The most effective (and rewarding) way to whiten your tile grout is with a simple DIY cleaning solution. If your tile floors were installed with white grout, there is a good chance that it is stained with dirt. This simple solution revives dingy grout and is chemical-free!
My quick retro master bathroom makeover includes keeping the original bathroom tile and this cleaning trick will really make them shine!
I used this same solution to clean up the tar stained original bathroom at our last flip house and the tiles look like new.
How to Make Your Own Cleaner to Whiten Tile Grout
Here is what the shower and floor looked like before the makeover began.
And here is the bathroom once the walls were painted and the tiles had been scrubbed with the vinegar and baking soda solution.
Materials Needed:
- Vinegar (from the grocery or the local hardware store)
- Spray bottle
- Baking soda
- Water
- Dawn dish soap (optional)
- Old toothbrush
- Bowl
- Scrubbing Pad
- Rag
Pour the vinegar into your spray bottle to apply to the tile. If you want to give the vinegar an extra kick, you can also add a squirt of Dawn dish soap.
Next, you will create a paste with baking soda and water in a bowl. I did not measure exact amounts for this paste, I just focused on consistency. If it is too chunky, add more water. If it is too watery, add a little more baking soda.
Bathroom Floors
Here were the floors before I cleaned them with the solution.
Spray a section of your floor with vinegar and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. Dip your toothbrush into the baking soda paste and with a small scoop, begin scrubbing the grout on the vinegar-soaked section of the floor.
After scrubbing one section of the floor, 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.
Bathroom Shower Tiles
For the bathroom makeover, I followed these same steps in for the shower tiles. Here are the shower tiles before cleaning with vinegar and baking soda.
I used a toothbrush and kitchen scrubbing pad to clean the tiles on the walls. I worked my way from the top to the bottom of the enclosure and rinsed it with warm water once the baking soda was scrubbed into the grout.
And here are the shower tiles after cleaning. The grout is whiter and the entire enclosure has a fresh and clean look.
I took one additional step with cleaning the shower tiles. Because we removed the original shower doors, there was a film of caulk outlining the enclosure. I used a razor scraper to scrape off the remaining caulk on the tiles and the tub. This is a fantastic tool if you have caulk remnants in your shower that you want to be removed.
To check out another tile transformation using this cleaning solution, check out my mudroom makeover from our third flip house!
Pin this Image Below!
Want to save this tutorial to reference once you start your next project? I’ve got you covered! Use the pin below to easily find your way back to this tutorial.
No Comments