*Last Updated: June 2023

How To Naturally Clean Stubborn Tile Grout

cleaning grout tile

Cleaning your home can be an unpleasant task, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored.

The benefits of cleaning your home are not limited to a clean space – there are many other reasons why cleaning your home is important.

It might seem like a tedious and mundane activity, but it is an important part of maintaining a clean and healthy living environment.

A home should never be left dirty for a long period of time as it can be a breeding ground for germs, bacteria, and disease-causing organisms.

The area we’re going to focus on today is cleaning tile grout. Grouts are strong cement and are used to hold tiles together. It is important in bathroom construction because it prevents sides from wearing off. In the bathroom, you discover that the tiles and the grouts gather dirt.

The reason for that is simple, it is always exposed to grease and other forms of dirt. It also accumulates water easily. When all these things are accumulated, they can form mildew, molds, and other buildups. This is not good for the users of the bathroom and kitchen where the tiles are installed.

Because of that, there is the need to clean the tile grout from time to time. We recommend purchasing a grout cleaner– but there are some natural, DIY options you can try as well:

Contents

How To Clean Tile Grout Naturally

The following tips on how to clean tile grout will guide you on the various methods of keeping the tile grout in the bathroom as well as the kitchen and other parts of the home. There are different methods here. Any method you choose will achieve the same result which is keeping your grout clean. However, you will always choose a safe method of doing that.

Before you start with any of the methods we will recommend below, here are some important tips to keep at the back of your mind:

  • Before you start to clean, first wash the tile and grout with water. This weakens debris and makes it easy to remove.
  • If you have colored tile or grout in the house, do not apply bleach because it can cause discoloration.
  • If you want to scrub the tiles and grout, you should use stiff for that scrubbing. The toothbrush may not be the best because of the softness. On the other hand, the metal brush is not recommended because it can cause damages to the tile and grout.
  • Furthermore, ventilation is very important, because of that, keep the area you want to clean ventilated because it facilitates the cleaning process.
  • Most importantly, you are going to use a protective mask as well as a glove.
  • If you want to use chemicals, it is not recommended that you mix two or more chemicals because of the harmful reactions that may follow.

Cleaning using bicarbonate soda

bathroom tile grout

This is one of the best ways of cleaning tile grout. You can mix bicarbonate of soda as well as water, and use it to make a paste. Rub it on the dirty grout. To rub that use your old toothbrush. If you have an electric toothbrush, it is also good since it can serve the same purpose. This takes the chemical deep into the grout. It ensures thorough cleaning.

Step 1

Look for a spray bottle and fill it with vinegar. Spray this to the mixture of bicarb. When you do that, it will begin to bubble to form a thick mixture, and this is good when it comes to the tackling of grout.

Step 2

Using the same toothbrush, you can easily scrub away the grime and rinse it with water. Remember as said before that you should not use bleach for colored grout. However, with your old toothbrush, you can apply whitening toothpaste, this can help bring back the original color of the grout.

Other Methods

Use of grout eraser

This is another simple way of cleaning the tile grout. This grout eraser is specifically meant for this grout removal. While it is effective, it is more expensive and you can get a better effect.

Use of mold removers

It is another effective method of cleaning tile grout. If the grout has already formed mold, mildew, and other substances, you can use this remover to do away with them. If you apply this well, the tile and the grout will look new. When you are doing that, stick to the instructions as provided by the manufacturers.

The importance of this remover is that it can handle even the most stubborn stains.

Vinegar spray

This is another effective method you can use today to clean tile grout. It is good for your bathroom because it makes it look great and new. The best spray to use here is the distilled white vinegar. It is effective since it is going to restore the sparkle color of the tile grout.

Clean the tiles with soap and water

You can simply clean the tiles. The first method is effective and you can just clean it with warm water and dish soap. It is good since it can clean the tiles very well. Diluted vinegar is great, and it can clean the tiles very well. The only problem with vinegar is that it is acidic. Since it is acidic, do not allow the solution to be too strong. It can weaken as well as damage the grout.

When you are scrubbing the bathroom, use steam in the process. Steam is good in removing soap scum residue in the bathroom as well as the kitchen.

When the residue dries on the surface of the tile, it becomes extremely difficult to remove. Steam helps in removing it completely from the place. Apply the hot water on the tile surface and allow for some minutes. It will be much easier to wipe the clothes with a clean cloth.

Scrub the grout lines

The scrub lines are always dirty and you must pay serious attention to them. It is also necessary to clean between the clean lines. Hot water is also important as you can apply warm water to it and allow some minutes to weaken residues. No matter how dirty the tiles grout may be, the methods described above can remedy the situation. Water is always the best because of the PH neutrality at the 7 scales. Water is also good since it is gentle and it is safe for the grout. If you’re interested in our cleaning series, learn how to clean a shower chair– which is important for maintaining the health and safety of your bathroom environment. 

The Top 5 Team
 

We are a team of product researchers that specializes in assembling comprehensive buying guides. Our team has a variety of backgrounds, with a mixture of soft and hard sciences represented. Check out our About page to read more about our reviews and editorial process.