Cleaning tile floors is fairly straightforward – but cleaning dirty grout? Not quite as easy.
However, having clean grout leads to an improvement in the appearance of your floor. But that means having to scrub grout stains out of the lines… or does it?
The easiest way to clean grout without scrubbing involves hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Mix the two into a paste with some dish soap and apply to the grout lines. Alternatively, you can use a cleaning solution of water, vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda.
There are a lot of grout cleaning hacks, but many of them require scrubbing and a lot of elbow grease. Clean grout without scrubbing using these easy methods and get your floor looking pristine!
Why Clean Floor Grout?
Your floor won’t look clean otherwise! A good tile cleaner will handle the floor tiles, but if you don’t clean floor grout lines, your floor will still look dirty.
You’ll be surprised how much better everything looks when your grout lines are clean and white again!
Moreover, if dirt and grime build up inside the grout, this could damage the seal. Regrouting or even replacing tiles is expensive and time-consuming, so clean your floor grout regularly to maintain it.
Lastly, moisture gets into grout lines – which could lead to mould and mildew. The spores can cause respiratory issues, so cleaning grout is also good for your health!
Why Tile Grout Gets Dirty
The biggest culprit for causing dirty grout is floor traffic! Our feet and shoes track dirt all over the floor, which gets into the grout.
Since it’s a porous material, grout picks up dirt and moisture easily, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
Mopping, funnily enough, also causes dirty grout. If you don’t sweep or vacuum the floor ahead of mopping, you’ll end up pushing dirty water into your grout lines.
How to Clean Floor Grout Without Scrubbing
Scrubbing is a lot of effort, so it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. There are other ways to clean tile grout, but these are the best ways to clean grout without scrubbing.
Before the cleaning solution
Before you start cleaning grout, you’ll need to get rid of the dust and dirt on your floor tiles and grout lines. Sweep or vacuum the floor, then go over the tiles with hot water and a mop. This will soften the dirt in the grout.
Once you’ve chosen your grout cleaner, test it on a small area first! This will ensure your cleaning solution won’t damage your tiles.
Clean floor grout using hydrogen peroxide
One way to clean grout without scrubbing is by mixing hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide and mix into a paste. Follow with a teaspoon of dish soap.
Apply the mixture to your floor grout and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. Use a clean cloth to wipe off the mixture, then rinse the floor with warm water and a mop. Let the grout dry completely.
NOTE: Do not store excess cleaner in a sealed container. The build-up of carbon dioxide may cause the container to break, while the gas could be toxic.
Clean floor grout using white vinegar and lemons
If you want to clean grout using natural ingredients instead of harsh chemicals, you can use the good old cleaning trio of vinegar, lemon, and baking soda! In a container, mix:
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup baking soda
Apply the mixture to the grout lines and let it sit for 10–15 minutes. Rinse with a mop and warm water, then let the floor completely dry.
NOTE: For more stubborn stains, you may need to lightly scrub the area with an old toothbrush. No one likes scrubbing the floor, but sometimes it’s the best way to remove stains.
Clean floor grout with oxygen bleach
Use this only if you need white grout ASAP. Bleach is harsh, so make sure you use gloves and don’t get it onto your skin.
Mix 3 tbsp of powdered bleach with water. Use a sponge to apply the mixture onto the grout lines and let it sit for 10–15 minutes. Rinse the floor well with water and a mop, then let it dry.
How to clean shower grout
The bathroom tiles on your shower walls see a lot of moisture, and they also build up soap scum over time. It’s essential to clean bathroom grout to prevent mould and mildew from developing.
Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, then apply the mixture to the grout lines. Let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping the mixture off and rinsing it. Let the tiles dry before using the shower again.
Don’t worry – we’ve also got you covered for how to clean shower tiles without scrubbing!
How to clean mould off grout
If you notice mould or mildew on your grout, you may need to break out the big guns.
A homemade option is sodium percarbonate, which is an alkaline cleaner. Mould doesn’t like alkaline environments – preferring acid – and sodium percarbonate can help break mould away from grout.
Mix 2 tbsp of sodium percarbonate in 2 cups of water. Pour the mixture onto the tough stains of mould, and lightly scrub it into the grout. Let the mixture soak into the floor for 10–15 minutes, then rinse the surface.
Dry thoroughly afterwards.
Maintaining Tile Grout
Use a grout sealer to repel moisture and dirt, and keep grout clean. Remember to let it dry thoroughly, and reapply the sealer at least once a year.
Lessen the dirt that gets on your floors by keeping dirty shoes by the front door. Also, remember to sweep or vacuum regularly.
How to clean grout like a professional? Many of them use some of these cleaning methods, or simply mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle! Then it’s all about scrubbing to gently loosen the dirt and wiping it away.
If your grout stains are particularly tough, though, you may need some extra oomph to clean them. Don’t strain yourself, though! There are bathroom power scrubbers that come with grout attachments to handle the job for you.
However, it can feel like a daunting task to clean grout even without scrubbing – you’ll likely have a lot of tiles, which means a lot of grout lines.
Just leave the job of maintaining your floors to a professional home cleaner so you don’t have to worry!