5 Top Tips for Cleaning Tile Grout

Is your bathroom looking a little grubby? It could be down to your tile grouting.

Neglected tile grout (the white mortar between your bathroom tiles) can appear pink, yellow or even brown in colour and looks rather unsightly. Thankfully, it’s not something you have to put up with and no you won’t necessarily have to re-grout your tiles. Here we’ll share some of our top tips for cleaning tile grout with ease.

1. Use Baking Powder and Vinegar

You can buy all sorts of chemical-based grout cleaning products from the supermarket, as well as bleach, which can make white surfaces appear brighter. The problem is, chemical-based cleaning products contain a lot of ‘nasties’ that aren’t so good for you or the environment.

We’ve recently switched to using eco-friendly cleaning products and are trying to become ‘greener’ as a company. So, rather than promote chemical-based cleaning products, we’d suggest trying a mix of baking powder and vinegar for cleaning tile grout instead.

Method:

• Mix together one part vinegar, one part baking powder in a small bowl
• Keep mixing until you have created a thick paste
• Spread the homemade paste onto your bathroom tile grout
• Leave it to work on your tile grout for 20-30 minutes
• Scrub with a toothbrush or nail brush until the grout looks clean
• Wash the tiles down with your shower or a bucket of clean water

The acid in the vinegar, combined with the whitening properties of the baking powder will clean your tile grouting and make it appear brighter.

2. Use a toothbrush or nail brush

You will find that most DIY / hardware stores sell dedicated grout brushes that you can use to remove the muck from in between your tiles. We’ll let you into a little secret though – an old toothbrush or nailbrush will be just as effective and save you a few pounds too.

Just remember not to use it on your teeth or nails afterwards…that would be pretty disgusting!

3. Regularly wash and dry your tiles

One of the main reasons tile grout gets dirty is soap scum. This is especially true of the tile grout in shower cubicles. You may notice that the grouting looks pink in colour. This is actually bacterium called Serratia marcescens, which feeds on fatty substances like soap scum. It can be harmful to humans, so it’s best to get rid of it or even better, prevent it from growing between your tiles.

The best way to avoid dirt and bacteria building up in your tile grouting is to regularly wash down your tiles. After you’ve showered, spend a little time washing the tiles down with the water ensuring all of the soap has disappeared. Once it looks clean, grab a clean cloth or towel and dry off the tiles. Mould prefers a damp surface so by drying off your tiles, you can make the grouting less favourable.

It’s also a good idea to reduce condensation in your bathroom and ensure it’s well ventilated. Again this makes it a less favourable environment for bacteria to grow. Open a window or run an extractor fan after you’ve bathed or showered to discourage mould from appearing on your tile grouting.

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4. Use a grout pen

Although it won’t remove dirty stains from your tile grouting, a grout pen can be used to disguise them. It’s basically a white pen that you can use to colour in your grouting and make it appear whiter and brighter.

Today, there are plenty of toxic-free grout pens you can buy, which have water-based formulas. We did a quick search online and found this grout pen for under a fiver.

5. Use a leave-in shower spray

Using a leave-in shower spray will not only keep your shower cubicle clean but also prevent dirt and bacteria from building up in your tile grouting. If you’re looking for a recommendation from a non-toxic brand, we suggest the Ylang Ylang Daily Shower Spray by Method.

Alternatively, you could make your own grout cleaning spray. Simply mix together white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. You could always add a little lemon juice to give it a more pleasant scent.

Why is cleaning your tile grout important?

1. It will benefit your health

One of the reasons cleaning your tile grout is important is that it prevents mildew from growing. Mildew comes in the form of little black spots that form on damp surfaces and it’s not so great for your health, especially if you suffer from breathing conditions like asthma.

2. Give your bathroom a new lease of life

Cleaning your grout will make your bathroom look cleaner and newer. If it’s looking grubby or like it needs an update, try cleaning the tile grout first and see what a difference it makes. You’ll be surprised!

3. It will help you get your deposit back

If you live in a rented property, you will be responsible for keeping it clean. One of the mistakes tenants often make is forgetting to clean their tile grouting. If you’re moving out, it’s likely your landlord or letting agent will carry an End of Tenancy cleaning inspection. They’ll pick up on things like dirty grouting and may knock money off your deposit. By cleaning tile grouting regularly and keeping your bathroom looking fresh, you stand a greater chance of getting your deposit back.

READ MORE: Moving Out? Get your deposit back with End of Tenancy Cleaning

Tile grout cleaning in rented properties

We’ve already touched on the fact that landlords and letting agents will expect tenants to keep the tile grouting in a property clean. As we mentioned above, it could cost you part of your deposit if it’s not up to scratch.

However, we should also highlight that there is such thing as fair wear and tear. If it’s a case of the tile grouting being relatively old, rather than being dirty as a result of not cleaning it, then it is the landlord’s responsibility, rather than the tenants.

We’d always recommend taking photos of things like the state of the tile grouting, before moving into a rented property. Attach them with your inventory checklist when you send it back to your landlord or letting agency. This can prevent disagreements from arising, when it comes to getting your deposit back.

End of tenancy cleaning service

Did you know around 29% of renters lose their deposits every year? Make sure you're not one of them by taking great care to clean your rented property before moving out. One of the best ways to impress your landlord (or the letting agency acting on their behalf) and stand a greater chance of getting your deposit back is to hire a professional cleaning company.

Purchasing an End of Tenancy cleaning service will show you have taken action to ensure you have left your rented property in a clean and satisfactory condition. It will also save you a lot of time and effort, as all of the hard cleaning work will be done for you.

We offer a full End of Tenancy cleaning service which includes:

• Kitchen cleaning
• Bathroom cleaning (including tile grouting)
• White goods cleaning
• Bedroom cleaning
• Window cleaning
• Cupboard cleaning
• Skirting board cleaning

We also offer full carpet shampooing, spot cleaning and deep oven cleaning services at an additional cost.

Our professional cleaners will attend your rented property at a time convenient to you; equipped with the tools and products needed to complete your deep clean. And don't worry, we won't stop until the job has been completed to the highest standards!

Use our quick online booking form to get a quote for End of Tenancy cleaning today.

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We hope you've enjoyed reading through our top tips for cleaning tile grout and that it's given you some ideas, especially if you are looking for alternatives to chemical-based cleaning products. For more useful cleaning tips, be sure to follow NG1 City Cleaners on Instagram.

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