How to Clean Tile Grout
It’s no surprise that homeowners across America love the many benefits of tile. Tile is stylish, practical, and generally easy to clean, making it the perfect option for a wide variety of applications, such as:
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Floors
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Walls
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Countertops
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Backsplashes
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Fireplaces
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Patios, porches, and stairs
But where there’s tile, there’s grout—and maintaining grout can be a bit trickier. Dirt, dust, and liquids often collect in the grout lines between tiles, and because grout is porous, stains are all too common. Plus, in damp environments like a bathroom or basement, grout is prime real estate for mold and mildew.
Fortunately, cleaning grout isn’t complicated. In fact, you might not need anything more than warm water and a toothbrush.
How to Clean Tile Grout
There are several techniques and recipes you can use to clean grout and remove stains. But as with most household cleaning, you always want to use the gentlest option necessary. Here are seven ways to clean grout ranked from mildest to strongest.
1. Warm Water and a Brush
In many cases, all you’ll need for a minor, routine grout clean is some warm water and a brush. Most home centers and hardware stores carry grout brushes for this very purpose. (In a pinch, a stiff-bristled toothbrush will work too.)
Just fill a spray bottle with warm water, spray the grout lines, and use your brush to scrub the area in small, circular motions. Then, wipe up the water with a dry cloth.
That’s it! Talk about simple.
2. Vinegar and Water
For heavier grime or mild stains, vinegar and water make an effective, non-corrosive cleaning solution. Put equal parts warm water and vinegar into a spray bottle, spritz the dirty grout, and let it sit for five minutes.
Once the five minutes is up, scrub the area with a brush and wipe up the mess.
3. Baking Soda and Vinegar
If vinegar isn’t enough by itself, a little baking soda can make all the difference.
First, stir some baking soda and water into a paste. (The exact ratio isn’t important.) Then, make the same vinegar-and-warm-water mix mentioned above.
Cover the grout lines with the baking soda paste and spray the vinegar solution on top. The cleaner should start to fizz and foam. Wait for this foaming to stop, then grab your trusty brush and start scrubbing.
Finally, rinse the area thoroughly with clean water and dry with a cloth.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide
Still not getting rid of those grout stains? You can buy hydrogen peroxide at most supermarkets and pharmacies.
To remove moderate stains, either apply the hydrogen peroxide directly or combine it with baking soda for even more cleaning power. (If you opt for the second option, mix two parts baking soda to one part hydrogen peroxide.)
Whichever option you choose, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub, rinse, and dry.
5. Oxygen Bleach
For tougher stains and mold, oxygen bleach may be your best bet. This can come in powdered or liquid form, with common brands including:
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Clorox OxiClean
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Clorox OxiMagic
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Biokleen Oxygen Bleach Plus
Whichever product you choose, always read the instructions carefully before applying it—and make sure that the area you’re cleaning is well-ventilated.
6. Commercial Products
Of course, there are plenty of products on the market designed specifically to clean grout. Many of these require you to use a brush, but others work with a no-scrub, spray-and-wipe approach.
The spray-and-wipe varieties can save you time and energy, but they also tend to contain harsh chemicals such as acids or chlorine bleach. Depending on the tile and grout you’re cleaning, that could be a problem. So before you buy that convenient no-scrub cleaner, make sure you understand what your tiles can handle.
7. Steam Cleaning
For the most stubborn grout stains, you may have to resort to a steam cleaner. Steam cleaners use high heat and pressure to draw dirt and stains out of grout as if by magic. They even disinfect your tiles by killing bacteria, which is especially handy in kitchens and bathrooms.
There are a few different types of steam cleaners, including:
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Handheld steam cleaners
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Steam mops
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Canister steam cleaners
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Vapor steam cleaners
For all of them, the process is pretty simple. Just clear any surface debris from the grout lines, then follow the instructions included with your steam cleaner.
Proper Maintenance Can Keep Your Tiles Fresh for a Lifetime
And that’s how to clean tile grout! By taking good care of your grout lines, you can enjoy the convenience and style of a tiled surface for years to come.
And if you need any help installing, repairing, or replacing tiles, we’d love to help. At Downright Tile and Renovations, we’ve dedicated ourselves to mastering the art of tiling. We’ve assisted countless homeowners throughout the greater Kansas City area with their remodeling projects, and we’re ready to do the same for you.
Click here for a free in-home consultation and cost estimate.
client Reviews
Ann Butler
Cody was very professional, he was very good at advising us what would work well together. He showed up when he said he would , and never left a mess. We were under a time crunch , and Cody came through. The bathroom turned out beautiful. We are very happy with the end result.
We really appreciate all the hard work Cody and Trenton put into this job.
Stillwell, KS.
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Downright Tile did two bathroom remodels for us and we were very happy with both. One of them required extensive demolition and substantial changes to the plumbing. Cody was careful, clean, and great with communication. His tile work is absolutely first rate.
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Downright Tile are true craftsmen. They take genuine pride in their work and make sure the customer is happy throughout the entire process. Some specifics from my experience:
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Weatherby Lake, MO.
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Not only did DownRight Tile do an excellent job, but Cody and his team went above and beyond to complete the job within a tight time frame.
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Our experience with DownRight Tile was exceptional. We hired DownRight to install glass subway tile for our kitchen backsplash and coffee nook. They were extremely helpful throughout the entire process. From the get-go, they answered my millions of questions quickly and thoroughly. They were on-time throughout the project. I would say our project was a bit more complicated due to using glass tile and having a 70+ year old home with warped walls that weren't square. They exceeded our expectations and now we are using them for our bath remodel!
Shawnee, KS.
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My husband and I contracted with Downright Tile and Renovations to tile our basement laundry room and bath. Our house is 100 years old and the basement floor is not flat in places. They were able to level it out before installing the tile. The walls are not perfectly square, so we had lots of discussion about the best way to lay the tile to minimize the issue. They were very professional, arrived when they said they would, cleaned up the area daily and did a great job installing the tile. My husband is an engineer and very picky and was very pleased with the work. We highly recommend them. They are true craftsmen.
Brookside, MO
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Independence, MO
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Overland Park, KS
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Overland Park, KS
Read moreJon Sestak
I cannot speak highly enough about my tile experience with Downright Tile and Renovations. First of all I want to say that the attention to detail is fantastic. Our job took a little longer, but the overall product looked amazing once finished. Typically, I would expect a job to be rushed in our circumstances, but the attention to detail did not diminish as the project went longer than expected. Would give these guys six stars if possible.
Overland Park, KS
Read moreKiven Moise
Downright Tile and Renovations are very professional. They did an excellent job tiling my shower walls. If your up against the fence about a tile job give them a try you won't be disappointed.
Independence, MO
Read moreAlexzis Thomson
Thank you, Downright Tile and Renovations, for the awesome tile work! You helped convert our nightmare shower into a working shower! We initially hired a family friend to tile our master shower and shower floor. Long story short, the shower floor was not set properly and did not drain the water. :( I found Downright Tile and saw they had a knack for tile (especially showers), and knew they were the right company for the job. They knew exactly what to fix and how to fix it PROPERLY. They came in and did the job fast and effective! I can't wait to use the shower and not have to use a squeegee every time I get out. Thank you again!!! I highly recommend!
Blue Springs, MO
Read moreBrian Joy Wilhide
We hired Downright Tile to install new tile in our fireplace. Our old tile was pretty dull... we replaced it with Jinshan Coffee tile. They advised us as to the condition of the new tiles (some chipped, some cracked, etc.) and we were able to request a new batch before we start our bathroom tiling project. They were able to select some very nice tiles for the fireplace and it is quite beautiful now. As soon as we have our ducks in a row with the new tile, we will be happy to bring Downright Tile back to replace our bathroom tile.
Lenexa, KS
Read moreAngie's List Customer Review
We hired Downright Tile and Renovations to re-tile two fireplaces and our master bath floor. We picked our floor tile and when it arrived, found a lot of surprises. It was the last tile of it's kind from the quarry and there was a lot of variety. Downright Tile came up with a unique design which made great use of the variety and the final product is truly beautiful. They also re-tiled our family room fireplace with the same tiles. They suggested stacked stone tiles for our bedroom fireplace. Both fireplaces were transformed from boring to beautiful. Downright Tile took on our project where others might not have. It required a lot of extra cutting of tiles. They enjoyed the challenge and we are very happy with the outcome. We would confidently hire them again for any future tile work.
Kansas City, MO
Read moreDaniel J Lopez
I am very happy with my experience with Downright Tile and Renovations. They had great communication, explained everything well, were punctual, and kept the job site clean. The finished product is exactly what we were hoping for and the price was good. I would definitely recommend them for any tile jobs you have in the future.
Overland Park, KS
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Shawnee, KS
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Kansas City, MO
Read moreAngie's List Customer Review
Downright Tile and Renovations were excellent to work with. They clearly understand their craft. They were professional, clean, and conscientious. I'll hire them again when I need more tile work done and refer them to others.
Kansas City, MO
Read moreBeverly Bellinger
The project went beautifully. There were several areas around the tub and where the tub meets the floor that needed to be re-caulked; Downright Tile noted wherever new caulk was necessary within the shower/tub area and took care of it all. The amazing difference is in the floor. White tile with white grout can become discolored and hard to clean after a decade. Now it looks as good as when first installed, plus they offered care tips to maintain it. They also very graciously looked at a couple of loose kitchen backsplash tiles and provided advice on those. They're meticulous, professional and probably something of perfectionists—color matching was of critical importance to them. Our minor restoration project was clearly unworthy of their talents. Their charge was exactly as estimated ($300 plus materials). Imagine what a wonderful job they'd do on a start-from-scratch tile installation! If I had another tile project, Downright Tile is the only supplier I'd call.
Kansas City, MO
Read moreAngie's List Customer Review
We were very satisfied with Downright Tile and Renovations' services. They were very responsive via text and were able to schedule us quickly. We had a very positive experience working with Downright Tile and love our new tile. We highly recommend them and would use them again if we eventually need tile work again.
Kansas City, MO
Read moreDavid Duffield
As a very competent DIYer, it has always been difficult for me to relinquish control and hire someone else to do work on my home. My past experiences with hiring contractors has always left me disappointed in the quality of workmanship and/or the professionalism of the contractor. I can honestly say that, for the first time, Downright Tile and Renovations have exceeded my expectations. The crew were professional, timely, and the level of craftmanship was exceptional. Downright Tile took the time to plan the layout of the tile so there were professional results. I couldn't be happier and will definitely use them again on other projects. Thanks Downright Tile for all of your efforts!
Overland Park, KS
Read moreDan Lopez
Our house sold opening weekend. I’m sure the bathroom was a key contributor. We’re in a brand new house now so we’re set but I will definitely pass along your info to anybody who is looking. You did great work.
Overland Park, KS
Read moreJames Densmore
We recently remodeled our basement bathroom. We had multiple bids and they were all about the same. We chose to go with Downright Tile and Renovations as they warrantied their work more than the competitors. We picked out the tile and materials and then Downright Tile installed. They were on time and finished the project as expected. They explained various things when asked. We would use Downright Tile for a future project.
Mission Hills, KS
Read moreAnna Challacombe
We hired Downright Tile to re-tile our guest bathroom and they did a phenomenal job. We've never hired anyone with more integrity or attention to detail. They always showed up when they said they would, communicated expectations, did a really exceptional job on the tile itself, and went above and beyond to make sure we were happy with the finished project and that it met their exacting standards. I would highly recommend Downright Tile to anyone looking to have tile work done.
Merriam, KS
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