How to Clean the Grout

• Tiles are very popular room decorating material because they are undemanding,  reliable and easily maintained. However, the grout between the tiles requires some extra care.
• There are many different methods to clean the grout using the supplies found at any household: soda, vinegar, salt, toothpaste…you name it!
• Below are presented six most popular and effective methods to clean the grout quickly and painlessly!

Wall or floor tiles are smart selections for the rooms where stains and spills are very frequent occurrences, such as kitchen, bathroom, lobby, or even the dining room. They are practical, durable and most of all – easy-to-maintain. Spilled some ketchup on the floor? Dirty dog paws again? No problem! Just wipe the tiles off with a damp cloth and you’re good. However, there’s always one little BUT. In order to keep your room neat, you have to learn how to get rid of the dirty grout between the tiles.

Good news! You’ll never get bored brushing the smudges off the grout – there’re lots of different methods you might choose from every time you clean.

Method #1. The Magical Vinegar

Why magical? Because vinegar is one of the most universal and most effective natural cleaning solutions. Soap, water stains, limescale, mold…vinegar removes any kind of dirt. 

• Mix equal parts of vinegar and water and pour this mixture into an empty spray bottle.
• Spray the tiles (the grout mostly) and leave it to rest for a couple of minutes.
• Take a sponge or old stiff toothbrush and start scrubbing the grout.
• Finally, rinse the tiles with clean warm water.

Method #2. Soda!

Everyone has this product in their cupboards but rarely use it, right? Well, soda can be perfectly used to clean the limescale, soap deposits, dust…And it’s a great abstergent to clean the grout.

• Mix water and soda together to get the consistency of the paste.
• Apply this paste to the grout and leave it to rest for a couple of minutes.
• Take a damp sponge and gently scrape off the grout.
• In the end, rinse the surface with plain warm water.

TIP: Combine this and previous method together to get rid of more complex stains. In this case, first, apply the soda paste to the grout, then spray the vinegar-water substance on top of it and wait for a couple of minutes. Later on, grab the sponge or toothbrush and start scrubbing. In the end, wash the tiles off with the clean water.

Method #3. Bleach!

Warning: Bleach is a quite strong cleaning material that can damage the colorful tiles in a flash! Test the solution on the low visibility area before you apply it to the rest of the tiles.

• Mix 2 spoons of bleach together with 2 cups of water.
• Pour some mixture onto the dirty grout between the tiles.
• Take the stiff brush and gently scrub the grout (leave the tiles alone!).
• Rinse the tiles together with the grout with clean warm water.

Important: Dry the tiles up immediately with a clean cloth or towel.

• If needed, rinse the floor with a damp cloth one more time.

Method #4. Salt!

Enough eating it! It’s better to destroy the dirt with it than your health. The salt destroys unicellular organisms, such as mold by dehydrating them (remember the thirst after eating the whole pack of Cheetos).

• Take a damp cloth and dampen the grout between the tiles as much as possible.
• Cover wet gaps with the salt.
• Get a stiff brush and start scrubbing!
• After scrubbing, leave the grout covered with the salt overnight.
• The next morning wash everything off with warm water.

Method #5. Lemon Juice!

Since it’s impossible to drink it, cleaning purposes is probably the only way to use it, isn’t it? Lemon juice has quite the same effect as the vinegar. Both of them have the acid that kills the mold and perfectly removes different kinds of sediment. Moreover, it leaves a very nice and fresh smell.

• Take an old toothbrush and dip it into the 100% lemon juice.
• Scrub the grout and tiles gently.
• Rinse everything off with clean warm water.

TIP: For more effect – combine this method together with Method # 2. Apply the soda paste to the grout between the tiles and then scrub it with the toothbrush dipped into the lemon juice.

Method #6. Toothpaste!

Another powerful cleaning material that can be found in any household. Just so you know, it would be better to use the whitening toothpaste as it contains chemicals that will remove the dirt from the grout more effectively.

• Take an old stiff-bristled toothbrush. 
• Apply some toothpaste on it and scrub the grout between the tiles as much as it takes to remove the dirt.
• Rinse the tiles with the warm water. 
• Not satisfied with the result? Repeat the procedure one more time (or try the different method because the dirt might be too heavy for the toothpaste to get rid of it).

Now you are familiar with the six most effective ways to remove the dirt from the grout. Of course, you can always try your luck buying expensive different cleaning agents. But why spend so much money on something you are not even sure will help?

By following these methods you will probably won’t have to spend a euro! These natural home-found cleaning supplies are not sponsored by marketers – they are discovered by word of mouth. Therefore, rest assured – they do work!