How to clean tile grout?

Carol
by Carol

I'd like to know your advice about how to clean tile grout. There are so many ideas floating around the internet that it leaves my head spinning 😵 and I don't know what to try first.So I decided why don't I ask real people on Hometalk how to clean grout. I mean in the shower and in other places, including how to clear floor tile grout. What do you use that works? What is the easiest and lasts the longest? Is there a natural solution? Thanks for your help!

  14 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Nov 21, 2018

    Hello Carol,

    Try Tea Tree Oil, or Bar Keepers Friend.

    • Carol Carol on Nov 21, 2018

      Thank you John. I have never heard of using Tea Tree Oil for cleaning grout before. Is this something you have experience with and it works? I always prefer to use natural remedies when possible.

  • Chris Gignac Chris Gignac on Nov 21, 2018

    Tilex, bathroom cleaner.

    Spray it on,let it set for 5 minutes.scrub with brush. Rinse and repeat if nessesary.

    It prevent this, wipe down the shower after bathing. Clean regularly

  • Blue Jay Blue Jay on Nov 21, 2018
    Mix a paste of hydrogen peroxide and soda and apply to an area, and let soak for a few minutes. Scrub with a brush, such as an old tooth brush. Then follow up with scrubbing with white vinegar. I use Cleaning vinegar since it is stronger. This process worked wonders on the grout on our floor that was as black as your tile.
    • See 1 previous
    • Blue Jay Blue Jay on Nov 22, 2018

      Baking soda is correct. Peroxide kills molds. It is safer to use than chlorine bleaches. I used Oxiclean which has peroxide in it to clean thick fungus and molds from the cedar siding and deck of the property we just purchased. Worked wonderful.

  • Yair Spolter Yair Spolter on Nov 21, 2018

    Hi Carol. There are some great posts on Hometalk about the best way to clean grout. Here are a few:

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/bathroom/cleaning-shower-tile-amp-grout-what-works-and-what-doesn-t-669909

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/bathroom/cleaning-tips-tile-grout-5063105

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/bathroom/http-www-thekreativelife-com-diy-tile-grout-cleaner--19947519

  • Hi Carol - This is the shower cleaner that we use to help keep grout and tiles clean and minimize the mildew. Hope this helps! Hugs, Holly

    https://pinkfortitude.com/shower-cleaner-diy/

  • Linda Linda on Feb 25, 2020

    First I would spray the grout with a mold and mildew remover then rinse it. Then Make a paste of baking soda and peroxide then apply it to your grout with a toothbrush. Let it sit a little and then remove with a clean cloth.

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Sep 03, 2020

    Hi Carol, You can make a thin paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Apply it to the grout and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. Scrub with an old toothbrush and rinse clean. If the grout between the tiles has worn down too far, it may be a better idea to first re-grout and then seal. You can also buy grout pens to quickly “recolor” your grout and make them look new again.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Apr 30, 2021

    Here are some ideas https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=How%20to%20clean%20tile%20grout%3F&rs=typed&term_meta[]=How%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=to%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=clean%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=tile%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=grout%3F%7Ctyped

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Aug 08, 2022

    1. Remove surface dirt with hot water and a towel.
    2. Mix together ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 tsp dish soap.
    3. Spoon cleaning agents onto grout and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
    4. Scrub the grout lines with a brush. ...
    5. Wipe clean.


  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Nov 30, 2022

    This is how I do it: How to Clean Grout

    1. Remove surface dirt with hot water and a towel.
    2. Mix together ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 tsp dish soap.
    3. Spoon cleaning agents onto grout and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
    4. Scrub the grout lines with a brush. ...
    5. Wipe clean.


  • Hands down, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Grab an old toothbrush, a little scrubbing and it’ll be like new again. Be sure to seal it up after. Things like vinegar or similar acids can damage and dissolve grout, they should be avoided.

  • Deb K Deb K 4 hours ago

    Hi Carol, hope this helps you. Grout cleaner Combine two parts hydrogen peroxide with one part baking soda. I started with 1 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide. Add 2 tsp dish soap to this, and mix well. (you may need to make a few different batches of this depending on how big of an area you are doing). A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY

    Work in a small area at a time. Use your hand or a spoon to add a little bit of the cleaner to the grout, and spread along each line. A little bit goes a long way! You don’t need to get a bunch on the tile, but do try to make sure all of the grout is covered. Let this sit for 5-10 minutes. Set a timer and go about your homemaking! This is part of what takes so long, it’s not necessarily labor intensive, but you have to work in small areas and let each area sit for 5-10 minutes at a time.Don’t skip this part because, this his how the solution works.After its sat use a scrub brush to scrub down each grout line. It should only take a few scrubs down each line before you start to see a difference and you can literally see it whiten and brighten right before your eyes. Make sure to scrub all of the grout on each line between your tiles.