White grout is more difficult to keep clean than darker colors, like gray or black, because even small stains show more prominently. However, white grout isn't difficult to clean if you stick to a regular maintenance schedule and know what cleaners to use.
What is important to know is that white grout will show dirt more, therefore you'll have to spend more time cleaning it. If you're set on white grout, you might consider using Epoxy Grout, which is stain-resistant.
White grout is going to get dirty very, very quickly. So even if you had the very best job done from the very best tile guy, it would still only look good for about a week, if that.
For balancing aesthetics and upkeep, you can't go wrong with a neutral grey or beige grout.
in a plastic cup, mix 1 part rubbing alcohol, 1 part dawn soap, 2 parts water. Mix well. Use a clean old toothbrush to put on grout line, let sit a minute or two and scrub about 15-30 seconds each line. Wipe up gunk with a damp clean cloth.
Our best for white grout pick, the Zep Grout Cleaner and Brightener, has a spout that we found fairly easy to control. Gels and pastes are easy to manage, perfect for spot-cleaning, and versatile cleaning agents.
Hard Water - Hard water stains do a number on grout! The minerals from the hard water can slowly change the grout from white to yellow. Dirt - Believe it or not, but various dirt, debris, minerals, and residues will stain grout if it's not cleaned off right away or cleaned properly off the grout.
Epoxy Grout
Epoxy grouts are the most durable of all grout choices because they are resistant to stains and water damage, and will hold up against harsh cleaners (please don't use harsh acidic cleaners on our tile!).
White tiles will also require more frequent cleaning in rooms with high foot traffic since they tend to show dirt and debris more than darker colors. If you're looking for a shade that's most easy to maintain, white might not be your first choice.
However, grout can't say the same thing. Grout is much more porous and absorbent than tile. So when it isn't sealed properly, or the sealant has been stripped off with harsh cleaners, this means that it can easily stain, absorb water/dirt, and generally get dirty more easily.
Since white is timeless, using white tile and grout will allow you to be versatile with your decor choices. White will stand the test of time and outlast interior design trends.
Cement-based grout's silky white color will sometimes only last a few years because of water damage and other contaminates. These things will cause discoloration in your grout. Discoloration is more of an aesthetic aspect however, if you find mold it should be your sign that you need to regrout.
This really works! The grouting around the tiles in our kitchen and bathroom was looking very tried with several black damp spots. The grout pen covered it all in one coat and was very simple and quick to use. We added an extra coat on the very stained sections and now it all looks like fresh grouting.
White grout is notorious for showing dirt, grime, and discoloration more prominently than darker grout colors. Its porous nature can easily absorb stains, making it challenging to keep clean over time.
Why Grout Sometimes Looks Dirty When It's Clean. Sometimes, when grout is permanently stained or has an uneven appearance due to improper mixing of grout during installation, neither aggressive DIY methods nor professional cleaning will produce a completely uniform, clean appearance.
If you're trying to unify your tile, such as with a wood look tile floor, go for a close match that's a little bit lighter than your tile. If you want to highlight a color or accent in your tile, like the gray veins in a marble tile, go for a close match, or a bit darker than that shade in your tile.
If you don't want to go through all this to keep your grout clean, you can install epoxy grout. Unlike sand grout, epoxy grout is not porous, and dirt cannot be ground into it.
How do you keep white grout from getting dirty? For grout on your floors, you can keep it clean by mopping and sweeping regularly, placing floor mats or rugs in high-traffic areas (or areas more prone to spills, like the kitchen), and removing your shoes before coming into the house.
Hard water has minerals like calcium and magnesium that stay on the tiles after the water evaporates. These minerals build up over time and make the tiles look yellowish.
Jim Whitfield, manager of Technical Services at Mapei told industry professionals, “Because epoxy grout is so tough, it wears extremely well. It doesn't wear down over time and become a tile gutter—like cement grout can—where all the dirt and liquid and junk collects.”
It is highly recommended to remove your old and damaged grout before applying new grout.
Neutral grout colours are lower maintenance
Dark and light grout tend to show more dirt and stains over time, while a neutral grout such as beige or grey won't show dirt as readily.
The pigments in cream tiling grout is so neutral it's sure to compliment an array of tile sizes, patterns and colours. Using a cream grout to bridge the gap between your tiles will create a clean, sleek finish to your project.
This could mean that mold spores and mildew are setting up deep within your grout.