Asked on Mar 09, 2015

Need a super effective grout cleaning solution

Jackie Cafaro
by Jackie Cafaro
So we moved into our apartment about 8 months ago and the grout in the tile on the ceiling has been gross since we moved in. I've tried bleach, baking soda, 409, hydrogen peroxide, etc, and nothing has really worked. It's also hard to scrub since its on the ceiling of the shower. The walls are totally fine. Does anyone have a super effective way to clean grout without too much scrubbing? I would really appreciate it!
  17 answers
  • MikeGyver MikeGyver on Mar 09, 2015
    http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/10814147/list/get-grout-magically-clean-stains-and-all This is the only thing that might help, follow those steps and it may or may not work. Grout can be porous so those stains might be deeply embedded and may require new grout to properly fix.
  • Jessica C Jessica C on Mar 09, 2015
    I spray my grout with a solution of water and tea tree oil. You can add about 20 drops of oil to 2 cups water. Grapefruit oil is also good, sometimes I add a few drops of it as well. Just spray it on and watch it work. You really don't have to scrub at all, just wipe it off after a few minutes.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Mar 10, 2015
    Can you paint it?
  • 117135 117135 on Mar 10, 2015
    The answer is a product called grout refresh. Here is a post from my blog that I just recently did on my bathroom tiles. http://designeddecor.com/how-to-refresh-grout-the-easy-way/ It works and was easy to use!
  • Amf1393859 Amf1393859 on Mar 10, 2015
    Try CLR. It worked wonders on a commode that had super hard green scale. I couldn't replace so I had to find a way to clean. Tried everything including scraping with an old knife. Finally bought CLR, poured and entire bottle and let sit overnight. The next morning I grabbed my toilet brush, took a swipe and it came off so easy. Good luck.
    • Nina Meister Nina Meister on Mar 11, 2015
      @Amfbgf02 I have used CLR to clean my espresso pot, by running it through a cycle with a dilution of water, and it works on that chore.
  • Laura Laura on Mar 10, 2015
    Baking soda and vinegar. Make a paste and get an old tooth brush.
  • Micki Micki on Mar 10, 2015
    false teeth cleaner
  • Nina Meister Nina Meister on Mar 11, 2015
    Great ideas all!
  • Deirdre Sullivan Deirdre Sullivan on Mar 12, 2015
    Have you tried hydrogen peroxide? This video explains how to clean grout using hydrogen peroxide: http://goo.gl/KpJhzk
  • Jilly Swan Jilly Swan on Mar 12, 2015
    Spray Carpet Cleaner-Renew, foam if available, I found it at the Dollar Store after I paid $5 on a can of it at the supermarket-UGH. Spray it on the grout, I also have tile on the ceiling of my shower, it is hard to clean with the methods you mentioned. Once you spray Renew on the grout, let it sit for 10 min and then use a hard brush and scrub the grout. It is important to do this on completely dry tile/grout and also after you scrub a section wipe it down completely with clean water or else the dirt you removed will seep back into the grout. Good luck, I have tried everything including the ones that you mentioned in your post, and this works amazing. My only other option was to regrout it or use Grout Refresh which someone else mentioned and I saw in Home Depot. For stuborn stains, you might have to repeat the process on these areas.
    • B. Enne B. Enne on Jun 04, 2015
      @Jilly Swan I need to try this since nothing else has worked for me.
  • Judy james Judy james on Mar 13, 2015
    The baking soda paste worked great on the grout but how do I get all that silicone between the tile and the faux marble wall clean? I tried to dig it out but it breaks and I slip and gouge the marble.
    • Beth Gee Beth Gee on Mar 15, 2015
      @Judy james there is actually a product to break down and remove old caulk. It's called something like carpenters mistakes or something like that. I saw it on a youtube video a few months ago. good luck
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Mar 13, 2015
    The Works, toilet bowl cleaner and a brush to scrub it. I clean move outs in apartments and this is what we use. We pour it in and use a automotive brush to scrub it. Then rinise and dry. Vent the room or wear a mask. I go into several apartments a day and I use this to clean the bathrooms. It is a last ditch effort but it works.
    • See 1 previous
    • Sherrie Sherrie on Mar 14, 2015
      Absolutely! We were hats, and googles and chemical gloves, chemical masks. But we use a case of this stuff a week. At home I use a sprayer and gloves and and spray it on and then rinise the sprayer doesn't drip so bad that way.
  • Beth Gee Beth Gee on Mar 15, 2015
    I cleaned worse looking grout lines. I sprinkled baking soda on the floor and then poured apple cider vinegar on it. Waited about 5 min then scrubbed. I was shocked at the results.
  • Rita Rita on Nov 03, 2015
    Make a paste of bleach and baking soda, thick enough to stick. Or can apply to paper towel which will stick if not too wet. Let sit for at least 24 hours. Make sure you have good ventilation as this can get overpowering. Did this for my parents bath and it lasted for years. Also do mine and find it just as effective. Hope this is solves your problem.
  • Jol12245766 Jol12245766 on Sep 25, 2016
    Tile works!
  • Janettey Janettey on Oct 12, 2016
    I use to have a cleaning Company. Sometime when we would do homes, they would leave out different products. I compared our bottle of Bleach to their product ingredients. (5 times the price) Same Chemical. !! It works like a miracle! Pour in a spray bottle, open a window if you have one. Turn Fan on. Spray all over, shut the door and leave. MILDEW GONE in no time flat.
  • Jackie Cafaro Jackie Cafaro on Dec 27, 2016

    Thank you for the suggestions everyone! I posted this a while back and forgot my login info, so I never saw these! I ended up getting some tile cleaner with bleach from Target, and it worked pretty darn well. I'm not in that apartment anymore, so I don't have to worry about it now!