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How to Clean Grout the Easy Way

Timothy Dahl

By Timothy Dahl
Published November 17, 2022

Dirty grout can ruin the look of an otherwise impeccable bathroom or kitchen. Thankfully, there are some simple ways to clean your old grout instead of installing new grout. These three easy techniques can clean your grout and give your kitchen or bath an update.

Skill

Beginner

Time

Few Hours

White bathroom with white diagonal tile and clean white grout.

All-Natural Grout Cleaning Formulas

Nylon brush cleaning dirty grout on a bathroom floor.

A 1:1 mix of vinegar and water or baking soda and water is a tried and true solution for cleaning dirty grout. The acidity of the vinegar cleans and deodorizes and baking soda is a mild abrasive that absorbs odors and removes gunk from grout.

To apply the vinegar and water mix use a spray bottle and then wipe it away with a clean towel. For the baking soda method, mix one part baking soda and one part water in a small cup using a spoon and then rub it into the grout using a toothbrush or small nylon brush. Let it sit for 30 seconds and then wipe it off with a towel.

You’ll be surprised how effective these non-toxic cleaning solutions are at removing dirt and stains all over the house. When you are unsure how a surface might react to over-the-counter cleaners, these all-natural cleaning formulas are a safer bet.

Grout Cleaners

Grout cleaner sprayed onto a glass tile wall and grout.

For stains or mildew your natural cleaner cannot remove, turn to a grout cleaner formulated for deep cleaning. Take note that not all grout cleaners are the same.

Some are acid-based or contain bleach and while they won’t hurt most types of grout, they can damage marble, terrazzo, travertine and natural stone countertops and backsplashes. These acid-based cleaners can also damage wood, chrome, stainless steel, or brass. Stick to grout with these and you’ll be fine. If you overspray onto these surfaces, make sure you wipe it away quickly.

There are a few grout cleaners that are safe to use on natural stone and porcelain because they contain no acid or bleach. They’re not chemical-free but they use milder cleaning agents to get the job done.

Always read the directions to determine how to use grout cleaners and brush grout carefully so you don’t damage it. Overzealous scrubbing can do more harm than good by brushing away grout and causing it to crumble.

Grout Pens

If you’ve exhausted your cleaning methods and still have stains and discoloration on the grout, it’s time to just cover them up.

The easiest way to do this is with a grout pen. Grout pens are available in a variety of colors that apply a waterproof formula to cover the stain and seal your grout to prevent further damage. Just pick a pen in a color that matches your grout. Hold it like a marker and run the tip along the grout to paint over the grout. It’s as easy as that!

Grout Refresh

Grout Refresh being applied to seal and color tile grout.

For larger areas of grout you can’t get clean, Mapei Grout Refresh is the best solution. It comes in a range of colors designed to cover up old, dirty grout and seal grout joints. Mapei Grout Refresh can be used on sanded, unsanded, and epoxy-type grout.

Here’s how to apply it:

  • Clean your grout using one of the above methods. Make sure there is no dirt, mildew or residual cleaner on the grout.
  • Squeeze a small bead of Mapei Grout Refresh along the area of grout to be colored.
  • Use a small brush to spread it over all of the dirty grout.
  • Wait 20-25 minutes before wiping off the excess Grout Refresh from the surrounding tile.
  • Grout refresh dries fast. Your tile can be walked on in two hours and it should be cured and water-resistant in 24 hours.
  • If you are changing your grout color from dark to light, you may need a second coat of grout refresh.

When Do I Need to Regrout?

Regrouting a tile floor.

If your bathroom or kitchen is just suffering from dirty grout, cleaning and re-sealing it should work just fine. But if your grout is water damaged and crumbling out of the joint, you will need to regrout or repair the grout. To regrout the old grout must be removed and new grout applied.