Product comparison
Melaleuca Tub & Tile 12x vs Lime-A-Way vs Scrubbing Bubbles Foaming Bleach: bathroom cleaners compared
Melaleuca Tub & Tile 12x, Lime-A-Way and Scrubbing Bubbles Foaming Bleach compared on ingredients, surfaces to avoid, size and price.
Tub & Tile, Lime-A-Way and Scrubbing Bubbles
Tub & Tile 12x. Photo: melaleuca.com 
Lime-A-Way. Photo: target.com 
Scrubbing Bubbles Foaming Bleach. Photo: scrubbingbubbles.com
Tub & Tile 12x is a lemon-and-glycolic-acid concentrate you mix with tap water at home. Lime-A-Way and Scrubbing Bubbles Foaming Bleach come as ready-to-use sprays. Lime-A-Way targets mineral stains, and Scrubbing Bubbles uses bleach. They share a shelf but are made for different jobs.
How the three cleaners compare
Prices change, so check each maker's site or your store before you buy.
| Tub & Tile 12x | Lime-A-Way Bathroom Cleaner | Scrubbing Bubbles Foaming Bleach | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | 8 fl oz liquid concentrate you mix at home | 22 fl oz ready-to-use trigger spray | Ready-to-use bleach foam spray |
| What it targets | Soap scum and hard water stains | Lime, calcium and rust stains | Soap scum, mold and mildew stains |
| Key cleaning ingredients | Citric acid (lemons) and plant-derived glycolic acid, per Melaleuca | Not listed | Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) |
| Surfaces to avoid | Natural marble, stone, colored grout, antique brass, acrylic | Natural marble, stone, terrazzo, aluminum, metallic or painted surfaces, colored grout, counter tops | Label lists approved surfaces: glazed tile, chrome, glazed porcelain, sealed stone, showers, sinks, tubs, toilets |
| How to use | Mix concentrate to the 12x line, add water to Fill, spray, wait a few minutes, scrub, rinse | Spray on, no scrubbing needed per the maker | Spray, let the foam penetrate, wipe, rinse |
| Size | 8 fl oz concentrate (makes 6 spray bottles) | 22 fl oz | Not listed |
| Price | $10.00 regular, $6.99 member | $5.19 at Target | Not listed |
| How you buy | Melaleuca's online store, member pricing for members | Target | Not listed |
What Melaleuca says about Tub & Tile 12x
Melaleuca describes the cleaner this way: "With the natural cleaning power of lemons (citric acid) and plant-derived glycolic acid, this 12x super-concentrated bathroom cleaner melts away soap scum and hard water stains with minimal scrubbing and no harsh fumes or abrasives."
Both ingredients are acids. The directions say to keep the cleaner off natural marble, stone, colored grout, antique brass and acrylic, and never to mix it with bleach.
One small bottle makes six spray bottles. Pour the concentrate into a reusable spray bottle to the 12x line, then add tap water to the Fill mark. Spray, wait a few minutes, scrub and rinse. The spray bottle is sold separately.
What Lime-A-Way's maker says
The Lime-A-Way listing at Target describes it as a cleaner that "Removes lime, calcium and rust stains caused by the natural minerals in your water," and says it "Removes the toughest limescale in seconds without scrubbing!" The 22 fl oz trigger spray sells for $5.19 there.
Its label says not to use it on natural marble, stone, terrazzo, aluminum, metallic or painted surfaces, colored grout or counter tops. If your bathroom has a marble vanity or stone shower, keep both sprays off those surfaces and check each label before you start.
What Scrubbing Bubbles says about Foaming Bleach
This cleaner works differently from the other two sprays. It contains sodium hypochlorite, or bleach, and the maker says it will "wipe out soap scum and send mold and mildew stains running for the drain." Its label lists the approved surfaces: glazed tile, chrome, glazed porcelain, sealed stone, showers, sinks, tubs and toilets.
The label calls it an eye and skin irritant and says to use it in a well-ventilated area. It also says never to combine the product with acid-containing products or other cleaners.
What a bottle of Tub & Tile costs
At the regular price, divide $10.00 by 6 bottles. That comes to about $1.67 per ready bottle. At the member price of $6.99, each bottle costs about $1.17. The reusable mixing spray bottle costs $3.00 regular or $1.79 for members.
Lime-A-Way costs $5.19 for 22 fl oz. The bottles hold different amounts and do different jobs; compare the cost with the work you need done.
Which cleaner fits your bathroom?
Tub & Tile 12x covers soap scum and hard water spots on tubs, showers, sinks, fixtures and tile floors. Because you mix it at home, one concentrate stretches across six refills. The full lineup is covered in the guide to Melaleuca household cleaning products.
For rust and mineral buildup from hard water, Lime-A-Way is made for that job and, per its maker, skips the scrubbing. Scrubbing Bubbles Foaming Bleach uses foam to clean mold or mildew stains on the surfaces its label approves. If your bathroom has marble or stone, read the avoid lists closely: Tub & Tile and Lime-A-Way both warn against those surfaces.
Questions about mixing and surfaces
Can I mix Tub & Tile with bleach? No. Melaleuca's directions say never to mix it with bleach. Scrubbing Bubbles Foaming Bleach also says never to mix it with acid-containing products or other cleaners.
Can I use these on marble or natural stone? Tub & Tile and Lime-A-Way both say no to natural marble and stone. Scrubbing Bubbles lists sealed stone among its approved surfaces.
How many bottles does one Tub & Tile concentrate make? Six spray bottles. Melaleuca says one 8 fl oz concentrate makes six spray bottles when you mix it to the 12x line with water.
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