How To Clean Black Grout In A Bathroom
Because of the wet and gloomy climate, the grout in your bathroom is one of the most likely sites to harbor black mold. This is one of the most likely places to find black mold. If you have observed that the grout surrounding your shower or sink has turned black, there are several things that you can use to remove it. If you have discovered that the grout has turned black, you can use these items. Continue reading to find out more information about the method that has proven to be the most successful in our research for removing this black mold from your home.
Here are techniques that you can use to get rid of black grout in your bathroom:
- Baking Soda
- Hydrogen Peroxide & Baking Soda Mix
- Chlorine-based Bleach
- White Vinegar
- Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
Mold is able to thrive in a wide variety of settings, and the presence of mold in your bathroom can give the appearance that the space is dirty and unkempt. If you want to get rid of this mold as quickly and without putting yourself in danger as you can, it is useful to know what sorts of tools and chemical or natural cleaning remedies are accessible to you. In the following paragraphs, we will discuss the most common ones, which are utilized by both professionals and average people who own homes in the United States.
Methods To Clean Black Grout In A Bathroom
Baking Soda
Baking soda is an ingredient in a number of do-it-yourself cleaning procedures, many of which are available online. This is as a result of its remarkable ability to eradicate mold as well as other difficult surface stains. Mixing a half cup of baking soda with five teaspoons of water is a quick approach to utilize baking soda to help lift black mold from your grout. All you need to do is combine the two ingredients. To make a paste, combine all of the ingredients in a low-volume bowl and stir until smooth.
Hydrogen Peroxide & Baking Soda Mix
You can also use baking soda and a combination of hydrogen peroxide to help remove black mold. The bleaching agent in the hydrogen peroxide can help to quickly lighten the grout and get it back to its original color. Meanwhile, the baking soda will work to eradicate the mold by loosening it up and lifting it away from the grout. To create this solution, mix two tablespoons of baking soda with one-and-one-half tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and place them in a water bottle.
Next, spray the solution on the molded grout and let it sit for two to five minutes. Then take a scrubber brush or cloth to remove the mold and residue from the grout. You may need to repeat this process once or twice to lift the mold from the grout completely.
If you have mold around the caulk on your sink or bathtub hardware, it may be best to remove the caulk before attempting to eradicate the mold, especially if the caulk itself has mold on it. Sometimes re-caulking can make a world of difference in refreshing your bathroom tile and grout.
Chlorine-based Bleach
Bleach is probably the most effective way to get rid of mold on your bathroom grout quickly. Bleach is antifungal and antibacterial, and the chlorine in it will quickly lighten the grout while lifting the dark-colored mold from it. It’s best to open up a window or door when using bleach to clean grout, as the fumes can be nauseating and overwhelming. You’ll also want to use rubber cleaning gloves to avoid getting bleach on your hands.
Apply bleach to the mold by mixing 1/4-cup of it with a cup of water in a plastic spray bottle. Next, spray the affected grout and allow the bleach solution to sit on it for anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. If you have an exhaust fan in the bathroom, it’s best to allow it to run the entire time that the bleach is on the grout. You may also need to use a scrubber brush. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the area to get rid of the bleach odor.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is a known natural cleaning agent, and it can also help lift black mold from your tile grout. You can also use this in combination with baking soda or by itself.
When using baking soda, combine 3/4-cup of white vinegar with a tablespoon of baking soda and pour it into a spray bottle. Let the solution sit on the molded area for about 30 minutes, and then scrub it away using your bristle brush or a disposable toothbrush. Next, re-spray the area and let it sit for an additional 30 minutes. Finally, rinse the area with warm water.
Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
If you prefer an all-natural approach to remove the black mold from your grout, you can also use a combination of lemon juice and baking soda. To do this, mix 1/4-cup of lemon juice with two tablespoons of baking soda and steer it in a bowl. Next, apply the paste to the grout and let it sit for about 30 to 45 minutes.
Allow the paste to sit an additional 30 minutes if needed. Afterward, take your scrubber brush and work the paste into the crowd into the mold stains are lifted. Lemon juice works best on black mold that is relatively new and isn’t covering large spaces. For older or larger areas of black mold, you may want to use hydrogen peroxide or bleach.
Why is my bathroom grout turning black?
If you notice that the grout in your bathroom is turning black, you likely have a mold infestation in the bathroom. Black mold is common in humid areas of the home, as the spores thrive in moist environments, such as the bathroom or basement. If the grout is exposed to excessive amounts of moisture daily or is over a few years old, it could be time to give it a thorough cleaning or even replace it to get rid of the mold.
How do you clean black grout in the shower?
The best way to remove black grout in your shower is to create a solution of bleach and water. Mix one tablespoon of bleach with two cups of water and pour it into a plastic spray bottle. Next, spray the solution on the shower walls in other areas where the black grout is present. Let it sit for about 10 to 30 minutes, and then use a scrubber brush to clean the area. You may need to repeat this once or twice.
What is the best homemade tile grout cleaner?
The best homemade tile grout cleaner is typically one that consists of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. If the grout is located in the kitchen, you’ll also want to add liquid dish soap to help remove the grease from the grout. You can make a paste by mixing two tablespoons of baking soda with one-and-one-half ablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. After mixing the ingredients, apply them to the grout for cleaning.
How do you keep the grout from turning black?
The best way to keep your grout from turning black is to minimize the amount of moisture in your bathroom daily. This means using the ventilation fan or opening a window or door to air out the bathroom after a shower or bath. It’s also best to keep the grout clean using anti-fungal chemicals to prevent the buildup of black mold.
Does Magic Eraser work on grout?
Yes, you can use Magic Eraser as an effective way to clean your grout. However, it may be best to use a cleaning or bleaching agent if there is evidence of mold or mildew on the grout.
8 Ways to Clean Stained Grout
Tile is beautiful, durable, and generally easy to clean, but cleaning grout? That’s a different story. Because it’s typically light-colored and has a porous composition, grout is prone to staining. In a tiled entryway or mudroom, dirt and grime are the usual culprits but in the kitchen, spills are more likely to blame. In the bathroom, homeowners must contend with grout that’s marred by mold and mildew.
The good news is that the best way to clean grout doesn’t come with a big price tag. It’s possible to clean and restore your grout using common household products and of course, a bit of elbow grease.
Before you get started on your grout-cleaning endeavors, understand that it is best to begin with the first cleaning option on this list, which is the mildest, least harmful method. If that doesn’t work, you can work your way up to incrementally more intense, odiferous, and potentially time-consuming options on this list. If you’re in doubt about whether a particular grout cleaner is suitable for your surface, test it in a hidden spot first—under an appliance in the kitchen, say, or behind the toilet in the bathroom.
Before you begin cleaning, it’s important to understand the different types of grout.
There are several types of grout, and most types come in multiple colors. It’s important to take both type and hue into consideration before you start gathering cleaning supplies and making a cleaning plan. The two most common types of grout these days are traditional cement grout and the newer standard, epoxy grout. These grout types can be further broken down as follows:
- Sanded grout. Made with cement, sanded grout has grit that you can see and feel when working with it. Tilers use sanded grout in larger joints (more than ⅛ inch wide and up to ⅝ inch or 1 inch, depending on the product). It is a solid choice for heavily trafficked floors, but it’s not the best choice for smooth, polished stone. Why? The grit might scratch these surfaces during grout application.
- Unsanded grout. Unsanded grout is also made with cement, but it doesn’t contain grit. Tilers use unsanded grout for narrower joints, as small as 1/16 inch wide. This durable material is easier to work with and clean up than sanded grout, and it’s appropriate for both polished stones and vertical surfaces like shower walls. Unsanded grout feels stickier and looks a little smoother than sanded grout.
- Epoxy grout. This type of grout holds up better to water stains and tends to be less vulnerable to shrinking or sagging than cement grouts. Epoxy grout will absorb up to 50 times less water than cement grout, and it’s stronger. It works well in harsh environments, such as on kitchen backsplashes and in shower surrounds. It is also easier to clean and more likely to return to its original color than cement grouts, which is a big plus if you’re tiling with white or another light grout color. Epoxy grout is also less prone to cracking. On the downside, however, it’s more expensive than cement grout and takes longer to apply.
Some types of grout are precolored and are as a result better able to resist stains and fading. There are also grout formulations that add polymers to provide helpful features such as moisture and mildew resistance. Finally, as you’re figuring out how best to clean your grout, it’s important to know whether the grout has been sealed, or possibly needs resealing. This might affect both how well the grout holds up and what solutions you can use to clean it.
1. Scrub dirty grout using warm water and a medium-bristle brush.
If you don’t already have a grout scrubber, most home centers and hardware stores carry a number of products that are specifically designed for the purpose of cleaning tile grout. To avoid damaging the grout, opt for a medium-bristle nylon brush, not a hard steel one. Simply spray warm water on the grout lines and scrub in a circular motion, then let it dry. Don’t use too much water or let it sit on the grout for too long. Remember: Porous cement grouts absorb water, which could lead to mildew.
2. Spray grout with equal parts vinegar and warm water.
If you know your grout has been sealed but it has accumulated heavy dirt or mild stains, turn to vinegar, that trusty old household staple. Fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and warm water. Spray the mixture on the grout, let it stand for 5 minutes, then scrub the surface with a stiff brush. Avoid using vinegar on unsealed grout.
3. Apply a baking soda paste and then spray with vinegar.
Cleaning grout with baking soda will bring even more power to the party. Here’s what to do: Cover grout lines with a paste of baking soda and water, then spray on the vinegar solution listed above (remember, only apply vinegar if the grout has been sealed). Once the mixture stops foaming, scrub with a brush, rinse with plain water, and wipe dry. If the grout is unsealed or needs resealing, apply just the baking soda solution and scrub carefully.
4. Pour on some hydrogen peroxide.
Moderate stains may require you to use hydrogen peroxide, which is available in most drug stores. You can use the product straight or as part of a homemade grout-cleaning paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. This mixture is typically safe for both sealed and unsealed grout.
5. Apply oxygen bleach and let it stand for up to 15 minutes.
For tougher stains on really grimy white grout, use oxygen bleach as a grout cleaner. You’ll find this cleanser is most often sold in powdered form; bestselling brands include OxiClean and Biokleen Oxygen Bleach Plus.
Before using oxygen bleach to clean grout, make sure the room is well ventilated, and then carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for application. Let the oxygen bleach solution soak in for 10 or 15 minutes before rinsing. Always rinse with clean water and then wipe the area dry so that the dirt doesn’t resettle into the grout lines.
6. Try a commercial grout stain remover.
Applying one of the best grout cleaners on the market could make quick work of removing mold and mildew and restoring bright white grout lines. These products work in one of two ways: (1) spray and wipe, or (2) scour with a brush. Spray-on products claim to work without scrubbing. Though they save time and energy, they may contain harsher acids, solvents, or chlorine bleach.
Scouring with a soft brush and cleaner does require a little work, but this method can be especially effective on floors and heavily soiled grout. Before you begin using one of these products, read the active ingredients carefully, and heed the instructions—particularly the safety precautions.
7. Steam-clean the worst of grout stains.
The best steam mops are effective and environmentally friendly tools for cleaning grout—or, for that matter, many hard surfaces throughout the house. Bissell, Oreck, and Hoover all make steam cleaners for residential use.
8. Use chlorine bleach sparingly on grout.
Chlorine bleach and commercial cleansers containing chlorine bleach can be used sparingly in extreme cases to clean grout. It’s not a great idea to use them as your go-to grout cleaners because long-term use of caustic cleaners will erode grout. When all else fails, however, a bleach product such as Clorox Clean-Up might be effective.
If you’ve tried any or all of the above methods before you apply chlorine bleach, be sure to rinse the surface completely before proceeding with any chlorine bleach products. This is especially true of vinegar, because traces of vinegar mixed with bleach will emit a highly toxic chlorine gas into the air.
Grout Maintenance
Once you’re finished cleaning your grout, spray it with household vinegar or a mild grout cleaner and wipe it down once a week to keep it stain-free. Wiping grout with rubbing alcohol will also keep mold and mildew at bay. In any case, just a few spritzes and wipes a week can save you a lot of time and effort cleaning and help you preserve the attractive appearance of your tiled surfaces.