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.
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.
Even though many people rely on vinegar to clean, we highly recommend you do not use it to clean your tile and grout, because it will end up discoloring your floors.
Vinegar can indeed ruin grout.
Once lodged in these spaces, vinegar will corrode grout with the passage of time. The grout will eventually wear off. So you should take not to apply vinegar for cleaning purposes if you have unsealed grout in the area.
She suggested a combo of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, water and baking soda, or warm water and vinegar.
So, how do you clean grout with vinegar and baking soda? Apparently, vinegar is a popular natural household cleaner, but it's too acidic for cleaning grout. In fact, the acetic acid in vinegar can corrode the grout over time, so you might want to avoid using it for cleaning in this case.
Distilled white vinegar is a safe, natural cleaner and disinfectant you can use all around the house. Pour or spray undiluted vinegar onto your grout and let it sit for 10 minutes before using a toothbrush, scrubbing in a circular motion. Next, rinse away the dirt and mildew.
For stubborn dirt, you can make a paste of baking soda and white vinegar to leave on the grout overnight, and then remove with a spray of water.
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. This solution is often more effective than dedicated Ph-neutral grout cleaners.
Avoid Vinegar and Baking Soda
Do not use vinegar or baking soda to clean tile grout. Alkaline cleaners are a better choice than vinegar or baking soda because grout contains cementitious mortar that can be dissolved by acidic cleaners, including vinegar.
While vinegar is a standard household cleaner, you shouldn't use it to clean unsealed grout. Vinegar seeps into the air spaces in the grout, weakening them. With time, the vinegar deteriorates the grout by etching it or wearing it away.
To get rid of grout haze on porcelain or ceramic tiles, use a vinegar solution. In a big spray bottle or bucket, combine one part white vinegar with four parts water. For enhanced strength, more vinegar can be used. Use a mop or a soft nylon pad depending on the surface you need to clean.
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. Avoid using vinegar on unsealed grout.
I also read that some people use vinegar to clean grout. This is a great way to clear out limescale, but the acidity can be hard on grout and tile, so I'd skip the vinegar. Chlorine bleach can clean and disinfect, but the smell is noxious and any spills would damage fabric.
Use a soft small brush, sponge, or a gentle toothbrush to get into the crevices of the grout. Don't use any hard brushes or anything with harsh metals as this can destroy the grout and loosen your tiles. If you're dealing with stubborn stains after trying soap and water washes, try a pH balanced cleaner.
Fill your spray bottle with a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water and spray the work area generously. Let the solution sit for about five minutes, then follow up with a grout brush or a scrub brush. If you don't have one of these, a toothbrush works in a pinch.
The most common and effective homemade grout cleaner is a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. Cream or tartar and lemon juice is the best all-natural solution for whitening. Avoid using highly-acidic solutions like vinegar because they can corrode grout.
To clean larger areas, spritz the grout with hydrogen peroxide, allow to sit for several minutes, wipe or rinse clean, and allow to dry completely. If you don't have a bottle of hydrogen peroxide handy, do this with a 1:1 solution of warm water and either distilled white or apple cider vinegar.
To remove everyday dirt and debris, mix two parts baking soda with one part water. For stained or discolored grout, mix two parts baking soda with one part vinegar. And if you have coarse or fragile tiles, mix two parts baking soda with one part hydrogen peroxide.
Simply splodge some whitening toothpaste onto the old toothbrush or scrubbing brush and work it into the grout and edges of the tiles. This should help remove any black marks and restore the grout to a light white colour.
For light discolouration, dip a toothbrush into a solution of one-part water to one-part bleach and use it to scrub along the grout. Leave for a few minutes and then rinse with water. For heavier staining, make a stiff paste of bicarbonate of soda and distilled white vinegar.