This $19 drill accessory actually makes scrubbing the shower fun

Everyone has a chore they hate doing. I’ll happily pull weeds, clear brush, do dishes, clean rain gutters — but when it came to scrubbing a shower, I hated it. Now, it’s almost fun.

Some people use all sorts of chemicals to avoid getting on their hands and knees and scrubbing until all the grime goes away. No matter what I used, though, I’d still have to go in there and grind away, and it still never looked that great. Now I just use a drill brush.

Yep, power tools! The $19 Drill Brush is a brush attachment for a cordless drill, and an absolute godsend for anyone who needs to clean a shower, sink, or bathtub. Rev the drill, the brush spins, any gunk comes off. Done.

The base pack comes with three attachments: “flat” brushes with either a 2-inch or 4-inch diameter, as well as a rounded “corner brush” that allows you to get in and scrub any curves that your shower has. All three include nylon bristles, and they’re rated as safe for porcelain, fiberglass shower enclosures, and shower-door tracks. I’ve used them on all three, and haven’t noticed any nicks or scratching.

Now, scrubbing a shower means spraying your shower cleaner of choice on the shower surface, then selecting the right head for the job. I wait a minute or two to let it soak in, scrub off the gunk, then rinse it with some clean water. (Just make sure to keep the drill out of the way of the rinse water to avoid the risk of shocking yourself.) I really appreciate the fact that I can just lean on the drill and let the brush do the work.

Since each Drill Brush set is less than $20, you can either buy separate sets for other tasks or simply buy a three-pack for $56 if you want to use other brushes for cleaning grout, sinks, tires, or whatever. Just make sure you pay attention to which brush you’re buying — Drill Brush uses different colors to designate different levels of stiffness, so a yellow brush is best for a bath or shower, while red brushes are better for outdoor surfaces.

I’ve never been too worried about burning out my drill — it’s not like I (or, let’s be honest here — my wife) waits for years before it’s time to clean the shower again. It doesn’t take too much effort for the grime to come right off.

Using a drill brush does require you to get on your hands and knees, however, and use it at somewhat awkward angles. And if you are concerned about dedicating your drill to…drilling, this $30 Clelifove cordless shower scrubber offers an alternative: it includes a rotating scrubber with a 58-inch telescoping handle, eight brushes, a rechargeable battery, and it’s waterproof.

I’ve never used the Clelifove scrubber, so I can’t personally recommend it. But I bought a set of Drill Brushes years ago on the recommendation of a colleague, and never regretted it. It’s one of those little gadgety things that made my life better.