How to Clean Grout: Get the Grime Out of Your Tile Floor

Although grout cleaning isn’t the most glamorous topic, it is a vital step in keeping a clean home. Because it is a task that isn’t a part of your weekly cleaning routine, it can be easily forgotten. But trust us, there is nothing to fear when it comes to cleaning your grout — well, other than the potential build up of dirt and bacteria your grout might be accumulating. Typical grout needs to be cleaned every four to six months, but can stay clean longer with proper technique and sealant.

There’s an assortment of options in getting the grime out of your grout. Homemade solutions include baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and even shaving cream! Any common household grout cleaner should do the trick as well. But if you have small children or pets, we recommend using oxygen bleach. Oxygen bleach is a non-toxic, fume-free alternative to chlorine that will kill bacteria and brighten your tile at the same time.

Using a spray bottle filled with water, wet your grout. Next, spoon your oxygen bleach along the grout to create a paste-like consistency. If your grout seems particularly stained or dirty, try using lemon juice in the place of water for a natural whitener that will make your grout sparkle! After your oxygen bleach and water paste is on your grout, practice the art of patience. Spend fifteen minutes on something else: meditate, run around the block, make a pot of coffee, or even cut coupons. The point is let the oxygen bleach work its magic. After fifteen minutes or so, come back with an old toothbrush or grout brush and you’ll be amazed at how easy the dirt and mildew wipe away.

Rinse the now brown, possibly black, oxygen bleach solution away with a damp cotton cloth and your grout should now be as good as new. You could even find your grout a color you’ve never seen it! To keep your grout mildew and dirt free for longer, make sure you treat your tile floor with a grout sealant once a year. Keep in mind, however, that sealed grout will still need cleaning about every six months.

Your now sparkling white grout will brighten up your room and the rest of your day!