Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the bottle, then mix in 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide. The baking soda will help remove tough stains and hard water buildup, while the hydrogen peroxide will clean and brighten, cutting through residue on the grout to remove discolorations.
Grout that hasn't been sealed, needs to be resealed, or is in poor shape should not be cleaned with vinegar. The vinegar penetrates into the pores of the grout, further weakening the material. Over time, vinegar will deteriorate the condition of the grout by etching or wearing it away.
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.
The easiest way to clean grout without scrubbing involves hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Mix the two into a paste with some dish soap and apply to the grout lines. Alternatively, you can use a cleaning solution of water, vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda.
Avoid Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and other acids are also a bad idea for stone tile because the acid can etch the stone. Another widely praised household cleaner, baking soda, is alkaline (not acid), but it is not very effective as a grout cleaner.
Try Vinegar and Warm Water For A DIY Solution
Vinegar is a miracle ingredient for cleaning things around your home. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts distilled white vinegar and warm water. Give it a good shake and then spray the grout. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
Spray grout with equal parts vinegar and warm water.
Fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and warm water. Spray the mixture on the grout, let it stand for 5 minutes, then scrub the surface with a stiff brush.
Hydrogen peroxide won't damage normal tiles or colored grout. However, you shouldn't use it on polished marble. Cleaning with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is a great way to remove stubborn stains from your grout.
To make your own grout cleaner, mix 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap, ½ cup baking soda, and ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide together in a squeeze bottle. Allow the mixture to stand for 7 to 10 minutes, then apply to wall tiles, floor tiles, and countertops wherever the grout is dirty.
So the answer to the titular question is vinegar. Vinegar is better for cleaning. But that's because bleach isn't intended for cleaning, but for disinfecting. And, by the way, if you want to use bleach for disinfecting, make sure the area you want to treat is clean (and rinsed clean, if you used vinegar!)
Getting in between the tiles is hard but OxiClean™ can make keeping your grout sparkling white easy. It's a great bathroom cleaner and grout cleanser.
In a bowl, combine 2 cups water, 1.5 cups baking soda, 1/3 cup vinegar, and 1/3 cup Dawn. Using a spoon, gently stir, making sure there are no lumps. Add the mixture to a clean spray bottle. Spray the floor with the mixture.
Bleach is safe when used as directed
It is safe for use on typical hard, nonporous surfaces in showers and bathrooms like glazed ceramic tile, vinyl, stainless steel, fiberglass and sealed grout. To protect surfaces, always follow instructions and don't use a stronger dilution or longer contact time than recommended.
Add Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Soap
A good ratio is ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide and one teaspoon dish soap. When you apply your mix, let it sit on the grout for about 10 minutes. This allows the mixture some time to loosen the dirt. Then gently scrub and wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth.
To Make. Pour 1 cup blue Dawn into a 32-ounce spray bottle (1/2 cup Dawn if you are using a 16-ounce bottle). Fill the bottle the rest of the way with white vinegar. Apply sprayer top; shake gently to mix.
The association warns against acid-based cleaners, which can eat into grout, and cleaners with oil or wax, such as Murphy Oil Soap and Pine-Sol, because they can leave a sticky residue on grout. If the alkaline cleaners don't work, the association recommends trying an enzyme cleaner labeled for use on tile.
Little did you know that cola is great for cleaning tile grout! If you have dirty, dingy grout, pour a bit of cola onto the area, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe clean. For tough stains, use a cleaning toothbrush to scrub the grout before wiping the area clean. Cola Cola can also be used on carpet stains.