DIY Grout Cleaner Make a spreadable paste with 3/4 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of mild dish soap. Add more baking soda or peroxide if the mixture is too runny or thick. Put about two teaspoons of cream of tartar in a bowl. Add enough lemon juice to make a thick paste.
Arguably the most common homemade grout cleaner, a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap works best for kitchen and shower tile since the paste is easy to rinse out.
To clean grout, I would start with a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda, in a 2:1 or weaker ratio. Apply the mixture to the grout lines, let it sit, gently scrub with a soft bristle brush (old tooth brushes, for example), then rinse with clean water. Repeat if necessary.
Some professionals swear by a simple mixture of baking soda and peroxide to clean grout. Hydrogen peroxide is an acid, and baking soda is a base compound. Mixing the two together creates a reaction that can penetrate the grout lines and free dirt and debris.
Try using just plain old toothpaste and apply a dollop to a damp cloth. Next, pat down the grout gently and let it sit like that for a few hours. Finally, wipe away what's left of the toothpaste, and voilà, your grouts should be squeaky clean and white.
Chemical cleaners, such as, Tilex, Soft Scrub, Scrubbing Bubbles, or ammonia products will nearly always result in your tile surfaces' grout becoming very discolored.
To create this cleaning solution, mix one part hydrogen peroxide, three parts baking soda, and one tablespoon of liquid soap to create a paste. Apply the paste to the affected areas and grout lines using an old toothbrush or scrubbing brush. Allow the mixture to sit for 10-15 minutes to let it work its magic.
Baking soda and bicarbonate of soda are the same thing. It's just that baking soda is the name most commonly used in America. Here in the UK we tend to call it bicarbonate of soda. Soda crystals are NOT the same as bicarbonate of soda.
The high acidity in lemon juice eats away at stubborn stains and discoloration in grout. Soak your grout with lemon juice, leave it on for ten minutes, and wipe down your grout and tile with a damp cloth. As a bonus, you're left with the aroma of fresh lemons instead of a chemical cleaning solution.
Mixing vinegar and baking soda causes an immediate chemical reaction. This reaction forms water, sodium acetate (a salt) and carbon dioxide – the fizzy part. The amount of carbon dioxide gas that is produced from baking soda is remarkable – one tablespoon (around 18 grams) can release over five litres of gas!
The most effective and simple way to clean your grout is using distilled white vinegar mixed with water. If the grout is heavily stained and requires lightening, you may decide to first apply bicarbonate of soda paste before you begin cleaning.
Cementitious black grout is very difficult to clean up because it is so heavily pigmented. It can stain porous tiles or glazed tiles with micro cracking in its surface called crazing. If it is a cement haze, then a mild acid can be used to remove it such as sulphamic acid or a diluted phosphoric acid.
The long-term use of bleach on grout can lead to several adverse effects. 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.
DIY Grout Cleaner
Make a spreadable paste with 3/4 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of mild dish soap. Add more baking soda or peroxide if the mixture is too runny or thick.
White vinegar is an acidic solution that can etch or corrode some tiles, particularly those made from natural stone or unglazed ceramic. The acid in white vinegar can also weaken and deteriorate certain grouts over time, particularly if the grout is already damaged or in poor condition.
In some cases, it's not poor cleaning methods that damage tile grout. Instead, the culprits are improper installation, incorrect grout mix, or excessive moisture.
1. Tiles and grout. One of our favourite ways to use The Pink Stuff is to revive tired and grubby tiles. Work it into the grout with a sponge or an old toothbrush and you'll be amazed at how much you can brighten up those old bathroom or kitchen tiles.
Step 1. Make a paste from two parts bicarbonate of soda to one part water, then rub on to dirty grout using an old toothbrush. An electric toothbrush with an old head will also work wonders with little effort from you!
More specifically, this recipe is one part baking soda, one part hydrogen peroxide, and a few squirts of dish soap. Mix everything in a bowl and apply it to your grout, waiting ten minutes before you start scrubbing with a grout brush. Rinse with water when you're finished and then wipe dry with a towel.