How to Clean Grout: DIY Tips and Tricks

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Quick Answer

To wash grout fast, make a paste of baking soda and water and spread a thin layer on the grout lines. Spray the paste with white vinegar and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Scrub with a stiff brush. Rinse with warm water. Dry the area. Apply a grout sealer once the lines are fully dry. This method lifts dirt, soap scum, and light stains, and it works in kitchens and bathrooms. It is safe on ceramic and porcelain tile.

Grout collects dirt fast. It absorbs spills and it traps soap scum and hard water. In bathrooms, it holds moisture and grows mildew. In kitchens, it soaks up grease. 

According to the World Health Organization, indoor dampness affects an estimated 10% to 50% of indoor environments across Europe, North America, Australia, India, and Japan. Moisture is one of the biggest contributors to mold growth in grout, bathrooms, and other hard-to-clean surfaces.

When the grout turns dark, many people scrub for hours but see little progress. But you don’t need harsh fumes, long sessions, or guesswork to get it clean. You just need the right method for the type of buildup you have.

At COIT, we wash and restore grout every day. We work with grout on tile floors, showers, backsplashes, and entryways. We’ve seen what works and what does not. 

This guide breaks down the simplest ways to wash grout, what to use for each problem, and how to keep the grout clean longer. It also explains when professional cleaning is the safest choice.

What Grout Needs to Get Clean

Grout is porous. It absorbs liquids and traps residue, dirt sticks to the tiny holes in the surface, soap scum hardens and forms a layer, hard water leaves mineral deposits, and mold grows in damp grout that never dries.

To wash grout well, you need three things:
 • A cleaner that reaches into the pores
 • Time for the cleaner to sit
 • The right brush to lift the residue

If you skip any of these steps, the grout will look the same after you rinse it.

 What Is the Best Way to Clean Grout?

The best way to clean grout depends on the type of dirt, staining, or buildup you're dealing with. While baking soda and vinegar work well for general cleaning, tougher stains, mold, grease, and neglected grout often require different methods.

Use this quick guide to choose the right approach.

Grout cleaning is about matching the right solution to the problem. Using the wrong cleaner often leads to extra scrubbing and disappointing results.

The Best Method for Cleaning Grout

This method handles general dirt, light stains, and soap scum. It’s the most reliable option for ceramic and porcelain tile.

What you need

 • Baking soda
 • Warm water
 • White vinegar
 • Spray bottle
 • Stiff grout brush or old toothbrush
 • Microfiber cloths

Steps

1. Mix baking soda with a small amount of water to form a thick paste.
2. Spread the paste along the grout lines.
3. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar.
4. Spray the vinegar onto the paste.
5. Let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Scrub the grout in short strokes.
7. Rinse with warm water.
8. Dry the area with a clean cloth.
9. Apply sealer once the grout is fully dry.

Vinegar is safe on most tile and grout. Do not use vinegar on natural stone.

Best Ways to Clean Grout by Problem

Not every grout stain responds to the same cleaner. Before you start scrubbing, identify the type of buildup you're dealing with.

Best Way to Clean Dirty Grout

For routine dirt and light discoloration, baking soda and vinegar are usually the most effective DIY combination.

Best Way to Clean White Grout

A mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide helps brighten grout that has yellowed or darkened over time.

Best Way to Clean Shower Grout

Shower grout often contains soap scum, hard water deposits, and mildew. Steam cleaning or targeted mold treatments usually provide the best results.

Best Way to Clean Kitchen Grout

Kitchen grout is more likely to contain grease and food residue. Dish soap and hot water typically work better than acidic cleaners.

Best Way to Clean Grout Naturally

Steam cleaning and baking soda-based methods offer effective cleaning without harsh chemicals.

The Best Method for Heavily Stained Grout

If the grout is yellow, brown, or dark in high-traffic areas, you need a stronger mix. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide work well for deeper stains.

What you need

 • Baking soda
 • Hydrogen peroxide
 • Brush
 • Gloves
 • Microfiber cloths

Steps

1. Mix two parts baking soda with one part peroxide. Make a runny paste.
2. Spread the paste on the grout.
3. Let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes.
4. Scrub the grout.
5. Rinse with warm water.
6. Dry the lines with a cloth.

This method brightens grout and helps remove old dirt, but avoid peroxide on colored grout unless you test a small area first.

Hydrogen peroxide is often preferred over bleach for porous surfaces because it penetrates deeper into grout. Many cleaning experts recommend allowing a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution to sit for at least 15 minutes before rinsing to maximize effectiveness.

The Best Method for Grease and Kitchen Buildup

Dish soap cuts grease better than baking soda. Use it on kitchen floors and backsplashes.

What you need

 • Hot water
 • Dish soap
 • Stiff brush
 • Bucket
 • Cloths

Steps

1. Mix hot water with a small amount of dish soap.
2. Pour the mix along the grout lines or dip your brush into the mix.
3. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
4. Scrub the grout.
5. Rinse with clean water.
6. Dry the area.

The Best Method for Mold and Mildew

Mold grows in damp grout that stays wet for long periods but bleach gel works well for mold stains on ceramic or porcelain tile.

What you need

 • Bleach gel
 • Gloves
 • Brush
 • Ventilation

Steps

1. Apply a thin line of bleach gel to the grout.
2. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Scrub gently.
4. Rinse well with warm water.
5. Dry the area.

Do not mix bleach with vinegar or peroxide and do not use bleach on natural stone.

Important: Bleach is effective for surface stains, but research shows it does not penetrate deeply into porous materials like grout. In some situations, repeated bleach use can even make grout more porous over time.

The Best Method for Deep Cleaning

Oxygen bleach is a strong cleaner for tough stains (many people know it as OxiClean). 

What you need

 • Oxygen bleach powder
 • Warm water
 • Bucket
 • Brush
 • Cloths

Steps

1. Dissolve the powder in warm water as instructed.
2. Pour or spray the solution onto the grout.
3. Let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes.
4. Scrub the grout.
5. Rinse with clean water.
6. Dry with a cloth.

This method works well on old grout that does not respond to lighter cleaners.

Steam Cleaning Grout

Steam cleaning uses heat to lift soil without chemicals. Many steam cleaners reach 212°F, which helps break down residue and surface mold.

How to steam clean grout

 • Fill the steamer with water
 • Let it heat up
 • Aim the nozzle at the grout
 • Move slowly to give the steam time to loosen the dirt
 • Wipe the area with a cloth
 • Repeat as needed

Steam is one of the methods we use during professional cleaning because it reaches deep into the grout. It works on ceramic and porcelain tile, but do not use steam on loose grout or damaged grout. Avoid steam on some types of natural stone unless the manufacturer approves it.

Research published in a peer-reviewed hospital study found steam cleaning performed as effectively as a traditional cleaning and disinfecting process against several multidrug-resistant organisms. While residential bathrooms are very different from hospital environments, the findings demonstrate how powerful steam can be for deep cleaning hard surfaces.

Tools You Need for Washing Grout

Brushes

 • Stiff grout brush for small areas
 • Drill brush attachment for large floors
 • Old toothbrush for corners

Other helpful tools

 • Spray bottles
 • Microfiber cloths
 • Rubber gloves
 • Knee pads

Is Your Grout Dirty or Permanently Stained?

Many homeowners assume their grout is dirty when it is actually permanently stained. Dirty grout typically becomes lighter after cleaning, while stained grout often remains discolored even after multiple cleaning attempts.

Signs of permanent staining include:

• Uneven discoloration

• Yellow or brown staining that won't lighten

• Dark grout lines that return immediately after cleaning

• Water damage or rust stains

If cleaning no longer improves the appearance, grout recoloring or restoration might be necessary.

Warnings and Safety Tips

• Never mix bleach with vinegar.
• Never mix bleach with peroxide.
• Avoid vinegar on marble, travertine, or limestone.
• Spot test strong cleaners on colored grout.
• Open windows when using bleach or strong cleaners.
• Wear gloves if you have sensitive skin.

Many grout problems come from using the wrong cleaner on the wrong surface. When in doubt, choose baking soda and water. It is gentle and safe.

7 Common Grout Cleaning Mistakes

1. Using Metal Brushes

Metal brushes can scratch tile and damage grout.

2. Scrubbing Too Soon

Most cleaners need at least several minutes of contact time before scrubbing.

3. Using Vinegar on Natural Stone

Vinegar can permanently etch marble, limestone, and travertine.

4. Using Too Much Bleach

Repeated bleach use may weaken grout over time.

5. Forgetting to Rinse

Cleaner residue attracts new dirt.

6. Skipping Grout Sealer

Unsealed grout absorbs moisture and stains faster.

7. Ignoring Moisture Problems

Cleaning mold without addressing leaks often leads to recurring growth.

How Often to Wash Grout

Tile floors

Clean your tile floors once a month to stop dirt from settling into the grout lines and try to spot clean spills right away so they do not soak in and leave stains that become harder to remove over time.

Recent research found surface bacterial levels were highest after three days without cleaning. The same study found that cleaning twice per week produced the largest reduction in bacteria on hard surfaces.

Showers

Spray the walls after each shower with a mix of half vinegar and half water to slow soap scum buildup. Do not use this mix on natural stone. Wipe down the walls once a week to keep moisture from sitting on the grout.

Kitchens

Wipe backsplash grout every week to clear grease and steam residue before it hardens and wash your kitchen floors every one to two weeks to keep dirt and food particles from settling into the grout.

How to Keep Your Grout Clean Longer

• Dry surfaces after showers or mopping.
• Fix leaks that keep grout wet.
• Use liquid soap instead of bar soap to reduce scum
• Sweep before mopping to keep grit out of grout lines.
• Use a mat in entryways to catch dirt.

Why Sealing Matters

Sealing grout protects it from stains and most grout needs sealing every 6 to 12 months. Using a sealer keeps liquids on the surface so you can wipe them up faster.

What to use

 • Penetrating grout sealer
 • High-quality spray-on sealer
 • Brush-on sealer for small areas

How to apply it

1. Clean the grout well.
2. Let it dry for 24 hours.
3. Apply one thin coat of sealer.
4. Wait for it to absorb.
5. Apply a second coat if needed.
6. Keep the area dry for another 24 hours.

Are Commercial Grout Cleaners Better Than DIY Solutions?

DIY cleaners work well for routine maintenance, light stains, and surface grime, but commercial grout cleaners are often more effective when:

• Grout has not been cleaned for years

• Deep discoloration remains after multiple cleanings

• Mold repeatedly returns

• Large areas need restoration

For many homeowners, DIY methods are the best starting point. If the grout remains stained after several attempts, professional cleaning is usually more cost-effective than continually buying stronger products.

When to Call a Professional

Some grout problems need more than DIY. If you see any of these problems in your bathroom, kitchen, or floors, we recommend calling in a professional:

 • The grout stays dark even after strong cleaners
 • Mold returns within days
 • The grout is cracked or missing
 • The tile looks dull after cleaning
 • You are working with natural stone
 • You want long-term protection from future stains

At COIT, we use commercial steam extraction, high-grade cleaners, and advanced tools that reach deeper than household brushes. We also remove deep residue that sits under the surface. This helps the grout last longer and stay cleaner between visits.

If the grout is beyond saving, a pro can re-color or re-seal it so the tile looks new again without a full remodel.

Our process

 • Inspect the grout
 • Test the surface
 • Apply a cleaner matched to the stain
 • Remove buildup with steam
 • Lift residue with mechanical brushes
 • Rinse with clean water
 • Apply a sealer
 • Buff the tile for a clean finish

Contact us if you want a safer, deeper clean for your grout.

FAQs on Washing Grout

What is the fastest way to wash grout?

Use a baking soda paste and vinegar spray. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Scrub. Rinse. Dry.

This method works fast because the paste lifts surface dirt while the vinegar breaks down soap scum and light stains. It also sticks to the grout lines, so you waste less product. For larger areas, use a drill brush to speed up the scrubbing step.

How do I get my grout white again?

Use a mix of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit. Scrub. Rinse. Dry fully. Repeat if needed.

This mix digs into deep stains and helps brighten grout that has yellowed or darkened over time. Peroxide lifts old residue without creating fumes. Stubborn spots might need a second round, especially in showers and high-traffic areas.

How do I wash grout without scrubbing?

Apply peroxide and baking soda. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Wipe the area. Repeat for deep stains.

The paste softens dirt so you can wipe most of it away with a cloth. This helps when you need a gentle method or when scrubbing would take too long. For old stains, leave the paste on for a full 15 minutes before wiping.

What do professionals use?

We use strong cleaners, controlled steam, and commercial sealers. We choose the method based on the type of tile and stain.

Our tools reach deeper into the grout than household brushes and remove buildup that sits below the surface. We also use sealers that last longer than retail products. This gives the grout better protection and a cleaner look over time.

How often should I wash grout?

Wash it once a month and seal it every 6 to 12 months.

Frequent cleaning keeps dirt from settling into the pores of the grout. Sealing adds a layer of protection that slows stains and reduces mold growth. High-use rooms, like kitchens and bathrooms, often need more frequent care.

Does Vinegar Kill Mold on Grout?

Reported research suggests undiluted white vinegar can kill approximately 82% of mold species. While vinegar can be effective for light mold growth and maintenance cleaning, it is not always sufficient for severe infestations or mold that has penetrated deeply into porous grout.

Remove Grout Stains With COIT

If your grout stays dark after cleaning, it might need professional treatment. 

At COIT, we wash, restore, re-color, and seal grout in homes and businesses. Our process lifts dirt that sits deep inside the grout and helps protect it from future stains.

Contact COIT to schedule a grout cleaning or find a nearby location. Our team will help you restore a clean, bright surface and keep it that way.

Contact COIT for a professional cleaning!