How to Clean Grout: Step-by-Step Guide for a Spotless Finish

by Rigoberto Santaella - May 27, 2025

The image shows a bright, modern room with white tiles and clean grout lines. The well-maintained grout highlights the importance of knowing how to clean grout to keep the space looking pristine.

Want to find out how to clean grout from the floor of your home or business? Don’t worry, Yorleny’s Cleaning Service will share with you some of the most helpful methods for leaving this area of ​​the floor as clean and white as possible.

The floor is one of the areas in our homes most exposed to wear and tear. Therefore, it’s not unusual for the grout to become dirty, turning from its white or milky color to a grayish or even blackish color.

We not only tell you how to clean grout, we also specialize in cleaning all types of floors, as well as regular and deep cleanings for homes, offices, and Airbnb. Visit our website for more information.

Why Cleaning Your Grout Matters

Grout is the thin compound used to fill the gaps between tiles, paving stones, or any other element used to cover floors or walls. It’s present in many tiled floors and walls. It consists of a thin white layer of plaster, lime, or cement, which is used to fill the joints between tiles.

Over time, grout—the gap between tiles—tends to accumulate dirt and stains, causing your home’s floors to lose some of their original beauty. This is a difficult area to clean, but when immaculate, it gives a true sense of cleanliness, professionalism, and class.

Common Issues with Dirty Grout

Learning How to Clean Grout is essential knowledge for maintaining the appearance of your home. Over time, grout tends to accumulate dirt and stains, causing your home’s floors to lose some of their original beauty.

The materials it’s made of give it permeability and porosity. This makes grout one of the most delicate areas of the floor and walls. How to Clean Grout becomes an important question, since being porous, this area can absorb any type of liquid and dirt, also becoming very easily fixed.

Because it has a very porous texture, it’s a powerful magnet for stains, grease, and all types of dirt. If proper hygiene isn’t maintained, dirty grout can lead to the growth of mold and mildew. This is a special reason why cleaning tile and grout is important.

Benefits of Regular Grout Maintenance

Cleaning floor grout has several benefits, including improving the overall appearance, eliminating mold and bacteria, and preventing future stains and damage. It’s important to know how to clean grout since it contributes to the hygiene and health of your home.

Step-by-Step: How to Clean Grout Without Damaging It

For a deep grout cleaning, you need the right materials. When it comes to how to clean grout, it is essential to have the right tools and use grout cleaner, natural or commercial.

Some tools required for grout cleaning include rubber gloves, a proper brush (can be scrubbing, tooth, or grout brush), spray water, sponge or cleaning cloth, and safety glasses if you are going to use harsh chemicals

For grout cleaner cleaning, you can use vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxy, soap, commercial cleaners, ammonia, bleach, or acid solutions.

Cleaning Floor Tile Grout

How to Clean Grout effectively depends on the method and materials used. There are all kinds of techniques for cleaning dirty grout. Here at YCS, we highlight the most common and accessible methods.

Keep in mind that these are not suitable for removing cement residue after applying the grout mix—they are recommended for removing accumulated dirt from already installed and settled grout.

Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda:

Hydrogen peroxide is an effective method on how to clean grout. What should you do?

  1. Mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda.
  2. Once you have a paste, spread it over the floor grout.
  3. Scrub the grout with a brush.
  4. Let the mixture sit for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Remove the paste with water.

When you’re done, mop the floor as usual and you’ll notice the difference.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

When it comes on how clean grout with baking soda and white vinegar, proceed as follows:

  1. Mix baking soda and water until you get a thick paste.
  2. Apply the resulting paste to the grout.
  3. Using a spray bottle, spray the floor grout with white vinegar.
  4. Scrub the grout with a brush.
  5. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes.
  6. Scrub the floor until all residue is removed.

The grout will be as good as new, and your floors will shine!

Ammonia

Ammonia is a very effective product for cleaning floors, and you can also use it to clean marble. However, in this case, you must take safety precautions to avoid risks. Follow these instructions:

  • Make sure the room is well ventilated: open the windows or use a fan for proper ventilation. Ammonia fumes can be very strong. Wear protective gloves to prevent ammonia from damaging your skin.
  • Under no circumstances should you mix ammonia with bleach or products containing it, as this will produce harmful fumes.

With this in mind, proceed as follows:

  1. Mix equal parts ammonia and water in a bucket. Use clean, odorless ammonia.
  2. Dip a brush into the solution and scrub the grout vigorously.
  3. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes so the ammonia penetrates the stains and dirt. This will also give it time to dry thoroughly.
  4. Rinse with water to remove any residue that may remain on the surface.
  5. Dry the area with a cloth.

For a deeper clean, you can mop your floors as usual, using household cleaners from our trusted brands, which will give the grout even more shine. Remember, if you’re wondering how to clean grout effectively, these methods are practical, affordable, and proven. You can also find our deep cleaning service on our website.

How to Clean White or Light-Colored Grout

If you wonder how to clean grout on white or light-colored grout, it involves using a combination of gentle scrubbing and a cleaning solution, such as a baking soda paste or a vinegar and water mixture. For more persistent stains, hydrogen peroxide or a high-quality commercial grout cleaner may provide more effective results.

How to Clean Tiles Grout After Installation

To clean tiles grout after installation is not an easy task. Usually they are residues of grout that do not come out easily. You can try to brush it with a scrubbing or tooth brush but the easy way is to use chemical cleaners like ammonia or some kind of acidic solution.

It is important to protect yourself all the time. Wear rubber gloves all the time and if possible, safety glasses to avoid contact with hazardous chemicals.

In any case, you can contact YCS professional cleaning services to deal with this difficult task of dealing with this tedious and difficult task for you.

How to Clean Grout in Different Areas of Your Home

Different parts of the house require different cleaning needs. Bathrooms are humid, kitchens get dirty with grease and food residue, and garages get covered in oil.

Grout, being a porous surface, requires special attention depending on the area of ​​the house you want to clean. Below are some tips on how to clean grout in different areas of the home.

Bathroom Grout

Bathroom grout is a magnet for mold and mildew. That’s why it’s important to clean it regularly and thoroughly. How do you clean grout regularly? A simple vinegar method will suffice to keep your bathrooms clean, but if mold starts to build up, you’ll need to put on your rubber gloves and perform a more thorough cleaning with commercial products.

Remember, Yorleny’s Cleaning Service can help keep your bathrooms clean and fresh.

Kitchen Backsplash and Floor Tiles

The kitchen is an area of ​​the home that tends to stain very easily. Knowing how to clean grout in this area is important. If not cleaned regularly, grout stains can develop that are difficult to remove.

A simple baking soda and water paste can also be effective for everyday cleaning. For deeper stains, a combination of a natural cleaner and scrubbing is often the best approach. For stubborn stains, a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can be used.

Entryways and High-Traffic Zones

When it comes to how to clean grout for high-traffic areas, such as entryways, an efficient grout cleaning solution is a cleaning paste and brush combo. Dirt and filth can be removed using a basic paste prepared with baking soda and water or a more potent mixture made with baking soda, peroxide, and a little amount of dish soap.

To get rid of filth and grime, use a moist mop and a mild tile cleanser. Steer clear of applying too much water because it can weaken the sealer by leaking into grout lines.

Best Grout Cleaning Products for Florida Homes

Why Humid Climates Need Special Care

Florida is a particularly humid state with particularly high water hardness, with high concentrations of magnesium and calcium. Particular attention must be paid to the care and cleaning of Florida homes. Therefore, it is important to use appropriate products, especially in how to clean grout, to prevent the buildup of mold, mildew, and bacteria.

Top Picks for Grout Cleaners in Hard Water Areas

For those wondering how to clean grout in humid areas with hard water in Florida, products that combine degreasing action and stain-removing power are recommended. White vinegar is a natural and effective option, while commercial products like Mapei’s UltraCare Acidic Tile & Grout Cleaner or Goo Gone are more potent and can be helpful for stubborn stains.

When to Hire a Professional Grout Cleaning Service in Florida

Signs You Need Expert Help

If you’ve tried every method to cleaning grout and still see discoloration, persistent mold, or crumbling between tiles, it may be time to bring in the professionals. Grout that remains dirty despite regular scrubbing, or areas that give off unpleasant odors due to trapped moisture, are clear signs that DIY efforts aren’t enough. Also, if you’re dealing with large tiled spaces or high-traffic areas, expert help can save you significant time and effort.

What to Expect from Yorleny’s Cleaning Service

When you choose Yorleny’s Cleaning Service, you’re partnering with a team that knows exactly how to clean grout efficiently and safely. Our professionals’ deep-cleaning services and eco-friendly solutions are designed to tackle even the most stubborn stains without damaging your tile or grout. From evaluation to post-cleaning care tips, we ensure a seamless experience that leaves your floors looking refreshed and revitalized.

Whether you’re struggling with tough buildup or just want to restore the original brightness of your tile, Yorleny’s Cleaning Service is here to help.

Don’t let dirty grout dull the look of your home—contact Yorleny’s Cleaning Service today for a free estimate and let our experts handle the hard work for you!

FAQ: Grout Cleaning Questions Answered

What’s the best way to clean grout?

To effectively clean grout, use a brush or grout cleaner to remove loose dirt and debris. Then, for a more thorough clean, consider using vinegar, a baking soda and peroxide paste, commercial products, or even a steam cleaner if necessary. This method is often considered the best way to clean grout, especially when combined with professional tile and grout cleaning services for heavily soiled areas.

How do I clean grout without damaging it?

Natural cleaners like baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar and water are the best way to clean grout without damaging it. If you’re wondering how to clean grout safely, avoiding grout cleaner cleaning like harsh chemical products like bleach, acids, or ammonia is key—they may be effective but can damage your floors.

Can I remove mold from grout naturally?

Yes, you can. Vinegar and baking soda are the best way to clean grout naturally and are especially effective against mold. These methods are not only effective but also safer than using chemical products. For persistent mold, professional cleaning tile and grout may be necessary to restore the surface.