How to Clean Grout Tiles in Bathroom Floors and Walls

having pristine clean tiles with grime-free grout lines in both your bathroom or kitchen is paramount for more than just appearances. Apart from the unsightly aesthetic concerns, grout can act as a bacterial magnet and breeding ground for microorganisms like mold.

Even when you have spotless tiles there is one major problem that still plagues the floors and walls of many homes, and that’s dirty grout lines.

Grout is porous and can trap dirt, mold, and all sorts of other nasties within the deep grooves of your lovely-looking tiles. So, there is an obvious need to clean grout in tiles on a regular basis.
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DIY Grout Cleaner Hacks

Note, it’s important to note that this article focuses on cleaning discoloration and unsightly black grout lines between your bathroom tiles. Tile is quite similar to stone and can become permanently etched if treated carelessly with harsh chemicals or abrasives.

So always be mindful when using any cleaning product (commercial or organic) on grout, tile, or even when cleaning glass shower doors.

Now that you’re aware of the potential risks involved in using strong chemicals, make sure to read the instructions on your grout cleaner before getting started.

So without further ado, here are some great homemade grout cleaner hacks that you can use to remove dirt and grime from your tile floors. Some of them might even surprise you!

1 | Cleaning Grout With Baking Soda

Yes, believe it or not, the same paste that you use to keep your teeth clean with can also be used to give your bathroom tile a makeover in the grout department.

One of the positives of this household cleaning combination is just how easy it is to mix and apply. So on that note, here are the exact steps to get it done:

As a grout cleaning solution, baking soda really stands out among any other DIY tile cleaner when it comes to disgusting-looking grimy grout.

With a generous amount of baking soda and some good old-fashioned elbow grease, stubborn grout uglifying up your bathroom floor tiles or walls won’t stand a chance.

2 | Cleaning Grout With Bleach

Using bleach to clean just about anything in your bathroom is favorable among most homeowners the world over.

Hence the reason bleach is a fantastic DIY method for cleaning grout and removing bathroom mold. Using a toothbrush and 2 parts bleach to water, scrub away any nasty grime from grout lines. Then just rinse with warm water and wipe clean the external site including shower tile walls.

3 | Cleaning Grout With Vinegar

Here’s another homemade grout cleaner that you can make in minutes for brilliant, lasting results. All you need to do is mix together equal parts of vinegar and baking soda.

Then, simply apply and firmly scrub the mixture onto your dirty grout lines with an old toothbrush, leave it until dry, and then rinse away the results with some warm water.

4 | Cleaning Grout With Hydrogen Peroxide

To start, combine equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda into a bowl and mix them together until they form a fine paste. Then take your grout brush and apply the paste onto those lines.

Once it starts bubbling up as shown in the picture you’ll know that the cleaning magic has begun. Allow it to sit until it dries, then simply wipe away with a damp cloth or brush the tiles lightly with some water and watch all of your grout lines become as clean as can be.

5 | Cleaning Grout With Oxiclean (aka. Petroleum Jelly)

Don’t forget that Oxiclean can also be used to give your grout lines a good clean.

All you need to do is mix 1 cup of warm water, 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap, and 4 tablespoons of Oxiclean (or the other brand if you prefer) in a bowl, then apply the mixture with an old toothbrush (or green scrubbing pad) and let it sit for a few minutes to work its magic. Then rinse away the results with some warm water and you’ll be left with clean tile grouts.

6 | Cleaning Grout With Ammonia

Ammonia can also be used to give your tile grouts a great cleaning. To start, pour some ammonia into a spray bottle and spray it onto those tiles.

Then take an old toothbrush (or one of those green scrubbing sponges if you prefer), dip the bristles in warm water, and start scrubbing at those dirty grouts.

For best results, you’ll want to leave the ammonia on for a few minutes before scrubbing, but be sure to rinse it away with some warm water before too much damage is done.

7 | Using WD-40 With a Grout Brush

WD-40! It can be used as a general-purpose lubricant or even as a solution for cleaning stainless steel sinks. That said, it also makes for a great grout cleaner on those dirty tiles without causing damage to surfaces like bathroom tiles.

All you need to do is spray some WD-40 onto your grout lines and wait for it to settle in for a few minutes before scrubbing at them with a grout brush. Remember that WD-40 contains petroleum, so if you prefer something more natural, then opt for one of the organic cleaning options listed above.

8 | Cleaning Grout With Dish Soap

Mix equal parts baking soda and washing up liquid (dish soap will do if you happen to run out of dishwasher liquid) in a bowl, then apply the mixture with an old toothbrush or green scrubbing sponge.

For best results, let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing. Then rinse away the result with some warm water and you’ll be amazed at how clean your tiles become.

How to Clean Grout Tiles in Bathroom FAQ.

How Do Professionals Clean Grout?

Before we answer this question, let’s remember that there are two types of professional cleaners: those who do the cleaning and those who sell the products that other companies use to clean.

Because of this, it is nearly impossible to get a straight answer from either group on just how they would go about giving your grout lines a good cleaning.

However, based on what the cleaning products manufacturers are telling us, here is how it would seem that somebody might go about making your grout lines look as good as new.

First, they would probably use a steam-cleaning machine to get rid of all of those germs and bacteria lurking in there.

Next, they would apply some sort of acidic/high pH solution to remove color. After that, they would apply a low pH neutralizer before rinsing away all of those chemicals with some super hot water vapor.

Then they would use a sealant to protect the grout lines from future staining and finally they would apply another sealant for extra protection against dirt and germs.

What Is the Easiest Way to Clean Grout?

As you might have realized by now, there are many different ways to clean grout lines. Some take more time than others; some require the use of expensive machinery; while others can be done with nothing but a toothbrush and some homemade cleaners.

So, as far as determining which method is the easiest goes, your only real option is to choose the one that works for you.

If you happen to have a particularly stubborn stain on your grout lines, then opt for one of the chemical cleaners listed above. Otherwise, they are all relatively easy to use, with only the amount of elbow grease required being the main difference between them.

Can I Clean Grout Without Scrubbing?

Yes, you can. All you need to do is apply some cleaners (or use the methods listed above) and leave them for several minutes before scrubbing away with your green scrubbing pad or an old toothbrush.

Although it might not be quite as effective as putting in a bit more elbow grease, it should still get rid of most stains.

What is the Best Homemade Tile Grout Cleaner?

As we have already mentioned a few times during this article, it is difficult to say what the best homemade tile grout cleaner is as it depends on your own personal preference.

If you want a natural DIY bathroom cleaning solution that won’t cost you an arm and a leg then white vinegar might be just the thing for you. On the other hand, if you want something more powerful, you might be better off with some of the commercial chemicals listed earlier in the article.

The Bottom Line

While cleaning bathroom tiles is a relativity easy task, removing bathroom tiles once the black mold starts to spread beyond the point of no return, is certainly not!

There are many different ways to clean grout lines, with most of them being equally effective as long as you put in the required amount of elbow grease.

So, rather than focusing on how easy it is, focus instead on choosing a method that will best suit your needs and preferences.