A Simple Guide to Cleaning Grout With Baking Soda

Dirty grout can put a damper on any tiled area, but luckily it’s super easy to clean with baking soda and other homemade solutions. We chatted with house cleaning professionals Filip Boska and Chris Willatt to find all the best ways to clean dirty grout. The best part is that you can probably find all of these ingredients in your home. Keep reading and get your grout white again!

Homemade Grout Cleaner

Combine ½ cup (136 g) of baking soda with ¹ ⁄ ₄ c (59 mL) of hydrogen peroxide and 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of dish soap. Spread the mixture over the grout and wait 5 to 10 minutes. Optionally, scrub the mixture with a brush to get it into any cracks in the grout. Rinse the area with clean water.

Section 1 of 6:

Cleaning Grout with Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Dish Soap

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1
Combine baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap in a bowl. House cleaning professional Filip Boksa says the most effective way to clean tile grout is to mix ½ cup (136 g) of baking soda, ¹ ⁄ ₄ c (59 mL) of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of dish soap. Pour the ingredients into a small bowl and mix with a spoon.
- Baking soda is alkaline, so it won’t harm your grout. ^{[1]
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2
Apply the mixture to the grout and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. After you mix the solution, Boska says to spread the mixture into the grout and allow it to work its magic for 5 to 10 minutes. He also recommends using “a grout brush to scrub the mixture into any cracks or fissures in the grout.”
- If you don’t have a grout brush , use a regular soft-bristled cleaning brush , an old toothbrush, or an abrasive sponge.
- To clean your grout without scrubbing, simply make sure the baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap mixture covers the grout and let it sit for 10 minutes.
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3
Rinse the grout with clean water. After the mixture sits, Boska says to “rinse off [the grout] with clean water.” Dip a mop in clean water and scrub over the mixture to remove the leftover baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. If you don’t have a mop, use a damp rag or towel to clean up the grout.
- If the tiled area is on the wall, use a small cup of water or a shower head to gently rinse off the homemade cleaner.

Section 2 of 6:

Cleaning Grout with Baking Soda and Water

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Mix about ½ cup (136 g) of baking soda with 1 to 2 US tbsp (15 to 30 mL) of water to form a paste. Use a spoon or grout brush to carefully spread the mixture over the grout, between your tiles. ^{[2]
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Scrub the grout with a small brush and rinse it with water. With a small grout or soft-bristled brush, scrub the area with the baking soda paste until the grout comes away clean. Rinse the area with warm water and let it dry completely. ^{[3]
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- If the tiled area is on the floor, use a mop or damp towel to wipe off the baking soda residue. If it’s on the wall, use a cup or showerhead to pour water over the area.

Section 3 of 6:

Cleaning Grout with Baking Soda and Vinegar

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1
Mix baking soda with water to create a thick paste. In a small bowl, combine ½ cup (136 g) of baking soda with 1 to 2 US tbsp (15 to 30 mL) of water. Stir the ingredients together until they form a paste-like substance. ^{[4]
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- For a little extra cleaning power, add a couple of drops of dish soap. ^{[5]
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- Baking soda and vinegar are both natural, non-toxic solutions that can help get rid of mold and mildew. ^{[6]
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Spread the baking soda paste over the grout and scrub with a brush. Pick up a little bit of the paste with a brush or spoon and spread it evenly over the grout. Use a soft-bristled brush to scrub between the tiles so the baking soda sinks into the grouted area. ^{[7]
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- If you don’t have a scrub brush, a sponge with a scouring side or an old toothbrush works.
3
Mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray it on the grout. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts distilled white vinegar and warm water. Spray the mixture directly onto the grout and baking soda and let it sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture stops bubbling. ^{[8]
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- Grout is made of mostly cement and can be dissolved by acids, like vinegar, over time. This is why it’s best not to use vinegar by itself to clean grout. ^{[9]
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- However, baking soda is a base, which means it cancels out the acid in the vinegar. ^{[10]
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  Research source} The vinegar is diluted with water so the combination is more basic, and it shouldn't harm the grout.
4
Scrub the grout and rinse away the excess cleaner. Use a grout brush to work the baking soda mixture into the grout and scrub the grime away. ^{[11]
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- Alternatively, scrub with a stiff-bristled brush, scouring sponge, or toothbrush.
- If the grout is still dirty after trying this method, try one of the other methods above.
- Avoid using chlorine bleach after this step—bleach and vinegar combine to make chlorine gas, a corrosive and hazardous substance. ^{[13]
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Section 4 of 6:

Using Bleach to Clean Grouted Areas

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1
Apply a bleach pen to stubborn stains in your grout. House cleaning professional Chris Willatt says if you really want your grout to look white and clean once again, “you can hit it with a bleach pen.” He says “That’ll take care of the mold as well.” Follow the instructions on the pen to apply it to the grout.
- Try not to get the bleach pen on anything outside of the grouted area—bleach can discolor tiles.
2
Spread oxygen bleach and water on the grout, let it sit, then rinse. Powdered oxygen bleach is a safe and non-toxic alternative to normal chlorine bleach. Combine the bleach with the amount of water recommended by the manufacturer. Apply it to the grout with a cloth or sponge, let it sit for at least 1 hour, then scrub and rinse it off with water. ^{[14]
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- If the grout is on the wall, use a damp towel or cloth to rinse off the bleach.
3
Use chlorine bleach as a last resort. If nothing else seems to remove black stains from the grout, dilute ³ ⁄ ₄ c (180 mL) bleach with 1 US gal (3.8 L) of warm water. Dip a grout brush into the bleach solution and scrub the area. ^{[15]
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- When using bleach in a small area, Willatt says to keep “the window open or the door open,” “protect your eyes” with safety goggles , and “make sure you're wearing gloves.”
- Avoid using chlorine bleach after or before the vinegar method. These substances can combine to make chlorine gas, which is highly dangerous.

Section 5 of 6:

How often should you clean your grout?

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Clean wall and floor grout every 1 to 2 weeks. For showers and tiled areas that are prone to getting wet, spray the tile with a daily shower spray or a spray bottle filled with ¼ cup (68 g) baking soda and 1 c (240 mL) water. For grouted areas that tend to stay dry, all you need to do is clean the grout and the tiles every week or so. ^{[16]
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- Follow the methods above to scrub the grout every or every other week.
- To clean tile , use a mop or soft towel with your favorite tile-safe cleaner .

Section 6 of 6:

Preventing Dirty Grout Stains, Mildew, and Mold

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1
Regularly vacuum grouted floors instead of sweeping. While brooms and rags might push the dirt deeper into the grout, a vacuum sucks it directly up out of the area. The next time you’re quickly cleaning your floors, run the vacuum over any tiled areas to help reduce grout staining. ^{[17]
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- To keep tiled walls clean and prevent mold and soap scum buildup, run a squeegee over the area after it gets wet. ^{[18]
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- You can also mop tile floors with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Try not to use too much soap, or the residue can attract dirt after the solution dries.
2
Seal your grout once a year to prevent discoloration. Sealer prevents dirt, grease, and other gunk from getting trapped in the grout. To apply it, clean your grout using one of the steps above and wait at least 45 minutes for it to dry. Follow the instructions on the sealer—usually, you use a sponge or cloth to apply the sealer evenly to the grout lines. ^{[19]
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- Let the sealer sit for 10 minutes, then use a dry cloth to clean up the excess. Apply a second coat, then test the sealer with a drop of water—if the water doesn’t bead up, apply a third coat.
- Apply a penetrating sealer to grout in damp areas, like bathrooms, and use a membrane-forming sealer in dry rooms, like the kitchen.
- Some sealers need 24 hours to cure before you can safely walk on it or use the shower, while others require up to 48 hours.
3
Check shower tiles and grout regularly for chips and leaks. If there’s a chip in your shower grout or tile, water can leak through to the subfloor or drywall, leading to mold. ^{[20]
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Go to source} When you notice a chip in your shower, call a professional to have it fixed right away.
- Regularly cleaning your grout with one of the solutions above can also help prevent mold and mildew.
- If your grout becomes excessively worn or chipped, consider replacing it with epoxy grout . Epoxy works well in damp environments, is easy to clean, and is less likely to stain or crack. ^{[21]
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Expert Q&A

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How can I get my grout white again?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is a House Cleaning Professional based in Denver, Colorado. Chris is the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency that he founded in 2015. Chris is on a mission to elevate what it means to be a cleaning professional and has built up Alpine Maids with that goal in mind. Chris has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, and Readers Digest. Alpine Maids received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row from 2016-2018. They were also awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018 and were featured on the Inc. 5000 Company List.

Chris Willatt

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

You can buy a special grout brush, but a scrub brush or an old toothbrush will work as well.

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Is baking soda good for cleaning grout?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is a House Cleaning Professional based in Denver, Colorado. Chris is the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency that he founded in 2015. Chris is on a mission to elevate what it means to be a cleaning professional and has built up Alpine Maids with that goal in mind. Chris has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, and Readers Digest. Alpine Maids received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row from 2016-2018. They were also awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018 and were featured on the Inc. 5000 Company List.

Chris Willatt

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Baking soda works well to scrub the grout, but it is not going to kill the mold, so if the grout is moldy, you would need to use bleach, like a bleach pen, afterwards.

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Will the baking soda and vinegar whiten tile grout?

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Community Answer

Yes, but test on a small and inconspicuous area first, just in case the grout doesn't respond well to the mixture. Wait for 24 hours first, then check the cleaned area and go ahead if it worked well.

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Tips

To prevent mold from growing in your bathroom, make sure the area is properly ventilated. Keep a window or door cracked and run a fan during and at least 30 minutes after a shower. ^{[22]
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Although some sources recommend using lemon juice to clean grout, it may be too acidic to use alone.

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Warnings

Avoid using the vinegar method and the bleach method together, or one after the other. Bleach and vinegar combine to make chlorine gas, a dangerous substance that causes pain, inflammation, and chemical burns. ^{[23]
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What Are Efficient Ways To Clean Bathroom Grout?

Video

Things You’ll Need

Baking soda
Hydrogen peroxide
Dish soap
Vinegar
Spray bottle
Water
Bleach pen for grout
Powdered oxygen bleach
Chlorine bleach
Safety goggles
Cleaning gloves
Grout brush , abrasive sponge, old toothbrush, or soft-bristled scrub brush
Small bowl
Rags, sponges, mops, or cloths

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A Simple Guide to Cleaning Grout With Baking Soda

Homemade Grout Cleaner

Steps

Cleaning Grout with Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Dish Soap

Cleaning Grout with Baking Soda and Water

Cleaning Grout with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Using Bleach to Clean Grouted Areas

How often should you clean your grout?

Preventing Dirty Grout Stains, Mildew, and Mold

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

What Are Efficient Ways To Clean Bathroom Grout?

Video

Things You’ll Need

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References

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