The Best Ways to Clean Grout Lines between Your Floor Tiles

Have you noticed dirt or grime building up between the tiles on your floor? Unsightly stains on your tile grout can make your whole floor look a little messy, but there are so many common household products that can make them look clean again. No matter what kind of tile or grout you have, we’ve found the perfect cleaning solutions for you to use. Just keep reading, and we’ll walk you through how to make your grout look spotless again.

This article is based on an interview with our home renovation and repair specialist, Art Fricke, owner of Art Tile & Renovation. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

Scrub a paste of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap into the grout with a grout brush. Let the paste sit for 10–15 minutes before wiping it with a damp cloth.
Try applying a baking soda paste to the grout and spraying it with distilled white vinegar. Wait until the mixture stops bubbling to rinse it off the tiles.
Let a mixture of oxygenated bleach and warm water soak into the grout for 15 minutes. Scrub away dirt with a grout brush before rinsing off the cleaner.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Hydrogen Peroxide, Baking Soda, and Dish Soap

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1
Mix baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap into a thick paste. Combine ½ cup (136 g) of baking soda, ¹⁄₄ c (59 ml) of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tsp (4.9 ml) of dish soap in a small bowl. Keep stirring the mixture until it forms a thick paste that’s easy to apply to the grout between your floor tiles.^{[1]
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- Hydrogen peroxide paste works on any type of grout whether it’s sealed or unsealed.
- Baking soda acts as a natural abrasive to scrub away stains and build-up while the hydrogen peroxide helps cut through discoloration. The added dish soap helps loosen dirt and remove grease.^{[2]
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Apply the paste with a nylon-bristled brush. Either use a toothbrush or a specialized grout scrub brush. Dip the brush bristles into the hydrogen peroxide paste, and apply it to the grout lines between all of your tiles. Clean the grout with the paste by gently scrubbing the surface to lift up some of the dirt and grime on the surface.^{[3]
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- Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda may cause discoloration on colored grout. Test the solution in an inconspicuous spot before using it to clean your entire floor.
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Leave the paste on the grout so it has time to soak in. As the peroxide sits, it will form a bubbling reaction with the baking soda to break apart stains that are trapped deeper in the grout.^{[4]
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Rinse the grout with warm or hot water to remove all of the solution. Pour a small amount of water directly onto the tile floor to rinse the entire floor thoroughly. Alternatively, wet a clean towel or sponge with water and wipe it over the surface to lift up the residual cleaner.^{[5]
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- Be careful when you’re walking across your floor because wet tiles can be very slippery.
Take a clean, dry cloth and gently scrub between the tiles to clean out the remaining paste. Either stand on the towel and slide your feet along the grout lines, or work on your hands and knees to scrub the floor by hand. As a section of the towel gets dirty, fold it over and use a clean section so you don’t spread the dirt back onto your floor.^{[6]
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Mop the floor with clean water. Wet a mop with fresh water without any added soap or cleaners. Wring out the mop before using it to wipe your tile floor and lift up any residue you may have missed. Rinse your mop frequently and wet it again with clean water so you don’t spread the dirt back over the grout. When you’re finished, just let your floor dry completely.^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Baking Soda and Vinegar

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1
Apply a paste of baking soda and water between your tiles. Mix 2 parts of baking soda to 1 part water in a small bowl to make a thick paste. Scoop the paste onto a small spoon or an old toothbrush and apply it directly onto the grout lines on your floor.^{[8]
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- Baking soda works for all types and colors of grout, regardless of whether or not it’s sealed or unsealed.
- Baking soda is a mild abrasive that could irritate your skin while you’re cleaning. Wear rubber gloves while you’re working with it.
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Spray the baking soda paste with a vinegar solution. Combine equal parts of distilled white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle, and shake it up until it’s thoroughly mixed. Then, spray the vinegar solution directly onto the baking soda paste so it’s thoroughly coated. The paste will immediately start bubbling once you apply the vinegar spray, which lets you know that the cleaner has started working.^{[9]
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- Avoid using vinegar on natural stone tiles or unsealed grout since it could leave marks or damage on the surface. Just use the baking soda by itself instead.
Cleaning with baking soda and vinegar causes a bubbling chemical reaction that helps loosen up dirt and stains deep within the grout. Keep your eyes on the cleaning solution until it stops bubbling completely, which should only last for a few minutes.^{[10]
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Scrub the grout lines with a stiff-bristled brush. Run the bristles of a scrub brush made for cleaning grout or a toothbrush along each grout line. Work the paste deeper into the grout to help lift up any stains or dirt that remain.^{[11]
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- Pay close attention to grout in the corners and along the edges of your room since these areas are commonly forgotten about.
5
Mop the floor with clean water. Dip a mop into a bucket of plain water, and wipe it across your floor tiles to remove any residue that’s still left over. Rinse your mop and change the water often during the rinsing process so you don’t spread dirt back over your floor. Be sure to rinse off all the areas where you applied baking soda and vinegar so it doesn’t continue soaking into the grout.^{[12]
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- Leaving vinegar and baking soda on your grout or tiles could eventually cause it to eat through the material and cause damage.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Oxygenated Bleach

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Dissolve 2 tbsp (35 g) of oxygenated bleach in 2 c (470 ml) of warm water. Use the warmest water from your tap to activate the oxygenated bleach. Use a spoon to mix the solution thoroughly to ensure that the oxygen bleach is fully dissolved.^{[13]
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Expert Source

Art Fricke
Home Renovation & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview. 1 July 2020.}
- Oxygen bleach may cause fading or marks on colored grout, but it’s gentle enough for all types of grout or tile.
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Test a small, hidden section of the grout before cleaning the entire floor. Some tiles or grouts may be bleached or discolored by oxygenated bleach. Apply a small amount of the oxygenated bleach solution to an unnoticeable section of the grout to test for colorfastness. Let it sit for about 5–10 minutes before wiping it up and checking the coloration.^{[14]
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- If the oxygenated bleach does cause discoloration, then try one of the other cleaning solutions.
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Apply the oxygenated bleach to the grout and leave it for 15 minutes. Clean your floor in small sections so you avoid completely covering your floor. Scoop the oxygenated bleach solution out with a spoon and spread it evenly over the grout lines between your floor tiles. Make sure to pour enough to fully cover the grout lines. Let the solution sit on the grout for about 15 minutes so it has a chance to lift up deep-set stains.^{[15]
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- Alternatively, sprinkle the oxygen bleach powder along the grout lines on your floor and use a spray bottle to apply the water.^{[16]
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After the oxygenated bleach has time to sit on the grout, scrub back and forth along the grout lines with the brush. Be sure to pay extra attention in the corners and around the edges of the floor because dirt and grime tend to be worse there.^{[17]
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Expert Source

Art Fricke
Home Renovation & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview. 6 July 2020.}
5
Brush on unmixed oxygenated bleach powder for added cleaning power. If you find a stubborn stain that won’t come up on its own, dip the brush into clean water. Then, dab the bristles into the oxygenated bleach powder. Scrub the oxygenated bleach directly onto the grout to help clean them even more.
- Pour a small amount of the powder into a separate container to avoid mixing water into your main container of oxygen bleach powder.
Pour clean water directly on the tile or wet it with a clean mop to rinse away the residual oxygenated bleach mixture. After that, wipe your floor dry with a towel so dirt and grime don’t leave behind any marks.^{[18]
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Expert Source

Art Fricke
Home Renovation & Repair Specialist

Expert Interview. 6 July 2020.}

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Commercial Grout Cleaners

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1
Apply your commercial grout cleaner directly to the grout lines. Some good grout cleaners include Grout-eez, Zep, or Goo Gone.^{[19]
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Dario Ragnolo
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 13 August 2019.} Follow the product’s instructions listed on the package when you apply it. Typically, you’ll spray or pour the grout cleaner directly onto the grout lines until they’re thoroughly coated.^{[20]
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- In a pinch, try using toilet bowl cleaner on your grout since it’s easy to apply and has stain-fighting chemicals.
- If you have really stubborn stains on white grout, then try chlorine bleach. Just be sure to keep your room well-ventilated and don’t mix bleach with any other cleaners since it could create toxic fumes.
Leave the cleaner on your grout for the amount of time listed on the packaging, which is usually about 5–10 minutes. That way, the cleaner has time to soak in between the tiles and loosen the residue that’s trapped in the grout lines.^{[21]
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Scrub the grout lines with a stiff-bristled brush. Use a stiff-bristled toothbrush or a grout brush to work the cleaner even deeper into the grout. Apply gentle pressure to remove all of the surface dirt and grime. Keep scrubbing until you don’t see any more residue come up.^{[22]
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- Avoid using steel wool or an abrasive cleaner since you could remove some of the grout by accident.
Wet a cloth or soft sponge with clean water and run it over the grout you just cleaned. Be sure to pick up any residual cleaner or dirt so it doesn’t soak back into the grout lines between your tiles. Once you wipe up your floors, your grout will look spic and span.^{[23]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Steam Cleaner

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Use a broom to clean your entire floor, and collect all of the debris into a dustpan. That way, it’s easier for the cleaner to reach the grout without spreading any dirt back over your tiles.^{[24]
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Fill the steam cleaner’s reservoir with distilled water. Check the manufacturer’s instructions on your steam cleaner to find where the clean water reservoir is located. Pour in distilled water up to the max fill line. Avoid adding any additional chemicals or soaps to the steam cleaner water reservoir since they may make the machine work less effectively.^{[25]
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- Steam-cleaning removes all grout sealant, so it works best if your grout is already unsealed.
- Avoid using tap water since it can cause hard water buildup inside of your steamer.
- Visit your local home improvement store to see if they offer steam cleaner rentals. That way, you can save a little money instead of buying a steam cleaner.
Flip on the power switch on your steam cleaner and let it sit for about 5–10 minutes until it heats up. Many steam cleaners have an indicator light that turns on when it’s ready to use, but check the instruction manual for your model to determine how long to wait before cleaning your floor.^{[26]
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Steam-clean the grout lines using a narrow attachment brush. Secure a narrow brush attachment to the end of your steam cleaner so the bristles fit in between the tiles. Pull the cleaner’s trigger and gently scrub the brush back and forth over the grout lines. The steam will penetrate the grout and bring all the dirt and grime to the surface.^{[27]
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- Start at one side of the room and work your way to the other end in small sections so cleaning is easier to manage.
Be careful as the floor may be slippery after the steam condenses into water. Run a dry mop or towel over the section of floor you just steam-cleaned to lift up the dirty water and residue. Continue drying off your floor so the dirt doesn’t soak back into the grout again.^{[28]
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What Is the Most Efficient Way to Clean Bathroom Grout?

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Question

How can I get my grout white again?

Art Fricke
Tile Renovation Specialist
Art Fricke is a home renovation and repair specialist and the owner of Art Tile & Renovation based in Austin, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in bathroom and kitchen renovations. Art focuses on a single contractor approach to customized renovation work, and performs projects such as installing custom tile showers, fixing tiled shower leaks, replacing cracked tiles, and installing floor and wall tile.

Art Fricke

Tile Renovation Specialist

Expert Answer

Oxygenated bleach works best. Just mix some of the powder with water and scrub it into the grout with a cleaning brush.

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How do professionals clean tile and grout?

Dario Ragnolo
House Cleaning Professional
Dario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.

Dario Ragnolo

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Most professionals will use cleaner and a nylon-bristled brush to remove dirt and debris. However, if you don't have a nylon-bristled brush you can use an aluminum brush as well.

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What is the best thing to clean floor grout?

Dario Ragnolo
House Cleaning Professional
Dario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.

Dario Ragnolo

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

I recommend baking soda and vinegar. When baking soda and vinegar mix, they produce a chemical reaction that can break down grime and kill bacteria. You can use this to get rid of tough stains and to sanitize surfaces.

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Test new cleaners on an inconspicuous spot of your flooring to make sure it doesn’t damage your grout or tile.^{[29]
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After you’re finished cleaning, seal the grout by applying sealant between the tiles. Leave the sealant on for the time listed on the packaging before wiping up the excess with a clean cloth.^{[30]
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Remove old grout if it’s peeling or breaking away, and regrout your tiles to keep them protected.^{[31]
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Raymond Chiu
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Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.}

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Warnings

Do not use a steel or wire brush because this may break and damage the grout.

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Avoid using vinegar on any real marble, granite, travertine, or other natural stone because it might etch the surface and cause permanent damage.^{[32]
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