How to Clean Tile Grout with Homemade Cleaner
Mix a potent baking soda and peroxide paste, apply directly to discolored grout lines, scrub out embedded grime, and rinse clean for bright, refreshed tile.
- Read the tools, materials, safety notes, and steps below for free.
- Tap Start Camera Coach when you want hands-free voice help.
- Allow camera and microphone. Point your phone at the work; the coach watches your progress and tells you the next step.
🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Stiff-bristle grout brush
- ✓ Small mixing bowl
- ✓ Spoon or spatula
- ✓ Microfiber cloths
- ✓ Spray bottle
- ✓ Utility bucket
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Baking soda
- ✓ 3% Hydrogen peroxide
- ✓ Liquid dish soap
- ✓ Clean warm water
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Wear safety glasses to prevent peroxide and baking soda paste from flicking into eyes during scrubbing.
- • Wear rubber or nitrile gloves to avoid skin dryness from prolonged contact with hydrogen peroxide.
- • Ensure the room has adequate airflow by running the exhaust fan or opening nearby windows.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Sweep and Clear Tile Surface
Remove all bath mats, rugs, or toiletries from the floor or wall area. Sweep or wipe the tiled area thoroughly to remove loose hair, grit, and dust before applying liquid cleaner.
- • Floor or wall tiles are free of loose surface debris and hair.
- • Applying wet paste over dry dust, creating a muddy slurry that discolors the grout further.
Mix the Cleaning Paste
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide to the mixing bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap and stir with a spoon until it reaches the consistency of thick frosting.
- • A uniform, white, non-runny paste that clings to the mixing spoon without dripping.
- • Making the mixture too runny so it flows off vertical or sloped grout lines.
Apply Paste to Grout Lines
Use the spoon or your gloved finger to spread the paste directly onto the grout lines. Press the paste into the joints so the grout is completely covered by an opaque layer.
- • Grout joints are fully hidden beneath a thick, white band of paste with minimal excess on tile faces.
- • Spreading the paste thinly across the entire tile face instead of concentrating it on the grout.
Allow Paste to Dwell
Let the applied paste sit untouched on the grout lines for 10 to 15 minutes. The hydrogen peroxide penetrates deep into the porous grout while the baking soda softens hardened grease and minerals.
- • Paste sitting undisturbed across all grout lines in the work section.
- • Scrubbing immediately without letting the chemical action break down embedded grime.
Scrub the Grout Channels
Firmly scrub the grout lines using back-and-forth strokes with the stiff-bristle brush. Angle the bristles directly into the grout channel to pull lifted grime out of the microscopic pores.
- • The white paste turns dirty gray or brownish as dirt lifts from the grout.
- • Using a metal wire brush that gouges and damages soft grout or scratches tile glaze.
Wipe and Rinse Clean
Fill the utility bucket with warm water. Dip a microfiber cloth, wring it until damp, and wipe away the dirty paste, rinsing the cloth frequently in clean water until no chalky residue remains.
- • Tiles and grout lines are completely clear of paste with crisp, brightened grout visible.
- • Using a single saturated cloth without rinsing, smearing baking soda residue across the tile surface.
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by This Old House — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Stiff-bristle grout brush? Old toothbrush or electric toothbrush head
- No Hydrogen peroxide? Oxygen bleach powder mixed with warm water