Effects on Grout: As an oxidizing agent, bleach can weaken the cement binding the grout, reducing its durability. Additionally, it can cause discoloration, leading to an uneven and blotchy appearance.
We highly advise against using ammonia or bleach to clean any grout. Cleaning solutions that contain bleach or ammonia will not only work to erode your grout over time, they will cause your grout to become even dirtier by leaving a film behind, which attracts dirt.
Use a commercial grout cleaner or a homemade solution of equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the grout lines generously with the cleaner. Scrub with a Brush: Scrub the grout lines with an old toothbrush or a grout brush. Use a back-and-forth motion to loosen dirt and stains.
What do professionals use to clean grout? Whether you believe it or not, most professionals use a solution of white vinegar and water with a 1:1 ratio. This solution is often more effective than dedicated Ph-neutral grout cleaners.
Grout is porous and usually sealed to resist stains. However, acid can degrade these silicone-based sealants, causing them to break down and wash away. Contrary to popular belief, this can happen with just one application of vinegar. Once the sealant is removed, dirt can penetrate the grout, leading to discoloration.
If you're trying to clean grimy grout between your bathroom shower or floor tiles, then OxiClean™ bathroom cleaners are here to help! They get rid of grout stains on vertical and floor tiles for a refreshed bathroom.
Mix borax with water (1 cup of borax per gallon of water) to create a cleaning solution. Apply the borax solution with a spray bottle or burst to the mold-affected grout, ensuring that you cover the affected areas thoroughly. Let it dwell on the grout for a few hours to overnight.
Stay away from cleaning solutions that contain bleach or ammonia, as these will usually cause severe discoloration of your grout and you may need a full regrouting to rectify the issue.
If you're a die-hard DIYer, using Dawn dish soap alone can be a safer option for mild cleaning. Dilute a small amount of Dawn in warm water, scrub the grout with a soft brush, and rinse thoroughly. However, this method is less effective for tackling stubborn stains or deep-seated grime.
Professional grout cleaners utilize low-pressure, hot steam cleaners to remove discoloring agents from your grout. What is the best grout cleaner? With the rise in popularity of safe or green home cleaning products over the last few years, many homeowners believe they have their grout cleaning well under control.
A combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda applied to grout, then washed off with dish soap can help to remove minor discoloration and bring the whiteness back to your tiles.
Hydrogen peroxide is generally safe for grout, but like any cleaning agent, it can have adverse effects if overused or misapplied. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic and bleaching agent, so it works well on grout and tiles to tackle stains, mold, and bacteria.
Not only will using scouring brushes or pads abrade your tile (especially smooth surfaces), they will damage your grout. The damage caused by scrubbing your grout might result in the early breakdown of your grout, and the brush or pad will still NOT remove the embedded dirt.
Vinegar is better at killing mold because it can work on both porous and nonporous surfaces. It also terminates molds at their roots so the mold won't return and is also safer than bleach. You can even combine it with baking soda to make it more effective.
The most benign may result from using too much soap and failing to wash it off properly. That leaves a film of dirt and soap, hence the discoloration. But it gets worse. Black grout can also be mold and mildew, which forms where there's moisture or high humidity.
Oxygen Bleach, Chlorine Bleach, or Hydrogen Peroxide: Stubborn mildew stains call for more potent solutions. Spray the affected grout with oxygen bleach, chlorine bleach, or hydrogen peroxide, ensuring the solution saturates the stains. Let it dwell for several minutes, then scrub the area.
That's because bleach can fade or discolor grout. According to Do It Yourself and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), cleaning your grout with bleach can cause the color to fade over time, giving it a dull appearance.
Magic erasers are a fantastic way to get grout very clean, very quickly. The downside is, the grout will rip through your magic erasers in a hurry. You'll go through more of them than you're used to, and that means this is one of your more expensive options.
Final Verdict. Our favorite grout cleaner is the Black Diamond Ultimate Grout Cleaner Spray for Tile with Brush. It can be used to lift various household messes and stains on many surface types. We also love that it comes with a firm-bristled scrub brush.
Remember the tip on avoiding bleach, ammonia, and other harsh chemicals to clean grout. It would be best if you also avoided vigorous scrubbing. A rough brush and too much elbow grease will remove the dirt, but it could also remove the grout. Another way to prevent grout damage is to use a squeegee on shower walls.
Apply liberally, let sit for 10 minutes, scrub with a sponge, and rinse with a damp cloth. Spray directly on soap scum, wait 10 minutes, scrub with a brush, and rinse off. Soak a cloth in the solution, wrap around the fixture for 15 minutes, then rinse and dry.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle. Saturate the grout completely with the vinegar solution, then let it sit for 5–10 minutes. Use a stiff brush (such as a nylon scrub brush) and a bit of elbow grease to start scrubbing the grout's surface.