If you have tile and grout in your home, you know the frustration of dirty grout. Grout can be a real pain to clean by hand.
If you’ve tried scrubbing your grout with a toothbrush and other cleaning products, then you know that it still might not be as spotless as you’d like it to be.
That’s why I have some cleaning hacks for you. I’ll show you how to make your tile and grout look brand new with hydrogen peroxide.
Let’s begin.
What You’ll Need:
- 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide
- 1 cup of water
- A clean rag or sponge
- A toothbrush
- Bowl or spray bottle
Steps:
- In a bowl or spray bottle combine 1 cup of water with 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide.
- Apply hydrogen peroxide and water mixture to the tile grout. Let it sit for 30-60 minutes.
- Use a soft brush or a rag to clean the grout. Focus on the grime buildup.
- Rinse the tile grout with water.
What Makes Hydrogen Peroxide Effective in Cleaning Tile Grout
Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent cleaning agent for tile grout because it is a natural disinfectant, bleaching agent, deodorizing agent, stain remover, and natural whitener.
It can also be used as a cleaner when diluted with water.
Things to Avoid
- Do not use bleach. Bleach is a very strong cleaning product, but it can also cause irreparable damage to your grout. I recommend using baking soda or hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach.
- Do not mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide. Vinegar is another common ingredient used in cleaning solutions because it can help dissolve stains and remove mildew from tiles and grout. However, it will also destroy the properties of hydrogen peroxide and leave residue on your tile in its place—not something you want!
- Do not use soap or abrasive cleaners. The soap contains chemicals that may react with hydrogen peroxide and neutralize its benefits; abrasive cleaners are essentially just more aggressive versions of soap with no additional benefits for tile cleaning except for being able to scrub away old stains more aggressively than regular dish detergent.
- Avoid steam cleaners or pressure washers as well. These can damage both your tile surface and sealant layer if they’re too powerful! You’ll be better off sticking with a simple spray bottle full of water mixed with some drops each liquid dish detergent and white vinegar instead—it’ll work just fine without causing any harm whatsoever.
How Often Should You Clean Tile Grouts
The frequency of cleaning depends on the type of grout and how dirty it is. If you have a lot of people in your home, or if you have pets, you may need to clean more often.
- Every 6 months: If your grout looks good, you can wait up to 6 months before cleaning again but make sure to check in between and do any necessary cleaning so that the tile grout doesn’t get too dirty.
- Once a month: If you have pets or kids running around all the time then it should be cleaned at least once every month.
Conclusion:
When it comes to cleaning grout, there are many products on the market that claim to do the job. However, hydrogen peroxide is one of the few ingredients you can count on for its reliability and effectiveness.
It’s a great alternative if you want an environmentally friendly way to clean your tile grouts without chemicals or other toxic substances that may be harmful to your family and pets.
If you’re looking for more tile cleaning tips, read my article on How to Clean Tiles with Baking Soda.
Thanks for reading!
-Baking Soda Guy
Photo by Victor Zissou from Pexels:
