Last Updated on December 23, 2021 by lindseymahoney
The most effective way to whiten your tile grout is with a simple homemade grout cleaner made of 4 ingredients. If your tile floors were installed with white grout, there is a good chance that it is stained with dirt. Using common household items found in the kitchen, you can whiten your tile grout without any chemicals!
Table of Contents
- Master Bathroom Grout Before
- How to Make Your Own Tile Grout Cleaner
- Step 1 | Make Grout Cleaner Paste
- Step 2 | Spray Grout with Vinegar
- Step 3 | Scrub Grout with Baking Soda Paste
- Step 4 | Rinse Away the Solution
- Master Bathroom Grout After
- Homemade Grout Cleaner Source List:
- Additional Materials Used:
- More Content You Will Love
I first used this solution on the tile floors in the mudroom of our last Denver home and the transformation was epic.
I used this same solution to clean up the tar-stained original bathroom at our last flip house and the tiles look like new.
Our new home has three retro bathrooms with the original tiles. I breathed new life into the master bathroom shower and floor tiles by whitening the grout with this baking soda and vinegar solution!
Master Bathroom Grout Before
Here is what the shower and floor looked like before the makeover began. You can see the white grout has turned yellow in many areas.
The grout between the floor tiles has been darkened with dirt.
How to Make Your Own Tile Grout Cleaner
[For a complete source list for this project, scroll to the bottom of this post. This blog post contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Building Bluebird!]
Step 1 | Make Grout Cleaner Paste
Pour baking soda into a bowl to begin making the homemade grout cleaner solution.
Slowly add water to create a paste-like consistency. I did not do any measurements, I just eyeballed it.
When the baking soda paste is finished, you have the option to add a few drops of Dawn dish soap for an extra kick. Mix it together with the baking soda paste.
Fill the spray bottle with vinegar. You don’t need to fill the entire bottle, just enough for the surface you are cleaning.
Step 2 | Spray Grout with Vinegar
Spray a section of the tiles and grout with vinegar and let it sit for 1-2 minutes.
Step 3 | Scrub Grout with Baking Soda Paste
Dip your toothbrush into the baking soda paste and with a small scoop, begin scrubbing the grout on the vinegar-soaked section of the tiles. I worked my way from the top to the bottom of the enclosure.
The same process will be used on the floor tile grout.
Step 4 | Rinse Away the Solution
In the shower, I used a combination of the showerhead and cups of water to rinse the tile surround.
For the floors, take a damp rag and wipe up the dirt and baking soda remnants. Repeat these steps until you have cleaned the entire surface. Here is the floor afterward. The image below shows the floors when they were still a little damp, the grout lightened up even more once it was completely dry.
Master Bathroom Grout After
It still amazes me how much of a difference this homemade grout cleaner makes in our bathroom! I love quick DIYs that have such a big impact once it is complete.
The grout between the floor tile is so much brighter!
Homemade Grout Cleaner Source List:
- Baking Soda
- White Vinegar
- Dawn dish soap (optional)
- Water
Additional Materials Used:
- Bowl for the paste
- Old toothbrush
- Spray bottle
- Rag
