NEW 4-week Spring Cleaning Challenge starts NOW | FREE DOWNLOAD

Bathroom | Common Areas | Kitchen

How to Deep Clean Nasty Tile Grout

May 18, 2022

There are parts of your home that you know are dirty the moment there’s a mess. White quartz countertops, for example, show cookie crumbs. And that stainless steel fridge with your child’s fingerprints streaking the front? Yeah, you can’t hide that. But then there are parts of your house that stealthily hide their filth. Tile grout certainly falls into this category.

Tile grout isn’t something that most homeowners spend time studying. In the grand scheme of things, it only makes up a very small percentage of the floor. And because it’s repeatedly stepped on and walked over, it tends to get dirty fast. 

Pretty soon, that light gray or beige grout is a dark gray and you just get used to it. But that doesn’t give you a free pass. You need to clean your grout as part of your regular routine. And in this article, we’re going to show you how!

Prepping for Tile Grout Cleaning

Before you get on your hands and knees and start scrubbing, let us remind you that here at GoCleanCo, we have a very specific method to our madness – a method that’s critical to getting results. 

Technically, there are 15 steps in our method. If you want to learn them all, grab a copy of The Cleaning Army Handbook. (It has a ton of other powerful tips, tricks, and recipes in there.) But for the purposes of cleaning tile grout, here are some of the most important steps:

  • Pick one room to clean. If you have tile floors throughout your house, or multiple rooms with tile floors, don’t feel like you have to do them all at once. In fact, we always recommend picking one room to clean at a time. This prevents you from feeling overwhelmed and allows you to focus on quality over quantity. Once you get that room clean, you can move on to the next one.
  • Go left to right and top to bottom. There has to be some order within the room. We prefer to work left to right and top to bottom. This means the tile floor/grout will be the last thing you clean in the room. (We recommend this because dust and grime will fall to the lowest surface. If you start with the floors and then work your way up, they’ll be dirty again by the time you finish.)
  • Clear everything out. Get everything out of the way. This includes furniture, shoes, plants, and anything else that’s preventing you from having access to every square inch of the tile and grout.

How to Actually Clean the Grout

Okay, now that you’re ready to clean, let’s dig into the actual step-by-step process of how to clean grout:

When you buy through our links, we may earn a small commission.

Step 1: Vacuum, Don’t Sweep

This is going to change your life. We don’t sweep, period. Pull out the vacuum (Canada) (USA) and suck up all of that dirt, lint, dust, and hair. (Sweeping won’t cut it and we do things right the first time around here.)

Take the hose attachment and run it along baseboards, and any small crevices that the vacuum might not be able to reach. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to mop and wipe down surfaces after you’ve hit them with a vacuum.

Step 2: Scrub the Grout

For porcelain or ceramic tile, use a concentrated mixture of powdered Tide®  (2-3 teaspoons), bleach (1 cup) and hot water (¼ gallon or 4 cups). The more concentrated, the faster and better the product will work and the less scrubbing you will need to do. DO NOT USE BLEACH for natural stone tile as it may cause permanent etching.

Using the mixture you just made, grab a plastic-bristle brush or toothbrush and start scrubbing the grout lines with a liberal amount of the Tide® RECIPE. You should start to see some of the stain lift as the water turns a dark gray or brown color. Absorb the excess with a clean microfiber cloth. (All items mentioned can be found right here → USA + Canada)

Step 3: Mop the Floor

Once the grout has been cleaned, it’s time to mop the floor. We recommend using a Vileda® Spin Mop. That’s an O’Cedar® Spin Mop for you yankees.  (Seriously, these things are magical.) Mop the floors with a gallon of hot water, 1 teaspoon of powdered Tide®, and ⅓ cup bleach (optional). Then, let the floors dry.

Step 4: Vacuum (Again)

Once the floors have dried, it’s time to vacuum again. Pull out the vacuum and run it across the tile. Use the hose attachment to get into the crevices and other hard-to-reach areas. This might seem like overkill, but it’s this step that ensures you’re left with sparkling tile and grout. Take your time and finish the job well. (Then go pour yourself a glass of wine and kick your feet up for the rest of the day.)

**Note: If cleaning grout in a shower, you can use this same method, though there’s no need to mop.

Pro Tips for Cleaner Tile Floors

Truth be told, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort by proactively doing a few small things upfront. Here are some additional “pro tips” to keep in mind:

  • We highly recommend sealing your tile and grout. Most builders and homeowners don’t do this, so it’s up to you to make it happen. Doing so will save your grout from staining and crumbling over time. It’s a pretty easy process that requires picking up a solution from the store and applying it. Make sure you read the label and follow manufacturers instructions.
  • You can save yourself many headaches (and copious amounts of elbow grease) by choosing a dark grout to begin with. 
  • There are SO many different types of stone and tile on the market. Each of these products has certain cleaning ingredients and chemicals that can and cannot be used. Always, always, always read labels and do your research so that you don’t ruin your tiles.

Embrace the Clean

At GoCleanCo, we’ve got your back. Whether you’re a brand new homeowner who is tasked with keeping your house clean for the first time ever, or you’re a recovering #dirtybastard who is finally looking to get your sh*t together and keep your house clean…we’re here to help.  

Check out our Basic Training course to learn all of our favourite and most effective methods. This 75-minute interactive course has videos, downloadable checklists, cleaning recipes, and more! 

We also have a selection of popular cleaning handbooks that you can purchase in a variety of formats, including hard copy and digital copy.

For a list of our favorite products, click here.

Recent Posts

Thank you! A confirmation email will be sent to your email

Clean up your inbox.

News, ideas, and recommendations delivered to your inbox. Absolutely zero trash piling up in the corner.

We're big on Instagram.

Follow @GoCleanCo for seriously satisfying videos and top-secret tips. Don’t be shy, come say hi.

gocleanco
Mar 25
16812

Spring cleaning isn’t over until we clean the windows. Sparkling windows make all the difference, you can actually see outside and let the sunshine in! I have a Spring Cleaning offer with @oceansalesltd up in my stories, it is a package deal with the AquaBLADE and the Carbon Tuff Cloths. Check it out! #sponsored

gocleanco
Mar 23
34835

Carpet Cleaner Fight Club 👊🏻 coming at you 3.23.23 get your 🍿 and pull up a 🪑 *Carpets were harmed in the making of this video* #springcleaning

gocleanco
Mar 19
13334

Remember to change your mop head every once in awhile 😎 @hairhouseyeg #shorthair

gocleanco
Mar 18
10371

How am I related to these people… #springcleaning

gocleanco
Mar 17
2896

Spring Cleaning all my @ruggable rugs today! I like to wash my @ruggable rugs in the spring and fall and also anytime someone spills something on them. You can also spot treat your Ruggable, they have a stain guard on them for fast emergency clean up! The Ruggable spring sale is running right now and you can use code SPRING23 for 15% off sitewide and up to 20% off the spring collection but it’s only for a limited time so don’t miss out! #sponsored #ruggablepartner

gocleanco
Mar 13
41417

Are you ready for bathroom week? My tub is so gross I have been pleasure delaying cleaning it just for you. #springcleaning

gocleanco
Mar 10
6861

Does your washing machine smell like a swamp? Well, we have a solution for that…..Plus, @target currently has a Circle offer for $2.00 Tide Washing Machine Cleaner in the Target App! Tide Washing Machine Cleaner should be used once a month to help maintain your machine from build up and odours, it works on both front and top loaders to help maintain your machine so you don’t have to pay someone else to. *Coupon expires April 3, 2023 #sponsored @tidewashingmachinecleaner Certain trademarks used under license from the Proctor & Gamble Company or its affiliates.

gocleanco
Mar 6
7308

Spring Cleaning Challenge 2023 is live on the website! Download the challenge and that is your entry into the contest to win a free house clean from @gocleanco in Fall 2023! Plus we will have other amazing weekly prizes of all my favourite things. Stay Classy San Diego, we had so much fun✌🏻 Now let’s do this Cleaning Army, we only have 4 weeks so we have to stay focused and on task. Follow along with me and your house will sparkle ✨ Full rules listed on our website. #springcleaning

gocleanco
Mar 4
7785

Good Morning San Diego! Well it’s nearly the afternoon and I have only cleaned half a fridge and sprayed an oven but all good things take time and patience. This place is gonna shine up like💎 #springcleaning

gocleanco
Mar 3
11159

@drpimplepopper but for your fridge #springcleaningisherebabyanditsmytimetoshine

gocleanco
Mar 1
3110

#ad Cleaning some stubborn carpet stains with the @bissellclean Little Green® ProHeat® Portable Carpet Cleaner and the amazing @febreze Spot & Stain Formula . It has Heatwave Technology® to help maintain water temperature as you clean, the tools are all included, My fav thing about is (besides it obvious cleaning power and compact design) is that it even has a handy dandy HydroRinse ™ Self Cleaning tool which rinse out the hose when you are done with your dirty work..…finally someone is thinking about cleaning the cleaning tools…my work here may officially be done. *Certain trademarks used under license from The Procter & Gamble Company @bissellcan @bissellclean @febreze #BISSELL

gocleanco
Feb 24
5173

Spring Cleaning Pain Points: What can’t you get clean and you feel like you have tried *eVeRyTHinG* under the sun? Drop it in the comments and I will take ✍🏻 and try to help ya! #springcleaning

gocleanco
Feb 23
1979

I am excited to be partnering on an IG live next week with P&G laundry scientist, Jennifer Ahoni, to discuss their newest laundry innovation, Downy Rinse & Refresh. It’s a fantastic solution to solve your stinkiest laundry issues and we’re going to deep dive into why this is the perfect complement to our favorite laundry detergent. #ad #downypartner #odorisnttheend @downy

gocleanco
Feb 17
6597

What’s your least favourite chore? Mines the never ending cycle of laundry. Like even when it’s done…you still have the clothes you are wearing on while you do the laundry so it’s never actually over…I have been know to rip socks off people if I’m putting in a load of whites to *feel like* I am beating the system 😵‍💫 I actually don’t mind sorting it, washing it, putting it in the dryer but the party stops there. I hate folding and putting it away. I feel like there should be a robot for this by now—it’s 2023! Now this the AI I can get behind.

gocleanco
Feb 1
29946

Dishwasher Filter 101 🤮 Whose ready for spring cleaning?! I’m gonna start psyching y’all up so you are READY FOR COMBAT. #springcleaning

gocleanco
Jan 19
52644

How often to you mop your floors? Be honest cause I’ll come over and check if you are lying. #cleaningmotivation

gocleanco
Jan 18
3275

Fancy New product Alert: Downy Rinse & Refresh is @downy ‘s biggest innovation in the last 30 years. Now, listen up because this isn’t like regular Downy, it is actually not a fabric softener, even though it goes in the fabric softener drawer! Rinse & Refresh helps with mega stubborn STINKY laundry by removing residue that traps in odour. It’s the perfect compliment to everyday smelly laundry like gym clothes, hockey clothes or that load of towels you left sitting in the washer overnight and actually removes odour three times better than laundry detergent alone. Come watch my stories today — I rounded up my teenage nephews hockey gear 😷and we will put it through the ringer. (Pun intended). What is your stinkiest laundry problem? Let me know in the comments and we can get researching 👩🏼‍🔬 #DownyPartner

gocleanco
Jan 12
12329

Bleach, Pray, Love (and a little elbow grease) 💕 #cleaningmotivation

gocleanco
Dec 31
18001

Wishing you a Tide-ey New Year. Fun fact about me: I live for Mondays. A fresh new week laid before me gives me motivation to get shit done. And January is the BIGGEST Monday of them all. Many people like to reflect on the last year but I like to look ahead and set some realistic and serious goals for myself. Take a deep breath and wake up from your Christmas haze and write down 5 things you want to get done in 2023…(or make a lock screen saver vision board like I do every year!) You don’t always have to join a gym you know. Maybe you want to clean your attic. Or take more naps. Be more present for your kids. Make your bed each morning. These goals can be small but impactful and have a domino effect throughout your life. Start small. The big stuff will follow. Thank you for sticking with me on this wild ride. We have so much in store for the #cleaningarmy in 2023 so buckle up! P.S. Lets pretend this photo was taken today cause I’m currently in my house coat cleaning everyone’s AirPods. 📸 cred @substanceyyc 💕

gocleanco
Dec 29
7220

Are you team Boxing Day Christmas decor tear down or Team January tear down? I took mine down before we left and I’m currently feeling like it was hands down, my most genius idea of 2022. Now to tackle the worlds largest pile of laundry and prep my life for 2023 🎉 #christmascleanup

©2023 Bleach Pray Love | Designed by Canned Spinach | Built by Oracast