One traditional way to clean grout lines is using full-strength household chlorine bleach. Ordinary household chlorine bleach is an effective way to clean grout, but because you are using it at full strength, caution is required when using it.
Myth: Bleach is great for deep cleaning tile and grout.
But frequent use of bleach can eventually weaken the grout's structure, causing it to become brittle and deteriorate.
Bleaches can include oxygen bleach, chlorine bleach and undiluted hydrogen peroxide. While strong bleaches may seem effective, they can actually weaken and destroy grout more quickly, causing grout to crack or crumble away.
Using bleach to clean your colored grout can result in fading of the color, making it uneven, or even removing the cover if the bleach isn't handled properly. Using bleach on colored grout should really be avoided. Bleach can also weaken the grout, causing it to crack and crumble.
That's because bleach can fade or discolor grout. According to Do It Yourself and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), cleaning your grout with bleach can cause the color to fade over time, giving it a dull appearance.
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.
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.
Mix together ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 tsp dish soap. Spoon cleaning agents onto grout and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Scrub the grout lines with a brush. Grout cleaning tip: Make sure to scrub hard to agitate the grout and cleaning solution and break up any really stuck dirt.
Certain cleaners, especially those that contain dyes, can cause discoloration of grout. Household bleach commonly discolors grout. Check the product labels to see whether products contain dyes, polymers, or other ingredients that may cause grout to turn yellow.
When your grout gets grungy Mandy people grab for the standard bleach and a toothbrush to get their grout lines looking white and sparkling again, but it won't work for colored grout. The purpose of colored grout is the color, and bleach will ruin that color.
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.
Using caustic cleaning solutions like ammonia or bleach can cause severe discoloring to your tile's grout. We highly advise against using ammonia or bleach to clean any grout.
Cleaning Grout with Vinegar
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.
Simply mix together half a cup of baking soda with four teaspoons of water until it forms a spreadable paste. Apply this paste directly to areas of mouldy grout and let it sit for 15 minutes. Finally, scrub the mould away with an old toothbrush and rinse with warm water.
Apply bleach directly to the grout brush, scrub along the grout lines, and then rinse the tiles thoroughly to ensure all bleach is removed. Despite your best efforts, some deeply stained and discoloured grout may just need to be replaced.
I asked our Lifestyle Director and cleaning expert Taryn Williford for her best DIY grout cleaning suggestions. She suggested a combo of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, water and baking soda, or warm water and vinegar.
Undiluted white vinegar in a spray bottle is the best all-around mold remover for shower grout. Spray the grout, and let the vinegar sit for at least one hour. Rinse with fresh water, and wipe down the walls. Use a stiff brush to remove challenging, stuck-on mold growth.
Clean grout with a commercial grout and tile cleaner. Apply it to the dirty areas of the grout following the manufacturer's instructions. If you prefer cleaning grout with a DIY mixture, make a paste of 3/4-cup baking soda, 1/4-cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of mild dish soap.
Use on most bathroom surfaces including: porcelain, ceramic tile, shower doors, sinks, bathtubs, white grout and caulk, toilet bowls, and fiberglass. Will not remove rust. Do not use on vinyl, natural stones, mirrors, plastic laminates, wood, fabrics, painted, coated or sealed surfaces, colored grout or wall coverings.
Highly caustic or acidic cleaners, like bleach or vinegar, will corrode and slowly destroy grout and tile finishes. You might be surprised how clean you can get your grout with just some hot water and a brush. With that said, if the grout is deeply stained, there are other effective grout cleaning methods to try.
Factors that increase the uric acid level in your body include: Diet. Eating a diet rich in red meat and shellfish and drinking beverages sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose) increase levels of uric acid, which increase your risk of gout. Alcohol consumption, especially of beer, also increases the risk of gout.