortunately, Scrubbing Bubbles has gone on the record that they don’t intend to try to manufacture the product again.scrubbing bubbles customer

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Alternatives to the Automatic Shower Cleaner

The Scrubbing Bubbles brand officially touts it’s daily shower cleaner spray on social media when they find consumers asking for them to bring the automatic shower cleaner back. It’s a quality cleaning product, but it’s not at all what people are looking for.

The whole point of the Scrubbing Bubbles automatic shower cleaner was that you didn’t have to spray your shower anymore, or even think about cleaning it. In fact, we’ve heard from seniors with arthritis who say that the automatic cleaner was helping them stay independent in their home. Are there any real alternatives?

Unfortunately, not right now. A quick search for other automatic shower cleaners will get you a few lists that either don’t list automatic cleaners or that only talk about this discontinued product.

However, you can make some changes to your shower to make it much easier to clean. For example:

  • Switch to concrete: Concrete doesn’t collect mildew the way tile does, and you can have concrete installed with a wide variety of designs. This is a drastic solution, but if you’re already considering concrete, this could tip the scales.
  • Reseal your grout: Mildew and mold love grout, so don’t give them the chance to know each other. Scrub your grout regularly, and reseal every year or two.
  • Install a frameless door: These doors eliminate the problem of mildew and other grime that gathers in the nooks of the door frame.
  • Add more ventilation: Installing or upgrading a bathroom fan will help reduce humidity, which will give all mold and mildew less of a chance to grow.

Bathroom Cleaning Robots

Inventors haven’t given up on the problem of hard-to-clean showers. There are a few bathroom cleaning robots in the early stages that you could invest in if you really hate to spray your shower. Check out the TubBot to clean the bottom of the shower, the Hobot 298 to clean glass shower panels, and the SpinX kickstarter to clean your toilet.

If your bathroom is in need of more than just a deep cleaning, give us a call right away for any shower renovation related questions or toilet repair needs that you may have, and rest assured knowing that our team will come to you, regardless of whether you’re located in Lathrop, Manteca, Modesto, or elsewhere in our service area.