How to Whiten Tile Grout

Hands up if you love scrubbing the tile floor or the shower? BOOOOOO!

Does trying to keep that previously white, once beautiful looking tile grout sparkling clean drive you crazy? Trust me, you are not alone!! The job sucks – but makes a huge difference when it’s done!

Tile grout is porous and susceptible to stains, so it does require some maintenance other than mopping as the grout joints collect all manner of dirt and debris under the feet of a busy family.

Now is as good a time as any to do what you have been putting off. Time to get down and dirty, summon up some elbow grease and hopefully the process will be a little easier with these helpful remedies to make and keep your tile grout clean and white.

It will depend on how dirty or stained your tile grout is as to what will work the best for you and also what type of tiles will determine whether or not you can try all methods or not.

Natural Methods:

Method 1:

Pour 1/2 cup of Bicarbonate of Soda into a cup or bowl that you will no longer use.  Add enough water to make a paste.  Use an old toothbrush, dip it into the bicarb mixture and then scrub the grout well.  Rinse after 10 minutes.

Method 2:

Place some pure white vinegar into a spray bottle and keep it in the shower (out of reach of children, but it is non-toxic).  Once everyone has finished their daily showers, give the shower a quick spray with the vinegar.  It will prevent the mould from forming.

Method 3:

If you have a steam cleaner, go over the grout weekly or fortnightly with the hot steam.  It will remove any mould or mildew without the use of any chemicals at all.  You need to do it regularly to keep the grout white and bright.

Method 4:

To keep the mould and mildew away from the grout for a longer period of time, once it has been cleaned, add 10 drops of Clove Oil to a small cup of water.  Use a toothbrush to apply the mixture to the grout.  Leave for 30 minutes or so (you might want to open windows or keeping the exhaust fan on as Clove Oil is quite potent) – then rinse clean. Clove Oil actually kills the mould spores. You can buy Clove Oil at your local Chemist or health food store.

Chemical Methods:

Method 1:

Pour a small amount of Domestos into a old cup.  Grab a stiff old toothbrush.  Wet down the grout, then dip the toothbrush into the undiluted Domestos and scrub the grout.  Leave for 10 – 15 minutes, then rinse off.  Your grout should be pure white!

Method 2:

Normal dishwashing liquid is so good for so many things.  It also is great for cleaning grout.  Add a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to a cup of boiling water.  Dip an old toothbrush into the hot mixture and scrub the grout.  This is a great, inexpensive way to keep your shower looking squeaky clean.

Method 3:

Gumption is brilliant stuff – wet down your grout area, grab a toothbrush and dip it right into the Gumption, and scrub it right away.

Sealing Your Grout

Once you have your grout sparkling clean, sealing the grout will prevent future staining. The sealant will wear off over time, especially in areas of high traffic but will lengthen the time required between cleaning and can be reapplied as necessary after each major clean.  Visit your local tile store to see what grout sealers they have available in your area.

What if it STILL Won’t Come Off???

If the grout is still stained after trying all the above, you might need to bring in the professionals.  You can actually hire professional grout cleaners these days – or even have them replace the grout.  Look for your nearest grout cleaners online.

Some quick tips:

• Remember to use gloves to protect your hands
• A small brush for scrubbing the grout will be easier to handle than a standard scrubbing brush. Use a nail brush or buy a pack of cheap hard toothbrushes from the $2 shop as you will probably go through a few if you have a large area to clean.
• Test any method of cleaning on a small inconspicuous area first before proceeding with the big clean.

Do you have any other ‘secret’ remedies for whitening your tile grout which never fail?

We would love to know which method works best for you.