If you’re like most homeowners who love scrubbing their floor grout, then you probably agree with me on how tedious and back-breaking it can be to scrub all the grout lines on your floors. My knees and wrists ache just thinking about it! But dirty, stained grout looks awful and can actually damage your tiles over time. So what’s the solution?
Thankfully, there are some surprisingly easy ways to clean and brighten grout without having to scrub for hours. In this article, we’ll share the methods and cleaning ingredients that work wonders on floor grout, while saving your joints.
Why Does Grout Get Dirty?
Before looking at solutions, let’s look at why grout gets dirty in the first place. This will help you better understand how to clean it.
Porous Material
Grout is porous, which means liquid and grime can seep into the surface. Grout is generally made from a cement-based material that is porous by nature. When substances like dirt, grease, and spills seep into the pores, they cause discoloration and staining.
High Traffic Areas
Kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways see a lot of foot traffic and exposure to water and grime. Constant traffic across the floor combined with moisture drives dirt deep into grout over time.
Improper Cleaning
Using harsh cleaners improperly can corrode and erode grout. Abrasive scrubbing also wears down the surface. This opens up more pores for grime to penetrate.
Discoloration
Elements like mold, mildew, and hard water can change the grout’s original color. In the same way, sunlight, heat, and age also fade and yellow grout.
Why Is it Important to Clean Grout?
Here are some of the top reasons why it’s important to clean grout regularly:
Improved Appearance
Perhaps the main motivation for cleaning grout is simply to improve its appearance. Over time, grout can become stained, darkened and just look grimy overall. Cleaning it makes an immediate visual impact and can make the entire room look cleaner.
Grout lines get dirty easily because they are porous and trap everything from dirt and debris to food stains and spills. When the grout lines look dirty, it makes the whole floor look dull and dingy. Even if you mop and clean the tile itself, dirty grout lines make the floor look messy and unkempt.
Cleaning the grout immediately brightens up the floor and gives the whole room a fresher, cleaner look. It restores the crisp, uniform appearance that the floor had when it was first installed. The lighter color of the grout after cleaning contrasts nicely with the tiles for a put-together look.
Eliminate Mildew and Bacteria
Grout is very porous, which allows mold, mildew and bacteria to take hold if not cleaned regularly. If you notice a black, greenish or grayish tint to your grout, that’s likely mildew that should be eliminated. Cleaning kills bacteria and mildew helps create a healthier home.
Mildew thrives in damp environments like bathrooms and basements. The porous nature of grout makes it the perfect place for mildew spores to take hold and grow. Left unchecked, the mildew spread across the grout lines, leaving dark stains and an unhealthy environment.
Cleaning not only removes the unsightly stains, but also kills the mildew spores and bacteria living in the grout. This prevents it from spreading to other areas. After cleaning, make sure the area has proper ventilation to prevent excess moisture buildup.
Regular grout cleaning provides a one-two punch – it restores the bright uniform appearance while creating a healthier home environment.
Extend Life of Tiles
Allowing grout lines to become deteriorated with buildup can actually begin to damage the surrounding tiles over time. By keeping grout lines clean, you’ll help prevent erosion between the grout and the tile edges, extending the life of the tiles.
The grout between tiles acts as a sealing agent and protects the tile edges from moisture damage. When it becomes grimy and deteriorated, it can no longer provide that protective barrier, allowing moisture to seep under the tiles. This can cause cracks, chips, and erosion along the tile edges.
Keeping the grout clean prevents this damage from occurring, keeping your tiles looking their best for longer. It also prevents the unsealed edges from allowing dampness underneath that can lead to mold growth.
Well-maintained grout helps lock the tiles tightly together, preventing cracks between them that compromise the flooring. By regularly cleaning grout, you’ll add years of life to your tile flooring.
Problems With Scrubbing Grout
Scrubbing grout lines with a hand brush or powered scrubber is certainly effective. However, this manual scrubbing has some drawbacks:
- Time-consuming -Cleaning all the grout lines in a room by hand takes a lot of time and elbow grease. It can take hours for a thorough job.
- Hard on joints – All that scrubbing on hands and knees can really wear down your joints over time. It leads to knee, back and wrist pain.
- Inconsistent results – It’s difficult to scrub every grout line perfectly evenly by hand. Some areas end up cleaner than others.
- Doesn’t sanitize – Plain scrubbing only removes some surface dirt and stains. It doesn’t kill microbes or fully sanitize grout.
- Can damage grout – Using too much force while scrubbing can actually scour away grout material, worsening its condition.
- Doesn’t prevent future stains – A simple scrub does nothing to protect or seal grout against future stains and damage.
The good news is you can avoid these tiring and limited results by using alternative cleaning methods that don’t require heavy scrubbing.
Easiest Way To Clean Grout Without Scrubbing
There are several effective options to clean, brighten and sanitize grout without a lot of tedious scrubbing:
Vinegar
Vinegar is a mild acid that can help dissolve mineral deposits, soap scum, and hard water stains that discolor grout over time. It also has antibacterial properties to kill mold and mildew.
How it works: The acetic acid in vinegar breaks down calcite deposits and soap scum, allowing them to be wiped away easily. It kills bacteria and bleaches out stains.
Process:
- Sweep or vacuum grout to remove loose dirt and debris. Get into the crevices with a soft brush attachment.
- Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. A 50/50 ratio has enough acidity to clean most stains effectively.
- Liberally spray the vinegar solution directly onto the grout lines. Completely dampen and soak the grout to penetrate stains.
- Let the solution sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the acetic acid time to work on dissolving mineral deposits and whitening grout. Set a timer if needed.
- Wipe away the vinegar solution with a clean microfiber cloth. And check for any remaining dampness.
- Rinse the grout thoroughly with clean water to remove all vinegar residue. Vinegar can damage some surfaces over time.
- Repeat steps as needed for stubborn stains. Multiple applications may be required. Just let grout dry in between.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a mild abrasive cleaner and deodorizer that can break down grime and brighten grout without scrubbing.
How it works: The gritty texture of baking soda scrubs away dirt and stains. It also naturally neutralizes odors and whitens discolored grout because of its alkaline properties.
Process:
- First, sweep or vacuum the grout lines to remove any loose surface debris. Get into crevices with brush attachment.
- Make a thick paste with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Add a little at a time until you achieve a toothpaste-like consistency.
- Use a toothbrush, cotton swab or small brush to work the paste down into the grout lines. Apply liberally and pack it into crevices.
- Let the paste sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the baking soda time to lift dirt and stains. Re-apply to any area that dries out.
- Wipe away the baking soda paste with a damp microfiber cloth
- Rinse the grout thoroughly with clean water to remove any remaining baking soda and debris.
- Repeat steps as needed for very tough or permanently stained areas. Let grout dry fully before reapplying.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is another household staple that can naturally clean and brighten grout. It’s an effective bleaching agent and stain-remover.
How it works: Hydrogen peroxide breaks down stain-causing molecules through oxidation. The bubbling action helps lift dirt from the bottom of grout pores.
Process:
- Sweep or vacuum grout first to remove surface debris. Get into crevices with brush.
- Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle. You can use up to a 50/50 ratio for heavy stains.
- Lightly spray or pour the hydrogen peroxide solution directly onto the grout lines. Get full coverage.
- Let sit for 10-15 minutes to allow the peroxide time to work on stains and start bubbling. Reapply to any area that dries.
- Wipe away the remaining solution with a clean microfiber cloth. And check for full coverage when wiping.
- Thoroughly rinse the grout with fresh water after cleaning to remove all peroxide residue.
- Repeat steps as necessary for very stubborn stains. Allow grout to fully dry before reapplying.
Commercial Cleaners
There are also specialized grout cleaners available that can help brighten and sanitize grout without scrubbing:
- Oxygen bleach cleaners – Contain hydrogen peroxide to break down organic stains. Brands like OxiClean work well.
- Acidic cleaners – Have hydrochloric or phosphoric acid that dissolves mineral deposits and stains. Good options include Tilex and Lime-A-Way. Use caution on acid-sensitive surfaces.
- Enzymatic cleaners – Contain bacteria or enzymes that break down mold, mildew and organic stains in grout. Mold Armor is one example.
- Grout pens – Have an abrasive tip that rubs away dirt in grout lines. Useful for spot cleaning.
How to use:
- Check label instructions based on product type, but most often you would:
- Spray or pour directly onto grout lines
- Let sit for 5-10 minutes to penetrate and work
- Wipe away residue with damp cloth
- Rinse thoroughly with water after cleaning
- Avoid getting the cleaners on surrounding tile surfaces, rinse off immediately if contact occurs.
- Spot test cleaners in an inconspicuous area first to check for any damage to grout or tile.
- Make sure grout is sealed properly after deep cleaning for protection.
Tips For Keeping Grout Clean
To minimize heavy grout cleaning down the road, follow these maintenance tips:
- Seal grout every 1-2 years with a penetrating sealant. This creates a protective barrier against stains and damage. Specially formulated grout sealers work best.
- Check for re-sealing signs like fading color, absorption of liquids, crumbling, or cracking. If you see those, re-seal right away.
- Blot spills quickly to avoid staining, don’t let puddles sit on the grout lines for long. Absorb with a cloth ASAP.
- Sweep or vacuum weekly to prevent dirt buildup in grout crevices. Use a soft brush vacuum attachment near the grout.
- Mix baking soda and water into a spreadable paste and apply over grout about once a month. Helps maintain whiteness.
- Clean grout annually as part of a thorough deep cleaning routine. Spot clean more often if heavily stained.
- Control pets near grout to limit urine stains. And clean any accidents ASAP to avoid permanent setting.
- Avoid oil/grease spills on grout which can sink in and permanently stain if not cleaned immediately.
- Keep grout lines sealed in the kitchen and bathrooms to protect from frequent moisture and staining in those rooms.
Conclusion
There you have it – cleaning grout without extensive scrubbing is possible using common household ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.
So, with the above cleaning methods and maintenance tips, you can safely restore the look of your grout without hours of painful scrubbing. Just be sure to rinse completely after cleaning and allow proper dry times in between applications for best results.