Cleaning Grout and Tile Is Easier Than Ever With Our Favorite Electric Scrubbers (2024)

Whether you're using it to make a shower stall sparkle or to scrub away the stuck grime on a stove, an electric scrubber can be one of your most helpful cleaning tools. Thanks to its motorized cleaning, you'll use less elbow grease, making the most challenging household chores much easier.

There are various factors to consider when looking for the best electric scrubber, according to Robin Murphy, founder of ChirpChirp House Cleaning. "You want a powerful motor to handle tough scrubbing jobs, an assortment of different brush heads to clean all types of surfaces, ergonomic design so it’s comfortable to use, [and] adjustable extensions for increased reach," she says.

Rocky Vuong, founder of Calibre Cleaning says the electric scrubber's ease of use is also an essential feature. "It should be easy to hold and move, especially if you will be using it for long periods…A lightweight and ergonomically scrubber decreases strain on your wrists and arms and makes cleaning less of a chore," he says.

The Bottom Line

After our comprehensive testing, we determined that the best electric scrubber was the Black+Decker Grimebuster Pro Power Scrubber Brush because of its efficiency and minimal effort. We also appreciated that it was rechargeable and came with a charging station where we could hang the device.

Our Testing Process

We began our testing by assembling the electric scrubber. For scrubbers with multiple attachments, we chose the brush with the flattest surface. If the scrubber was extendable, we extended it as long and as short as it could go and measured and recorded each length.

Then, we took these extendable scrubbers (with the brush dry and off), to see how easily we could reach all areas of the bathtub. We also tested any abilities the scrubber had to rotate and change angles.

Each square of the tile floor was covered with a mud mask. We sprayed a tile cleaner on one tile and allowed it to sit for one minute. Then, we used a manual scrubber to clean off one tile square and a smaller scrubber for the grout. We cleaned until the tile was clean or 10 minutes had passed.

To clean the tile with the electric scrubber, we began with the lowest power setting, if more than one was available. Then, we adjusted the speed accordingly.

For any extendable scrubber, we performed the motion while standing, determining if we had to bend over at all. We determined how efficient and quick the electric scrubbers were at cleaning up the mud mask.

We switched to a grout attachment to get deeper into the grout on the tile floor, testing whether it was more precise than the flat brush head. We also rinsed the scrub brush heads, noting if there were any fraying or bent bristles after cleaning. Then, we rinsed the brush heads, noting how easy it was to do so.

What to Know About Electric Scrubbers Before Shopping

Brush Head Type

The best electric scrubbers include a variety of brush heads. However, some may require you to purchase them separately. A few of the common brush heads include a bristle brush, a flat scouring pad, and angled brushes.

"A stiff bristle brush is perfect for scrubbing difficult grime on hard surfaces such as grout lines, tile floors, and concrete,” Vuong says. “It is your go-to area that requires a bit of muscle. A scouring pad is good for surfaces that require scrubbing on large areas. This is ideal for countertops, large bathroom tiles, and kitchen surfaces."

We liked that the Klever Electric Spin Scrubber included eight brush head attachments, which were all various bristle brushes.

Care

You'll want to regularly clean your electric scrubber to ensure it remains fully functional and cleans well. "Soaking the heads in a mixture of dish soap and water is very effective for cleaning and degreasing them, Murphy says. “It’s important to remove the brush heads and avoid soaking the entire scrubber unit."

"Be sure to dry the brushes completely before storage to prevent moisture build-up and to store the scrubber properly between uses in a dry, ventilated area,” she says. The Black+Decker Grimebuster Pro Power Scrubber Brush has easy-to-remove brush heads which helped make it easy to clean them after use.

Handle

The best electric scrubbers are ergonomically friendly, meaning they are easy to hold for a lengthy period of time. Finding one that is adjustable at different lengths is ideal.

"Longer handles provide extra reach to clean floors, walls, and ceilings without excessive bending or stretching, however, very long handles can make the scrubber feel unwieldy," Murphy says. We liked that the HattyRoom Rechargeable Cordless Electric Spin Scrubber had an adjustable handle, which was comfortable to use at its varying lengths.

Power Source

Electric scrubbers are either battery-operated, rechargeable, or corded electric. Each option has its specific benefits.

Corded electric scrubbers are reliable since you don’t have to remember to charge them. However, they have a couple drawbacks, too. "They are usually heavier and you are less mobile as you need to be close to an outlet and restricted by the length of the cord," Murphy says.

One of the best electric scrubbers features a rechargeable battery, such as the Black+Decker Grimebuster Pro Power Scrubber Brush. This allows you to charge the batteries and maintain full mobility while cleaning. "Be sure to follow the proper charging protocols (i.e., don’t overcharge the batteries or let them fully deplete)," Murphy says.

Other Electric Scrubbers We Tested

Losuy Electric Spin Scrubber

We found that the Losuy Electric Spin Scrubber was easy to use and did a thorough cleaning job compared to a manual brush. It also had two power settings and it was extendable. However, we didn't appreciate that there was no handle for support. Plus, it seemed overpriced compared to other options that had similar features and benefits.

Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber

We liked the Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber's overall design and appreciated that it wasn’t complicated to exchange the brush heads. We also liked that the mud mask didn't spray everywhere when using the electric scrubber. Compared to a manual brush though, it performed about the same. In fact, we preferred the manual option to this scrubber.

Tasvac Electric Spin Scrubber

The Tasvac Electric Spin Scrubber was an extendable option that was comfortable to use and easy to swap out the brush heads. However, it only had one power setting and was difficult to control at times, requiring two hands to use while cleaning. However, we did feel this would be an ideal electric scrubber for harder-to-reach places.

Your Questions, Answered

How much do electric scrubbers cost?

Electric scrubbers range in price, based on their features and included attachments.While there are more expensive options available for electric scrubbers, that doesn’t mean they are necessarily better. The Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Compact Power Scrubber Kit was the most expensive option we tested—it typically retails for around $120.

However, we didn't believe the cost was worth its price since there were options that performed similarly that have a lower price point. The cheapest option we tested was the Black+Decker Power Scrubber Brush, and it was one of our favorites that we tested.

How often do you need to replace an electric scrubber?

Electric scrubbers should last several years. However, any non-rechargeable batteries and brush heads that look frayed or damaged will need replacing. Vuong recommends "[replacing] your electric scrubber when its performance is rapidly declining, it starts to have battery issues, and there is physical wear and tear on the design."

Who We Are

Nicole Pyles is a freelance writer with experience writing about home and kitchen topics as well as other commerce subjects. For this story, Nicole analyzed the data and research from the Better Homes & Gardens testing team. She also spoke to experts Robin Murphy, founder of ChirpChirp House Cleaning, and Rocky Vuong, founder of Calibre Cleaning.

What is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.