How to clean grout in your floors, showers and more.

Video: Grout cleaning tips.

How often should you clean tile and grout?

As a general rule, you should clean tile and grout when it starts to show dirt, film or haze. You also want to quickly clean off any mold or mildew you may see before it starts to spread.

Tile grout is porous, so it can absorb water, chemicals and debris, especially if it's not sealed properly. You'll probably clean the tile and grout whenever you typically clean your house, but sometimes an extra or deeper cleaning may be required.

If you're not sure whether your tile and grout need a good cleaning, look for signs such as dark grout lines that should be white, along with streaks, spots or a film on the tile itself. You'll also want to look for spots and splotches that could indicate the presence of mold. If your tile or grout starts to develop a musty odor, that's another good indication that a cleaning is needed.

What you’ll need to clean grout and tile.

To clean tile and grout, you'll need the right products and supplies. Some of the most common options for great-looking grout lines include:

• Alkaline or pH-neutral grout cleaner
• A handheld scrub brush
• A toothbrush
• Microfiber cloth or soft towel
• Rubber gloves
• Mild dish soap (optional)
• Grout colorant (optional)
• Mold remover (optional)

You might also want to have a larger or longer-handled brush, depending on how much tile and grout you have and how easily you can reach it. There are also products such as grout coloring pens to fix discoloration and pre-treatment chemicals you might want to consider using.

Do baking soda and vinegar clean grout?

A lot of people want to use baking soda, warm water in a spray bottle, or hydrogen peroxide to clean grout and tile floors. But is using these ingredients a good idea? Will hot water really clean tile grout?

In general, you should avoid using vinegar or baking soda to clean grout. It's important to remember that baking soda is abrasive. Using too much of it or scrubbing too hard can potentially cause damage to an already porous surface. Instead of using vinegar (which is acidic and may create etches on stone tile and degrade the grout), it’s better to use an alkaline or pH-neutral cleaner. You should especially avoid using vinegar if your grout is unsealed.

While it's possible to use these ingredients to make your tile and grout brighter, whiter and cleaner, it's generally better to use cleaners that are specifically designed for grout and tile to avoid the chance of damage. Or, buy an alkaline (like Mr. Clean or Spic and Span, recommends the Tile Council of North America) or a pH-neutral cleaner.

How to clean and maintain tile grout floors.

There are some basic steps you can follow when cleaning your grout:

1. Carefully sweep the area to remove any loose dirt or debris.
2. Apply the cleaning solution, following the instructions on the package.
3. Use a quality scrubbing brush to remove the dirt and stains on the grout lines.
4. Use a shop vac to vacuum up any leftover dirty water or cleaner.
5. Optional: reseal the grout.

Along with cleaning, you want to maintain the grout and tile, as well. Good grout maintenance is easier with a grout colorant to restore the bright color the grout had when it was new. You should also consider a sealant, as periodic resealing of grout can help it last longer.

One more thing: Make sure you know what type of tile floors you have before you start cleaning your floors. Do you have ceramic tile floors? Or, are they made out of natural stone, like marble or granite? Certain cleaners and chemicals should be avoided, depending on your floor type. For more advice, read our guide, “How to clean tile floors like a pro.”

How do you clean grout in a shower?

Cleaning grout in a shower is very similar to cleaning grout on your floor. You can clean grout with specific cleaners made for grout and tile, or with other options such as a middle dish soap (which is close to pH-neutral). A deep cleaning may be necessary if the grout is very dirty, or if there is mold or mildew. 

To clean shower grout, do the following:

• Wipe down the shower to remove any hair, dirt, soap scrum or other debris.
• Clean the shower with your grout cleaner of choice.
• Use the grout cleaner to remove stains, marks and mildew. Follow the instructions on the packaging.
• Treat any remaining mildew with a product specifically designed to remove it.
• Rinse thoroughly to remove any leftover residue.
• Dry with a soft towel or microfiber cloth.

Also, make sure you're maintaining the grout in your shower by sealing it on a schedule recommended by the manufacturer, and by treating mold and mildew promptly so it doesn't pose as much risk of staining the grout.

How to clean grout countertops.

To clean grout countertops, you'll want to follow the same basic procedures you use for floors and showers. That involves removing any dirt or debris, or anything that's stuck on the countertop. Then, grab your grout cleaner and a scrub brush to remove dirt from the grout lines. 

Also, remember to use a treatment for mold and mildew (if needed). And seal the grout on a schedule the manufacturer recommends.

Tips for cleaning pool tile and grout.

When you're cleaning pool tile and grout, it's important to understand that it can quickly accrue mildew and algae. The chemicals in the pool water, such as chlorine, can help protect the grout lines from mildew. But there are always cracks and crevices that don't get as much light and may be prone to mold growth. Using a stronger cleaner or one that's specifically made for pools and outdoor areas can help protect the grout and reduce problems.

But when in doubt, you can also hire a pool cleaning service for this task. Get a few estimates to find out how much they may charge to scrub your pool tile grout.

Grout cleaning mistakes to avoid. 

To make sure your floor tile and other grout tile get (and stay) clean, be sure to avoid common mistakes. The most frequent mistakes people make when cleaning grout are:

• Using vinegar, baking soda, bleach or lemon — especially on unsealed grout.
• Scrubbing too hard (or with the wrong kind of brush) and scratching the tile.
• Not sealing the grout to keep it protected.
• Not treating mildew or other issues that can cause stains.
• Not cleaning grout frequently enough.

You can avoid these mistakes by using the right brush and cleaner, cleaning frequently, treating mildew and mold, and making sure you keep your grout properly sealed.

How to keep your grout clean and white.

While grout lines will always start to dull down over time, you can keep them whiter and brighter by taking good care of them. That also makes it easier to return them to their original brightness as needed. For example, you should:

• Inspect your grout regularly, and look for signs of mildew.
• Treat mold or mildew promptly before it spreads.
• Use grout colorant to re-brighten your grout lines.
• Routinely clean your grout. Make grout cleaning a part of your weekly routine.
• Clean up spills quickly, especially if it's something that’s acidic or could easily stain.
• Spray a shower cleaner daily on your shower tiles and glass. Again, avoid using cleaners that contain vinegar or baking soda on grout.
• Seal grout lines as needed to help protect them from stains. This may mean sealing your grout every 6months to a year or every 3-5 years. It depends on the surface and how much wear and tear (or traffic) it experiences. Check your manufacturer’s guidelines.

When to call in a tile and grout professional.

Sometimes, the problems with your grout floor or other grout tile areas are just too much for the DIY enthusiast. In those instances, you may need to contact a tile and grout professional. 

The issue may go beyond using the right grout cleaner, and could extend to inspection, repair or even replacement of your tile and grout. If you've just moved into a home where the grout was neglected, for example, a professional can help you make it look new again. Or, you may need to regrout your shower, floors or countertop. If you think that’s the route you need to take, start contacting regrouting professionals near you today.