When you first moved into your house, you probably fell in love with the beautiful ceramic tiles in the shower or on the kitchen floor. Or you immediately stressed, knowing that the delicate white grout between the tiles wouldn’t last forever. It’s true—grout needs to be deep cleaned every four to six months to stay looking like new. However, by using a sealant and cleaning up spills quickly, you can keep white grout looking great with less time on your hands and knees scrubbing.
If you haven’t kept up with grout maintenance, the once-white grout lines between your ceramic tiles may now appear gray, brown, or black. This discoloration is an accumulation of dirt, food particles, and—in the case of shower tile grout—mold. Are you eager to make your tiles look like new again? Here’s how to clean white grout using three different techniques.
Method 1: How to Make Grout White Again with Baking Soda, Ammonia and Vinegar
- Fill a bucket with 7 cups warm water, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup ammonia, and 1/4 cup vinegar. Stir to combine.
- Dip a sponge into the mixture or pour some into a spray bottle. Apply a liberal amount of cleaner to the grout and allow it to sit for several minutes.
- Scrub the grout with a small brush or old toothbrush. If the grout doesn't come clean easily, apply more of your homemade mixture and allow it to sit for up to an hour.
- Rinse the treated area and wipe dry with a towel or rag.
Method 2: How to Get Grout White Again with Lemon Juice or White Vinegar
- Saturate the grout with lemon juice, a mild disinfectant that gets rid of grout stains naturally. You can also use white vinegar for chemical-free grout cleaning. Simply pour vinegar from the bottle into the cap and pour it over the dirty grout lines.
- Allow the lemon juice or vinegar to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, scrub with a small brush or old toothbrush.
- Rinse the treated area and wipe dry with a towel or rag.
Method 3: How to Keep Grout Clean with Oxygen Bleach
- Combine warm water and powdered oxygen bleach in a spray bottle or bowl. This non-toxic, fabric-safe cleaner removes grease and food stains with minimal scrubbing. Stir the mixture until the oxygen bleach dissolves.
- Spray or pour the solution onto the grout until it floods the grout lines. It’s best to apply the cleaner to dry grout to ensure it soaks in deeply.
- Allow the cleaner to sit for at least 15 minutes. The longer you wait, the better your results will be. The oxygen ions in the bleach will continue working for up to six hours.
- If you notice that the grout has completely soaked up the cleaning solution at any point, apply more.
- Once soaking time is up, scrub the grout with a small brush or old toothbrush.
- Rinse the treated area and wipe dry with a towel or rag.
Call Molly Maid for Help
If you don’t have the willpower, time, or physical capabilities to get on your hands and knees and scrub the tile floor, Molly Maid can help. Our insured, licensed, and uniformed team members provide professional cleaning assistance to anyone hoping to make their home look, feel, and smell fresh and clean. We know how to clean grout lines effectively and tackle many other household chores as well.
To arrange professional house cleaning in your area, please contact your local Molly Maid today for a free estimate!
