Grout Cleaning Tips & Recipes

Cleaning Tile Grout In Bathroom

Some of the recipes & cleaning solutions below contain ammonia, or bleach, or vinegar (I’ve also included other homemade cleaners that are gentler to use). There are some who claim that these items will degrade grout over time–what that amount of time is I don’t know (5 years? 50 years?) or that they may affect the grout in a way that makes them more susceptible to future staining. I can’t confirm the deterioration claims since I haven’t witnessed those problems myself. These items will help kill bacteria and remove stains, but make sure to rinse well with clear water after cleaning. If you’re concerned about grout deterioration, use them well diluted (will reduce cleaning power), or only in extreme situations, or try a cleaning method without using those ingredients at all.

Tip: After you have cleaned and removed stains from the grout, apply a fresh coat of grout sealer so grout is protected and harsh cleaning methods won’t be necessary on a regular basis.

Important: Test colored grout first before using any cleaning method to make sure it won’t be discolored by your choice of cleaner. Especially watch with bleach, vinegar and lemon juice.

Grout Cleaning Recipes

General Grout Cleaners & Brighteners

• Use your favorite liquid dish detergent to brighten grout between tiles, just drizzle on a sponge or wet cloth and scrub. You can also use toothpaste. From: 10 Quick Tips For A Shiny Bathroom.
• Use a mild soap and water solution and scrub grout clean with a plastic bristle brush.
• Grout Cleaner Recipe #1: 3 cups baking soda and 1 cup water. Mix then scrub grout clean with a sponge, leave for a few minutes then rinse clean.
• Grout Cleaner Recipe #2: 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup vinegar. Mix then rub into grout with a sponge, leave for a minute and wash clean.
• Tile & Grout Cleaner Recipe: 1/2 cup of baking soda; 1/3 cup of ammonia; 1/4 cup of white vinegar; 7 cups of water. Combine all the ingredients in a labeled spray bottle and shake well to mix. Spray on then wipe off with a damp sponge. Do not use with bleach. From Homemade Shower Spray Recipes.
• Bleach Paste: 1/4 cup bleach, 3/4 cup baking soda. Mix then apply to grout, leave for a a couple minutes then wash clean.
• Bleach Cleaner: 1/4 bleach, 1 cup water, sit for 10 minutes then rinse.
• Lemon Juice Paste: Mix lemon juice and baking soda to make a paste then apply to grout. Scrub grout with a toothbrush then wash clean. Can also try lemon & salt (just sprinkle salt on a wedge of lemon and scrub with that).

Mildew Stains In Grout

These can be used as an all-purpose grout cleaner as well, but they’re especially good for removing mildew stains in the grout.

• Bleach: First wash grout with plain water then use a toothbrush to scrub bleach into the stains, rinse to remove. If mildew stains are especially tough, leave bleach for a few minutes before scrubbing.
• Vinegar: Rub vinegar into the stained grout with a toothbrush then rinse with soap and water.
• Rubbing Alcohol: Apply with a scrub brush or sponge, wait for a minute or two then wash away with soap and water.
• Hydrogen Peroxide: Full strength for about 5 minutes, rinse clean.
• Peroxide & Baking Soda: Make a paste then apply to grout, scrub and rinse clean.
• Borax & Water Paste: Apply to grout and let it dry then scrub clean.
• Baking Soda & Liquid Dish Detergent: Apply to stain then leave overnight, wash clean in the morning.

Cleaning Tips

• After cleaning grout and removing stains, apply a grout sealer as a stain prevention method. Do this yearly or as needed.
• To test if your grout sealer is still good, squirt a few drops of water on the grout. If the grout absorbs the water instead of beading up, you need a fresh coat of sealer.
• After getting your grout nice & bright again, keep at it! Clean tile and grout regularly to avoid having to use harsh chemicals or treatments to remove stain buildup.
• If stains are really bad and nothing you try will get them out, you can remove the grout with a grout saw and then apply fresh grout. Sound difficult? Not really, I found clear instructions here: How to Clean Tile Grout.
• For quick spot cleaning, try a bleach pen (watch: will likely discolor colored grout).
• Brushes & scrubbers you can use for cleaning grout are old toothbrushes, a plastic bristle brush, a soft bristle nail brush, a nylon dish scrubber or a sponge with a nylon scrub backing.

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