How to Clean Bathroom Tile Grout
Baking soda for soap scum, gel remover for black mold. And do not use acidic cleaners on grout often.
What you need
Supplies
- 3 tbsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp water
- Gel mold remover
Tools
- Grout brush or toothbrush
- Long rubber gloves
- Mask
- Shower head
- Squeegee
How to do it
- 01
Rinse off loose dirt
Open the door, turn on the exhaust fan and spray the tiles with the shower to wash off loose dust and hair.
- 02
Apply baking soda paste
Mix 3 tbsp of baking soda with 1 tbsp of water into a toothpaste-like paste and spread it along the grout lines. It loosens the gray grime made of soap and body oils.
- 03
Scrub with a grout brush
After 10 minutes, scrub along the lines with a grout brush. The narrow, stiff bristles fit the grout and save effort. Rinse and check that the gray grime is gone.
- 04
Apply gel to black mold
Black spots that remain after rinsing are mold. Dry the area, apply gel mold remover along the grout and leave it for the time on the label. Wear a mask and keep ventilating.
- 05
Rinse and dry
Rinse thoroughly, push the water off with a squeegee and run the exhaust fan for at least an hour so the grout dries completely.
Be careful
- Cement-based grout slowly dissolves in acidic cleaners like citric acid and vinegar. Frequent use roughens and erodes it, so it traps even more dirt.
- Never use acidic cleaners on the same day as a chlorine mold remover.
- Marble and natural stone are sensitive to both acids and alkalis. Use a stone-safe cleaner.
- Wet bathroom floors are slippery. Wear non-slip shoes while you work.
Malkkeum tips
- Rinsing the walls with cold water and a squeegee after showering almost stops soap scum and mold forming.
- If the grout is permanently stained dark, a grout pen or regrouting is faster than cleaning.
- A grout sealer after cleaning stops dirt soaking in, making the next clean easier.
Two kinds of grout grime
Grout looks dirty for two reasons. Gray or yellowish grime is soap scum from shampoo, soap and body oils, and it loosens with mildly alkaline baking soda. Black spots are mold that has grown into the grout. Scrubbing will not remove them; they need a chlorine remover. Tackling them in that order saves effort and gives a cleaner result.
Why be careful with acids?
Citric acid is popular for bathrooms, but it does not suit cement-based grout. Acid slowly dissolves cement, roughening the surface, and those rough pits let grime and mold in more easily. Even when using citric acid on tile surfaces for limescale, rinse it off grout lines right away.
FAQ
Can I use an electric scrubber or drill brush? Yes, it makes large floors much easier. Just use a medium setting; very stiff bristles held too long can wear the grout down.
