How to Clean Grout Between Floor Tiles

Co-authored by Art Fricke

Even after mopping, tile floors with dirty grout will still look messy. Fortunately, you can easily clean grout using simple household products and your tiles will look brand new again.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

1
Make a paste of baking soda and water. Mix 3 parts of baking soda to 1 part water to make a thick paste. This versatile cleaner will work with all colors of grout, but vinegar can be harmful to some natural stones such as marble or limestone.
- Apply the paste to the grout lines with your finger.
- Although the baking soda isn’t harmful, wearing rubber gloves can help prevent scratches or irritated skin from the abrasive grout and baking soda.
2
Spray the baking soda paste with a vinegar solution. Make a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water and pour this into a spray bottle. Then, spray the baking soda paste with the vinegar solution. You should immediately see bubbling which lets you know the natural cleaning process has begun.
- Do not use vinegar if your tile is made of natural stone.
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3
Wait for the solution to stop bubbling. The bubbling action is a chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar. The reaction generally lasts a few minutes. After the bubbling has stopped the chemical cleaning action is done.
4
Scrub the grout lines with a brush. Use a nylon bristled scrub brush or a toothbrush, to scrub along each grout line. Pay close attention to corners and edges to get these areas clean as well.^{[1]
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5
Mop the floor with plain water. Use a mop and plain water to remove the residue. Rinse your mop and change the water often during the rinsing process so you do not continue to spread the residue around the floor.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Cleaning with Oxygenated Bleach

1
Dissolve 2 tablespoons of oxygenated bleach in 2 cups of warm water. Make the solution just prior to use for best results. Mix the solution thoroughly to ensure that the oxygen bleach is fully activated.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Art Fricke
Home Renovation & Repair Specialist
Expert Interview. 1 July 2020.} The bleaching power of the oxygen bleach may damage colored grout, but is gentle enough for all tile types.
2
Test a small, hidden section of the grout before cleaning the entire floor. Some tiles or grouts may be bleached or discolored by oxygen bleach. Apply a small amount of the oxygen bleach solution to an unnoticeable section of the grout to test for colorfastness.
3
Pour the oxygen bleach solution onto the grout. Make sure to pour enough to fully cover the grout lines. Clean one section of the floor at a time to avoid having a completely wet floor.
4
Use a nylon bristle brush to scrub the oxygen bleach solution into the grout lines.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Art Fricke
Home Renovation & Repair Specialist
Expert Interview. 1 July 2020.} Allow the oxygen bleach solution to sit on the grout for several minutes for optimum results.^{[4]
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- Scrub back and forth along the grout lines with the brush.
- Be sure to scrub well in the corners and around the edges of the floor because dirt and grime tends to be worse here.
5
Dip the brush into the oxygenated bleach powder to increase cleaning power. If you find a stain that is darker or more noticeable, a stronger solution of oxygen bleach can be made by dipping your wet brush directly into the oxygen bleach powder.
- Note: Pour a small amount of the powder into a separate container to avoid mixing water into your main container of oxygen bleach powder.
6
Rinse the floor with water then dry the floor. Pour clean water directly on the tile floor then dry it with a towel or clean mop.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Art Fricke
Home Renovation & Repair Specialist
Expert Interview. 1 July 2020.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Cleaning Grout with Hydrogen Peroxide, Baking Soda, and Dish Soap

1
Make a paste. Mix ¾ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tablespoon dish soap. This highly effective paste cleans the grout in three ways:^{[6]
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- The baking soda works as a natural abrasive to scrub the grout.
- The hydrogen peroxide chemically reacts with the baking soda releasing bleaching oxygen ions.
- The dish soap helps loosen dirt and remove grease.
- Note: The bleaching action of the chemical reaction may affect colored grout. Test a hidden corner before cleaning the entire floor.
2
Apply the paste with a nylon-bristled brush. A toothbrush or a nylon scrub brush work well. Be sure to apply the paste to the grout between all tiles and around the edges for a uniform, clean look.
3
Let the mixture sit on the grout for 15 minutes. You may see a bubbling reaction as the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide interact. Give the paste time to do its work and fully remove any stains.
4
Rinse the grout with warm or hot water to remove all of the solution. Pour a small amount of water directly onto the tile floor to rinse the entire floor thoroughly.
- Use caution as wet tiled floors can be very slippery.
5
Use a rag to wipe along the grout lines and remove leftover residue or dirt. Clean the remaining paste out of the grout line by gently scrubbing the floor with a towel. This can be done by standing on a towel and shuffling the towel across the floor with both feet or by crawling and scrubbing as you go.
6
Mop the floor with clean water. Ensure that no soap or residue is left behind by thoroughly mopping the floor with a cotton or sponge mop. Rinse the mop and change the water often to get achieve a clean finish.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Cleaning Grout with a Steam Cleaner

1
Rent or purchase a steam cleaner. Steam cleaners can effectively clean and sanitize all types of tiles and grouts as there are no chemicals involved. Visit your local home improvement store to find a machine to rent or buy. Make sure that the steam cleaner you acquire has the proper attachments for cleaning grout:^{[7]
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- Steam hose
- Small brush attachment
2
Follow the manufacturer’s directions to assemble and fill the steam cleaner. Read the directions carefully to avoid damaging the equipment.
3
Fill the reservoir with clean water to the fill line according to the manual’s instructions. Do not add chemicals or soaps to the steam cleaner water reservoir.
4
Turn the steam cleaner on and allow it to heat up. The steam cleaner’s instruction manual will advise you on how long to wait after turning on the machine before starting to clean the floor.
5
Move the cleaning brush back and forth over the grout lines. Start at one side of the room and work your way to the other end of the room. The steam will lift the dirt and grime from the grout and also kill any mildew that may be present.
6
Use a towel or mop to wipe up the excess moisture after cleaning. Be careful as the floor may be slippery after the steam condenses into water.
7
Note: Steam cleaning will remove all grout sealant, so only use a steam cleaner if your grout is unsealed or you are prepared to reseal the grout.

What Is the Most Efficient Way to Clean Bathroom Grout?

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I get my grout white again?

Art Fricke
Home Renovation & Repair Specialist
Art Fricke is a home renovation and repair specialist and the owner of Art Tile & Renovation based in Austin, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in bathroom and kitchen renovations. Art focuses on a single contractor approach to customized renovation work, and performs projects such as installing custom tile showers, fixing tiled shower leaks, replacing cracked tiles, and installing floor and wall tile.

Art Fricke

Home Renovation & Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

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Oxygenated bleach works best. Just mix some of the powder with water and scrub it into the grout with a cleaning brush.
Question

How do professionals clean tile and grout?

Dario Ragnolo
House Cleaning Professional
Dario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.

Dario Ragnolo

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

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Most professionals will use cleaner and a nylon-bristled brush to remove dirt and debris. However, if you don't have a nylon-bristled brush you can use an aluminum brush as well.
Question

What is the best thing to clean floor grout?

Dario Ragnolo
House Cleaning Professional
Dario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.

Dario Ragnolo

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

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I recommend baking soda and vinegar. When baking soda and vinegar mix, they produce a chemical reaction that can break down grime and kill bacteria. You can use this to get rid of tough stains and to sanitize surfaces.

Warnings

Don’t use vinegar on any real marble, granite, travertine, or other natural stone because it might etch the surface and cause permanent damage. The grout used with these surfaces should only be cleaned with a pH neutral solution.

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Do not use a steel or wire brush because this may break and damage the grout

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