Mildest grout cleaner:

These are all gentle cleaners that are okay to use even on unsealed grout.

Vinegar: Used for daily cleaning and as a disinfectant, vinegar can be diluted with equal parts water or applied full-strength. Put vinegar or vinegar/water solution into a spray bottle and spray the grout. For disinfecting, let it sit for 10 minutes. Scrub with a medium-weight, non-metal brush. The bristles should be stiff, but not too hard – you don’t want to damage the grout or tiles. Scrub in circles rather than straight-lines for a more thorough cleaning. Rinse with a mop or wet sponge, then dry with a towel.

Baking soda: When made into a paste with a little water or vinegar, baking soda is a terrific grout cleaner. Just dab it on, scrub in circles, rinse and dry. For a better cleaning, try leaving the paste on for a few minutes before scrubbing. You can also make a paste with 1/3 each of baking soda, salt and vinegar. The addition of salt helps the cleaner get into all the little crevices and spots that may be in the grout. Be sure to rinse and dry when you are done.

Lemon juice: Grout can discolor and stain with time, and those areas often need extra attention. Lemon juice does a great job removing many grout stains and discolorations. Apply the lemon juice to the affected area, let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then wipe it off with a damp sponge. If staining remains, try cleaning it or try the lemon juice again before using a harsher product.

Milder Chemical Cleaners:

All of these contain some chemicals but are not as harsh as the next group. When working with any of these products, be sure to keep the area well-ventilated, wear gloves and follow the directions on the bottle.
Bleach: Dilute the bleach with water – 1 part bleach to 3 parts water – before cleaning with it. Bleach is especially good for removing mold and mildew. It kills the mold and disinfectants too. It also removes stains and discolorations from white grout. Do not use beach on colored grout – it will discolor the grout. Be careful when using bleach and any other cleaners, especially those containing ammonia.

General Household Cleaners: Basic household cleaners that you typically use can be effective grout cleaners. Many contain bleach, providing the benefits of bleach with another cleaner without mixing them. When using a powder-based product, make sure it is non-abrasive and will not damage the grout or scratch the tile. Use as with other products, being sure to rinse extra well.

Harsher Chemical Cleaners:

These are best to use when other products have not worked. They are good for infrequent, heavy-duty cleaning when it is needed. Always read all directions carefully before you start, keep the room well-ventilated and use gloves and protective eyewear when cleaning with any of these products.

Commercial Grout Cleaners: These are designed specifically for cleaning grout and can be purchased at stores that sell household cleaners. Pick products that are designed for what you need – general cleaning, disinfecting, removing stains and discolorations, getting rid of mold and mildew, etc. Products that are pH-balanced will be the gentlest on the grout. Others can erode the grout with frequent use. Avoid colored cleaners on white grout as they can discolor the grout. Carefully follow all the directions on the container. Generally, they are applied and allowed to remain on the grout for a few minutes before cleaning and then rinsing.

Professional Grout Cleaners: Designed to provide the most heavy-duty cleaning available, these products contain the harshest chemicals. You can find them at hardware or janitor supply stores. Be careful using and storing these cleaners. Before using these strong chemicals, you may want to consider renting a steam cleaner like the professionals use to see if it can get the grout clean without the use of strong chemicals.

Minute Two: Spray walls with a grout cleaner/ mildew remover, such as Tilex or 409 bathroom cleaner.

Minutes Three & Four: Scrub grout with a tooth brush or scrub brush capable of getting between the cracks.

Minute Five: Rinse and dry off tile with a towel.

Be sure to follow all the safety instructions on the label of any cleaners that you use. There are also specialty grout cleaners that may outperform the ones we have listed. If you want you can also try out the organic grout cleaning method.

If left unchecked, grout problems get exponentially worse in only a matter of a few weeks. The absolute best way to have clean grout all the time is to do regular maintenance. And cleaning it will never get unmanageable.

What to avoid when grout cleaning your floor.

When cleaning with a mop or a scrub brush, it is important not to embed the dirt into your grout. Embedded dirt sometimes can only be removed by a professional.

To effectively remove embedded grime or mildew you need the right cleaner, time for the tile cleaner to work, proper scrubbing techniques and a high temperature. (Not all professional grout cleaner offer high temperature clean, make sure that your professional does.) The high temperature breaks up grime, sterilizes the grout, and allows the cleaning agents to work better.

Steam cleaning tile or grout is another way to deep clean hard to reach crevices. If the grout has some hard to reach grout crevices, you may consider have the grout and tile professionally sealed in order to make it easier to clean in the future.

DO NOTS

DO NOT combine bleach and ammonia cleaners because doing this makes a deadly chlorine gas.

DO NOT be impatient. It takes some time for the cleaners to work and sometimes you may have to re-clean some spots. Using more chemical than is necessary is harmful to the grout & will cause it to decay faster.

DO NOT use harsh chemicals. They can destroy the grout and tiles. Use the most mild cleaner first gradually increasing the level as needed to remove spots.

DO NOT use scrubbers that are too course. They can scratch the tile.

DO NOT use a cleaner that has added color to it. This can stain your tile and grout.

DO NOT use acid based cleaners (like vinegar & ammonia) for regular cleaning. Excessive use of acid cleaners can cause discoloration. However, they are effective for tough stains, but start with a mild solution increasing the ratio of cleaner to water as needed.

DO

DO get the area wet before you start to scour the tile & grout. You should give the water or other cleaning solution some time to work before scrubbing.

DO take extra care of the grout, only scrubbing it if necessary. Use as soft a brush as will get the job done.

DO use some form of disinfectant for killing bacteria, germs, mold, and mildew. If they are not killed, they could eat into the grout shortening its life.

DO dry the area completely when you are done cleaning. This will put off mildew and mold from coming back as soon.

DO use a cushion or pad to kneel on if you haven’t done your grout cleaning for a while. Your knees will thank you.

DO seal your grout on a regular basis (once to twice per year). This will prevent further dirt & mold from getting in the grout making maintenance much easier.

DO change cracked, broken, and chipped tiles as soon as possible, or hire a skilled contractor to do it. The longer you leave broken tiles, the more problems you will have with mold, mildew, and the breakdown of the tile.

DO have fun! Cleaning your grout and tile can be a chore, but you can enjoy the grout cleaning process. It will be worth it when you are done. And don’t forget to have your grout sealed to ease your cleaning burden.