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Best way to clean grout between tiles


8 Super Effective Methods for Cleaning Grout

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Tile is beautiful, durable, and generally easy to clean, but cleaning grout? That’s a different story. Because it’s typically light-colored and has a porous composition, grout is prone to staining. In a tiled entryway or mudroom, dirt and grime are the usual culprits but in the kitchen, spills are more likely to blame. In the bathroom, homeowners must contend with grout that’s marred by mold and mildew.

The good news is that the best way to clean grout doesn’t come with a big price tag. It’s possible to clean and restore your grout using common household products and of course, a bit of elbow grease.

Before you get started on your grout-cleaning endeavors, understand that it is best to begin with the first cleaning option on this list, which is the mildest, least harmful method. If that doesn’t work, you can work your way up to incrementally more intense, odiferous, and potentially time-consuming options on this list. If you’re in doubt about whether a particular grout cleaner is suitable for your surface, test it in a hidden spot first—under an appliance in the kitchen, say, or behind the toilet in the bathroom. 

Tools & Materials

Before you begin cleaning, it’s important to understand the different types of grout.

There are several types of grout, and most types come in multiple colors. It’s important to take both type and hue into consideration before you start gathering cleaning supplies and making a cleaning plan. The two most common types of grout these days are traditional cement grout and the newer standard, epoxy grout. These grout types can be further broken down as follows:

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Some types of grout are precolored and are as a result better able to resist stains and fading. There are also grout formulations that add polymers to provide helpful features such as moisture and mildew resistance. Finally, as you’re figuring out how best to clean your grout, it’s important to know whether the grout has been sealed, or possibly needs resealing. This might affect both how well the grout holds up and what solutions you can use to clean it.

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1. Scrub dirty grout using warm water and a medium-bristle brush.

If you don’t already have a grout scrubber, most home centers and hardware stores carry a number of products that are specifically designed for the purpose of cleaning tile grout. To avoid damaging the grout, opt for a medium-bristle nylon brush, not a hard steel one. Simply spray warm water on the grout lines and scrub in a circular motion, then let it dry. Don’t use too much water or let it sit on the grout for too long. Remember: Porous cement grouts absorb water, which could lead to mildew.

2. Spray grout with equal parts vinegar and warm water.

If you know your grout has been sealed but it has accumulated heavy dirt or mild stains, turn to vinegar, that trusty old household staple. Fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and warm water. Spray the mixture on the grout, let it stand for 5 minutes, then scrub the surface with a stiff brush. Avoid using vinegar on unsealed grout.

3. Apply a baking soda paste and then spray with vinegar.

Cleaning grout with baking soda will bring even more power to the party. Here’s what to do: Cover grout lines with a paste of baking soda and water, then spray on the vinegar solution listed above (remember, only apply vinegar if the grout has been sealed). Once the mixture stops foaming, scrub with a brush, rinse with plain water, and wipe dry. If the grout is unsealed or needs resealing, apply just the baking soda solution and scrub carefully.

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4. Pour on some hydrogen peroxide.

Moderate stains may require you to use hydrogen peroxide, which is available in most drug stores. You can use the product straight or as part of a homemade grout-cleaning paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. This mixture is typically safe for both sealed and unsealed grout.

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5. Apply oxygen bleach and let it stand for up to 15 minutes.

For tougher stains on really grimy white grout, use oxygen bleach as a grout cleaner. You’ll find this cleanser is most often sold in powdered form; bestselling brands include OxiClean and Biokleen Oxygen Bleach Plus.

Before using oxygen bleach to clean grout, make sure the room is well ventilated, and then carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for application. Let the oxygen bleach solution soak in for 10 or 15 minutes before rinsing. Always rinse with clean water and then wipe the area dry so that the dirt doesn’t resettle into the grout lines.

6. Try a commercial grout stain remover.

Applying one of the best grout cleaners on the market could make quick work of removing mold and mildew and restoring bright white grout lines. These products work in one of two ways: (1) spray and wipe, or (2) scour with a brush. Spray-on products claim to work without scrubbing. Though they save time and energy, they may contain harsher acids, solvents, or chlorine bleach.

Scouring with a soft brush and cleaner does require a little work, but this method can be especially effective on floors and heavily soiled grout. Before you begin using one of these products, read the active ingredients carefully, and heed the instructions—particularly the safety precautions.

7. Steam-clean the worst of grout stains.

The best steam mops are effective and environmentally friendly tools for cleaning grout—or, for that matter, many hard surfaces throughout the house. Bissell, Oreck, and Hoover all make steam cleaners for residential use.

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8. Use chlorine bleach sparingly on grout.

Chlorine bleach and commercial cleansers containing chlorine bleach can be used sparingly in extreme cases to clean grout. It’s not a great idea to use them as your go-to grout cleaners because long-term use of caustic cleaners will erode grout. When all else fails, however, a bleach product such as Clorox Clean-Up might be effective.

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If you’ve tried any or all of the above methods before you apply chlorine bleach, be sure to rinse the surface completely before proceeding with any chlorine bleach products. This is especially true of vinegar, because traces of vinegar mixed with bleach will emit a highly toxic chlorine gas into the air.

Grout Maintenance

Once you’re finished cleaning your grout, spray it with household vinegar or a mild grout cleaner and wipe it down once a week to keep it stain-free. Wiping grout with rubbing alcohol will also keep mold and mildew at bay. In any case, just a few spritzes and wipes a week can save you a lot of time and effort cleaning and help you preserve the attractive appearance of your tiled surfaces.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning grout begins with good prevention, including resealing the grout as needed, cleaning up kitchen spills right away, and using a mild homemade or commercial grout cleaner regularly. Once grout begins to look stained or dingy, refer to the steps above. An important reminder about how to clean grout is to start with the mildest approach because this will be the least likely to damage or discolor grout. If the grout stain persists, move on to progressively more intense methods. Always ensure adequate ventilation and wear rubber or nylon gloves when cleaning grout.

Finally, be sure to keep grout sealed and maintained according to your tiling professional’s or manufacturer’s recommendation, and avoid harsh cleansers or scrubbers if the tile and grout are prone to damage. Keeping grout clean and sealed beats having to paint, repair, or regrout it.

FAQs About Cleaning Grout

The methods outlined above range from the easiest way to clean grout up to more powerful approaches for more stubborn stains. If you still have questions about maintaining and cleaning tile grout, read on for answers to common concerns.

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Q: Does Magic Eraser work on grout?

A Magic Eraser and a little warm water can remove residue from the surface of tiles and could be a simple addition to your regular grout-cleaning routine. In particular, regular wiping with a dampened Magic Eraser sponge can remove some of the gray surface on white grout. For heavier stains, you may want to choose it as your first scrubbing option instead of a brush or soft cloth, then progress to something tougher if needed.

Q: Can I use OxiClean to clean grout?

Although OxiClean is called “oxygen bleach,” it is actually made of a combination of dry hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate, which is similar to baking soda. It is less toxic to the environment and more color-safe than bleach.

Powdered OxiClean is safe for use on grout when mixed with water to form a liquid or paste and applied with a cloth, sponge, or grout scrubber. Give the solution from 5 to 30 minutes to sit on the grout before scrubbing away and rinsing.

Q: Can you use steel wool on grout?

Do not use steel wool on grout. While the abrasive pad might scrub away the stain, it could also take some of the grout along with it. Plus, steel wool can scratch the tile surrounding the grout joint. Opt instead for a soft sponge or nylon bristle brush, maybe even one mounted on a power scrubber, always starting with the least abrasive material first.

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(Image credit: Jan Baldwin)

Being in the know about how to clean grout is essential whether we’re talking floor or wall tile. The tile itself is easy to keep looking its best, but grout can prove more tricky to deal with.

The issue with grout is that it can be porous and prone to staining. Add to that the fact that in the bathroom particularly the humid atmosphere provides mold with the conditions in which it thrives, so it can speckle grout. Not only does this look ugly, but the spores of this nuisance can be bad for the family’s health.

To restore grout to whiteness, or its alternative original shade, we’ve put together a guide with cleaning tips so you can tackle grout with expert advice from the professionals.

How to clean grout

If you’re asking how to clean grout, the grout in question is likely cementitious grout – something to bear in mind the next time you come to tile a bathroom wall, or indeed one in the kitchen. Epoxy grout is ‘virtually as stainproof as the tile’ according to the Tile Council of North America (TCNA). 

These are the methods to use for grout stains. If the grout you are attempting to clean is beyond repair, there is the option to renew the grout completely, in which case you will need to learn how to grout tiles.

Clean grout as part of cleaning a bathroom – although you won’t need to undertake the task as frequently. You might want to team cleaning grout with cleaning a showerhead, as this is another job that needs doing from time to time rather than weekly.

1. Clean grout with a dish soap solution

The answer to how to clean grout can be a remarkably simple one. It could be sufficient to clean it along with the tile itself simply using water. However, it may need a little more than this and, if that’s the case, make up a solution of water and dish soap and apply using a microfiber cloth or microfiber mop in the case of floor tile. Remove any residue by wiping with hot water. 

2. Use a brush to scrub grout

If the stains on grout remain, it’s time to put in some work. Dampen the grout with warm water and then use a stiff brush – you can buy grout cleaning brushes on Amazon – to work along the lines to clean the grout. If effort alone is not enough, use an alkaline cleaner combined with the stiff brush or a specialist grout cleaner – we like Grout Eez – plus a brush according to the instructions. Make sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards.

For a less effortful alternative, you might want to take a lead from house rehab specialist Bill Samuel of Blue Ladder Development and get a drill bit brush. ‘This will do a much better job of scrubbing the grout clean than you could ever do by hand,’ he says.

3. Clean floor tile grout with a shop vac

If you’re the owner of a shop vac, this can be a great answer to how to clean grout in floor tile. Apply an alkaline cleaner according to product instructions, then use the shop vac to lift the dirty water, recommends the TCNA. As well as getting rid of the water, the vac will lift the dirt from the grout.

Follow that by rinsing, then use the shop vac again so no soap film is left behind, the experts say.

4. Clean grout with steam

A steam cleaner can be an effective method when the problem is how to clean grout. Steam the grout then it’s a matter of elbow grease once more as you use the stiff brush to lift the dirt from the surface.

5. Deal with mold on grout

Mold can thrive in the damp conditions of a bathroom and is most often found on grout. If after cleaning the grout as above you’re left with black areas, this is likely to be the culprit. To tackle this, use a specialist mold removing product for grout. 

Thinking about using bleach? Be aware that bleach can discolor grout. It can also weaken it over time, so it’s not the answer.

How do professionals clean grout?

The pros tackle grout with special equipment. ‘We professionally clean grout by first inspecting the grout, then pre-spraying heavily stained areas, and then using a high pressure, hot water cleaning process to remove dirt and ground-in soil,’ says Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, president of cleaning company ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba . 

‘We follow this up with a gentle clean water rinse that also extracts excess water. Once the grout is fully cleaned and dried, we typically apply a sealer to make the grout resistant to spills and stains and easier to clean in the future. ’

Wondering if you should call someone in for grout cleaning? ‘Hiring a pro can be helpful when your grout is particularly dirty or when you just don’t have enough time to do it yourself,’ says Bailey Carson, home care expert at Angi . ‘Pros also have access to more specialized cleaning tools, like steam mops, that can clean your floors more deeply than you can when doing it by hand.’

Does vinegar hurt grout?

Cleaning with vinegar isn’t the best choice for grout. The reason is that grout contains cement, which is dissolved by acids, and vinegar is acidic. A strong vinegar solution could therefore be detrimental to the grout – and bear in mind that it can also damage stone tiles. 

If you’re using a store-bought cleaner, an alkaline version is what you need – the TCNA suggests products such as Spic and Span or Mr. Clean , or use one of the methods, above. Cleaners to avoid, according to the TCNA, are oil and wax-based versions which leave a film that can attract dirt.

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator. 

How to clean the seams between the tiles in the bathroom and in the kitchen from grease, mold, grout

Laying tiles is the best solution for processing wall and floor surfaces. Such material is distinguished by aesthetic appeal, hydrophobicity, and the ability to withstand significant mechanical loads. In the process of long-term operation, the inter-tile space becomes contaminated.

In addition to the difficulties of cleaning the seams after repair, a favorable environment is created for the accumulation and reproduction of harmful microorganisms and fungi, mold. Previously, we have already told you how to get rid of mold in the bathroom, but today we will tell you how to eliminate other pollution of tile joints.

Remember, this is quite a long and delicate process. If you do not have enough time for such work, or do not want to do it yourself, Comfort House professionals will be happy to help you.

How to clean grout between tiles

Darkened grout between tiles on walls or floors can be done mechanically. To do this, use:

Cutting tools must be used very carefully as there is a risk of damage to the facing material.

Which chemicals to use

A more effective cleaning technology is the use of household chemicals. The following types of products are best used for processing joints between tile elements:

Folk methods for cleaning tile joints

Many housewives prefer to use folk remedies when cleaning between tiles, which are considered absolutely safe for human health and the environment. There are many household products that do the best job of removing stains, from grout residue on grout and tiles to mold and grease:

Baking soda is widely used in the preparation of various whitening preparations. In combination with vinegar, lemon juice, whiteness or mustard, it quickly removes various types of dirt. This method is considered the simplest:

  1. sprinkle the problem area with ordinary table soda;
  2. is poured with vinegar to cause a chemical reaction;
  3. After the characteristic effervescence and foaming have ceased, the product residues are removed with water.

Ammonia is the best method for mold control . To do this, 20 ml of ammonia is added to 2 liters of water. The resulting solution is recommended to be poured into a spray bottle, with which the processing of darkened seams is greatly facilitated. After about 30 minutes, the tiles should be thoroughly washed with warm water. A mixture made from toothpaste, soda, mustard and lemon juice is considered quite effective.

Some housewives use sweet sparkling water when cleaning tiles, such as Coca-Cola, Fanta or Sprite . The drinks contain active substances that contribute to the rapid elimination of contaminants. If the fungus has penetrated too deeply into the tile joints, then their cleansing does not bring a positive result. It is recommended to completely remove the destroyed material and apply a new grout.

How to clean the seams between the tiles in the bathroom: 8 ways

Tile grouting in bathrooms is a common and fairly common occurrence. The formation of dirty deposits and black dots on the grout seams is the result of the activity of mold fungi. Neither the high quality finish of joints by a master tiler, nor their treatment with the best silicone sealants with a finely porous structure, does not guarantee protection against mold.

The fact is that in microscopic depressions and pits particles of dust, dirt, soap and moisture accumulate over time, creating an ideal environment for the development of a microbial environment. Therefore, if you keep your home clean and take care of your health, we bring to your attention several effective ways to clean the joints between the tiles and the bathroom, which you can do yourself without resorting to the help of specialists.

Contents

  1. Methods for cleaning surface dirt
  2. When cleaning products do not help
  3. Preventing mold in the bathroom

Ways to clean surface dirt

Soda method #1.

The easiest and least expensive way. To do this, you will need a pack of baking soda, an old toothbrush and a large bath brush. Further, the procedure is as follows:

Particular attention should be paid to areas where black dots have formed. Sodium bicarbonate is an excellent antiseptic and destroys 100% fungal germs.

Method No. 2 - cleaning the seams with vinegar.

Method No. 3 - cleaning the seams with bleach.

Any cleaning agent with a high chlorine content (Belizna, Sanita, Sif, Komet or Domestos) is suitable for this. Further steps are as simple as in the previous options:

Note that this method is only suitable for white grout, otherwise bleaching agents may affect the color.

[attention type=green] When working with household chemicals, be sure to use rubber gloves, a mask, and goggles.[/attention]

Method No. 4 - cleaning the seams with special products.

Among household chemicals, there are a number of special potent products (Silit Bang, Vexa, Mildew Rimover from sano, etc.) designed to combat plaque, mold and other types of stubborn dirt that are typical for bathrooms. They are easy to use and eliminate the need for mechanical action, but require certain safety measures (use of gloves, masks, etc.). How to wash the seams between the tiles?

Method No. 5 - “homemade” Sealit Bang.

Concentrated homemade cleaner is a real explosive mixture, but it works great even on deep dirt.

Composition : 1.5 l warm water, 150 g baking soda, 100 ml vinegar (7-9%), 25 g citric acid.

Tools : small sponge or brush, rubber gloves (mandatory!).

Prepare solution : dissolve soda in water, carefully pour citric acid into the liquid, and then acetic acid. We introduce all the ingredients gradually to avoid too violent a reaction as a result of mixing acids with soda.

Active:

[attention type=green] Residues of the concentrated solution, falling into the drain of the general sewerage, can damage the thin laying of communications made of rubber. Therefore, before pouring the remaining mixture, it must be diluted with water (1:3).[/attention]

Method No. 6 - cleaning the seams with hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is a good antiseptic and non-corrosive agent. Such a solution does not require rinsing and prevents the further spread of the fungus. Of course, the problem of stubborn stains cannot be solved with this remedy, but peroxide does an excellent job with a recently appeared fungus.

To prepare a cleaning solution, mix peroxide and water (1:2). Treat all seams with the finished solution and leave to dry. No need to rinse.

Method No. 7 - updating the seams with water-based paint.

If you cannot completely remove the stains from the grout, you can achieve the perfect result by using a waterproof emulsion. In this way, you can update the joints between the tiles in the bathroom, and they will look like after a recent renovation. When choosing a paint, one rule must be taken into account: its color should be darker by two or even three tones of the grout itself. The day before staining, the seams must be treated with an antifungal agent (you can buy it at any hardware store). Paint is recommended to be applied in 2 or 3 layers.

When cleaning products don't work

The success of cleaning bathroom grouts depends on the degree of soiling. Sometimes soda or vinegar treatment is enough, but it happens that black and gray stains remain even after careful treatment with potent agents. This means that the fungus has firmly taken root and it is necessary to act drastically.

Method No. 8 - removing the top layer of grout.

To do this, it is necessary to arm yourself with sandpaper and carefully erase the layer of putty affected by the fungus. Then the area must be treated with an antifungal agent. If, as a result of removing the top layer of grout, a noticeable cavity has formed between the tiles, it can be eliminated by applying a new layer of grout.

Method No. 9 - complete removal of the old grout and application of a new one.

This is a cardinal method that requires special tools and ... a man's hand. The grout is picked out with a screwdriver or completely removed with a grinder or grinder saw. The resulting cracks must certainly be disinfected with a solvent, then primed and filled with new grout.

Preventing Mold in the Bathroom

Here are a few helpful tips to help prevent mold on grout lines in your bathroom.