Tile can transform both the look and feel of your home. It’s one of those easy add-ons that make that big difference. However, it’s anything but maintenance-free. Tile work—whether it’s a basic backsplash or a retro honeycomb pattern—won’t last without proper grout maintenance.
Over time, grout tends to show wear. Once-white grout can turn dark and dingy. In this article, George Ceramic will unveil the best homemade grout cleaner to help you combat this sad outcome and keep your tile in good shape always.
Arguably the most common homemade grout cleaner; a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap works best for kitchen and shower tile since the paste is easy to rinse out.The baking soda is going to give you a little bit more scrubbing power.
If your grout needs whitening, you can even just spray hydrogen peroxide alone on the area and let it sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing.To yield the cleanest results, form a paste out of the baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap.
This will serve as a cleaner, degreaser, and whitener all in one. Measurements vary depending on how much cleaning the room needs, but it’s best to use two parts baking soda one part hydrogen peroxide, and a teaspoon of dish soap or more as needed.
Easy and inexpensive homemade grout cleaners help lighten stains and remove mold and mildew – and they won’t hurt your wallet. Check out these sure-fire ways to get your grout gleaming again using peroxide, vinegar, and bleach.
Homemade Grout Cleaner
You might not think too much of your bathroom grout until it starts having a dingy appearance. Don’t let it get you down! Instead, grab a few items from your pantry or under your sink. For these grout deep-cleaning recipes, you’ll need:
Hydrogen Peroxide
White vinegar
Dish soap
Baking soda
Bleach
Grout scrubber or old toothbrush
Bowl and mixing tool
Spray bottle
Rubber gloves (wear with all methods during mixing and cleaning)
Discard Cleaners That Cannot Be Stored Safely
Throw away any cleaners with baking soda and bleach or baking soda and peroxide right away after you are done using them. These cleaners are one-use only.
Hydrogen peroxide is a great cleaning agent for grout. Try these recipes below if you’re looking for an instant grout-whitening winner!
Cleaning Grout with Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
The combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can help with stains on some types of lighter or white grouts. Do not use this combination on grout that is surrounded by marble or stone tiles.
Sprinkle the baking soda on the grout.
Pour hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle.
Spray the baking soda.
Let it sit for 15 minutes.
Use a brush to scrub the grout.
Rinse!
Baking Soda, dish soap, and Peroxide for a Deeper Clean
While baking soda and peroxide work excellently together to whiten and clean grout, adding a little dish soap makes the combo even better. For this homemade grout cleaner recipe, you’re going to mix them first.
1 teaspoon of dish soap
Mix until you have a nice, consistent paste.
Carefully place the mixture on the grout. Use caution with marble and stone tiles.
Give it about 15-20 minutes to sit.
Grab your scrub brush and put a bit of elbow grease in.
Rinse and dry.
Do you hate scrubbing? Unfortunately, there aren’t any completely scrub-free recipes for cleaning grout. However, this 2-ingredient homemade grout cleaner with soap and vinegar gets pretty close!
Heat a cup of 1-to-1 vinegar and water in the microwave for about a minute.
Pour it into a spray bottle and add a cup of dish soap.
Carefully spray the mixture on your grout lines.
Let it sit for 5-10 minutes longer if you have really dirty grout.
Grab your brush and give it a few good swipes.
Wipe and rinse.
Cleaning Grout with Baking Soda and Bleach
Since bleach is a whitening agent, it works great to brighten grout. Add a bit of the scrubbing power of baking soda and you have a combo that can’t be matched. Here’s the recipe for this winning 2-ingredient cleaner:
In a mixing bowl, mix ¾ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of bleach.
Create a thick paste with a smooth consistency.
Using a spoon, precisely put the mixture on the grout.
Let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Use a brush to scrub particularly yucky grout.
Let it sit for another 10 minutes.
Rinse and dry.
Method 1: Baking Soda and Water
It is suggested that you get started with the middle square, so you can observe the degree of cleanness and efficiency using: baking soda and water. Begin by mixing I mixed equal parts of both into a container to form a paste (it would be a little thinner than you would expect, so adding some extra baking soda may be necessary).
You would find it surprising how quickly the method worked using two techniques: the first was to let the paste sit for a bit and then scrub.The second was to dip the brush in the paste and scrub directly on the grout.
The second technique was more effective. Overall, the growth was noticeably cleaner but still a bit discolored. Looking at the outcome, at this point, you may start to wonder if you wouldn’t need a re-grouting project soon in the future.
Final grade: 7/10:This one gets points for simplicity as well as ease and effectiveness. However, the job isn’t 100% done and the grout is still pale gray.
Method 2: Vinegar and Water
Vinegar can help clean so many things, and some may have high hopes for this one. Mixing one part vinegar with one part warm water and allow sufficient time to rest. Yet, nothing happened. Not a significant outcome was noticed.
Despite trying a mix of scrubbing and letting the mixture sit for a while, but it didn’t seem to make a difference. While the brush lifted visible/loose particles, making it marginally cleaner, it didn’t feel like a deep clean of the grout at all.
Final grade: 3/10: This wouldn’t earn more than a few points. But it overall was disappointing and a waste of an hour on the floor scrubbing.
Method 3: Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
Mixing this one up felt like a middle school science throwback: hydrogen peroxide (one part) and baking soda (two parts) made for a satisfying sizzle. After mixing it up, the paste turned foamy—like watery shaving cream.
Initially upon scrubbing, the results looked very similar to baking soda and water. But after a few minutes, it started brightening—and brightening. This one required perhaps the most elbow grease (the watery and pasty solutions before were easier to spread out). But it was worth it. After scrubbing for a while, it kept looking better than imaginable.
Final grade: 9/10: This is unarguably the best result in terms of effectiveness.
What Not To Use on Grout
When it comes to grout, there are a few cleaners you should avoid or use with caution. This is especially true if your grout is colored.
Acidic Cleaners
When it comes to cleaning grout, avoid recipes that include straight vinegar or lemon juice. The acid in these cleaners weakens the grout over time, causing sooner replacements.
Harsh Commercial Cleaners
Because grout is weak, some chemicals used in commercial cleaners can break down the mortar. While they will clean it, you’ll have to replace the grout much sooner than if you used gentler cleaners.
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Avoid Using Too Much Water
Grout is porous. When too much water is used for cleaning, it will break down the cement mortar sooner. This can lead to grout breaking down and disintegrating.
Colored Cleaners
When cleaning white grout, avoid using anything with color. The same goes for colored grout — stay away from the bleach and peroxide. These are bleaching agents and could lighten your grout.
Tips for Cleaning Your Grout Safely and Effectively
To get the best results from any of these homemade cleaners, follow these tips when dealing with your grout:
Wear gloves when cleaning grout because some chemicals can be harsh to the skin.
Test the grout cleaner in an inconspicuous area to make sure it does not discolor your grout before you use it, particularly on dark-colored and epoxy-based grouts.
Remember to safely dispose of homemade cleaners with baking soda and bleach or peroxide once you’re done cleaning with them. They are for one-time use only and should not be stored.
Store the vinegar and Soap in a spray bottle.
Avoid using wire brushes or any metal tools because these will damage the grout.
Do not attempt to clean grout that has been cracked, loosened, or that is coming free from the joints; this grout should be removed for the best results.
Grout Cleaning Roaster for Regular Upkeep
Follow a cleaning schedule to make sure the filth doesn’t settle in. These tips below will help you keep up with your grout cleaning.
To-Do List for Immediate Cleaning
There are a few things that should never wait before taking action to clean.
Wipe up spills as soon as they happen, especially dark-colored spills.
Sweep up dirt clumps or tracks when they happen.
Weekly Grout Cleaning Action Plan
You’ll want to do these tasks every week. Even a couple of times a week wouldn’t hurt.
Prevent dirt build-up in grout by sweeping/vacuuming.
Use a damp cloth to mop. Avoid leaving standing water.
Monthly Grout Cleaning Action Plan
Even the most diligent cleaning will still leave some residue. Therefore, give the grout a good scrub every month.
Use the homemade grout cleaner recipes above for deep cleans only.
After cleaning your grout, consider sealing it to prevent new stains from forming. This should be done every 6 months regardless.
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