I love the look of tile, but keeping the grout lines clean is a challenge. Dark grout hides the dirt better, but if you chose a light colored grout, don’t despair. You can get the grime off of the grout without using harsh chemicals. I tested a few different methods using common household items to find the best way to naturally clean grout.
The Contenders
Baking soda was my main weapon against the grout grime. It has a scouring power that gets down into the grout and cleans out the dirt. I knew I needed something to wet the baking soda for it to actually work. I tried water, peroxide and vinegar. I tested each in a different area of our very dirt tile floor in the kitchen.
The Method
With all three liquids, I poured a small amount directly on the grout line. For better control, pour the liquid into a squirt bottle with a stream option so you can direct it right at the grout. I then sprinkled a small amount of baking soda on top of the liquid. For the experiment, I just used my finger to rub the baking soda into the grout.
The Results
I found that the area dampened with peroxide was the easiest to clean. Even with light scrubbing using my finger, the dirt came up quickly. The peroxide and baking soda method isn’t smelly so it’s easy to work with.
The water didn’t work quite as well as the peroxide, but I was still able to get the grout fairly clean. Again, I used my finger to scrub. With an actual scrub brush or toothbrush the water and baking soda would probably work better.
Vinegar was the last method I used for naturally cleaning my grout. The vinegar and baking soda instantly started the bubbling reaction that happens when the two combine. I hoped that the reaction would help clean out the dirt without as much scrubbing. I only let the mixture rest for about a minute before I started scrubbing. The dirt didn’t come up as easily as it did with the peroxide.
Tips for Naturally Cleaning Your Grout
I liked the way the peroxide and baking soda combination worked. I found it was the fastest and easiest to scrub clean. Always test out any cleaner — even natural ingredients — on a hidden area so you’re sure it won’t damage your grout or tile. Buy a toothbrush to use just for cleaning your grout lines. It’s the perfect size and the bristles aren’t so hard that they’ll damage the grout. With a little elbow grease and ingredients you already have, you’re grout will look like new.
