How to Clean Even the Dirtiest Kitchen Grout
Grout is one of those things that you don’t think about cleaning until it’s noticeably dirty. Don’t freak out if the grout between your kitchen floor or backsplash tiles are looking a little dingy—with just a few household cleaners, you can scrub even the toughest stains away in no time.
Before you get started, keep this in mind: These grout cleaning methods are meant to be attempted one at a time, never together. Mixing certain everyday household chemicals can be extremely dangerous. Never, ever mix bleach and vinegar (it can create a toxic gas that can cause chemical burns) or bleach and ammonia (it can create toxic vapors that can cause respiratory damage).
If Your Grout Just Needs a Little Love…
Scrub mild stains from grout using warm water and a stiff-bristled brush.
For slightly dirtier (but still mild) stains, add a little vinegar to the mix. Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle, spray the grout, then scrub with a stiff-bristled brush.
Related: The Hardest Places to Clean in Your Kitchen and How to Clean Them
If Your Grout Is Moderately Dirty…
Moderate stains call for a heavier duty mix—that’s where baking soda and hydrogen peroxide come in. Stir equal parts into a paste, apply to grout, scrub, then rinse with warm water.
If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide on hand, you can make a similar paste with just baking soda and water. Apply the mixture to the grout, spray with water, scrub, then rinse with warm water.
Related: 10 Ways Bar Keepers Friend Can Help Clean Your Kitchen
If Your Grout Is Absolutely Filthy…
You may have to call in the big guns (a.k.a. bleach) for more severely stained grout. OxiClean, Clorox Grout Cleaner, and regular ol’ liquid bleach will all do the trick. Use it sparingly, however—using harsh chemicals often will erode the grout over time.
Use a steam cleaner. More environmentally friendly than other methods, steam cleaning takes very little time and works quickly.
Related: 9 Ways Your Sabotaging Your Kitchen
