White vinegar cleans grout by using its mild acidity to break down soap scum, mildew, and dirt, especially on ceramic/porcelain tile, but it can damage unsealed or stone grout over time by dissolving the calcium in it, so it's often mixed with water and used with baking soda or followed by sealing to protect it.
You can use hot water alone in a spray bottle, or combine it with an equal amount of white vinegar. Spray the water or diluted vinegar to your grout, then let it sit for 5-10 minutes. After waiting, scrub the grout with a scrub brush or grout brush, then rinse with clean water.
Grout, particularly certain types like sanded grout, is often composed of calcium carbonate, a component susceptible to acid erosion. Over time, the vinegar can eat away at the grout, weakening it and making it more prone to cracking and staining.
But eight places you should never use vinegar include:
Vinegar has a very low pH level which means it's very acidic, so it can corrode some surfaces over time. For example, using vinegar on natural stone like granite or marble can dull and scratch the surface and it can corrode surfaces like unsealed grout, window seals, and fridge and dishwasher gaskets.
However, this can occur when heavy rainfall meets blocked drains, and the drainpipes are unable to handle the volume of rainwater due to an outside drain blockage. That's why households are being encouraged to pour vinegar into their drains to help keep them clear.
Bleach, ammonia, and cleaners with these harsh chemicals added in can cause grout to yellow, fade, or become discolored. They can also degrade the grout and cause it to erode over time.
The best homemade grout cleaner is often a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (3%), sometimes with a squirt of dish soap for extra power, creating a fizzing, whitening action that lifts grime when scrubbed with an old toothbrush and rinsed well. For a simpler option, a paste of equal parts baking soda and water works, while a spray of equal parts white vinegar and water tackles mold/mildew but should avoid natural stone.
Compared to bleach or vinegar, hydrogen peroxide is less likely to damage grout or nearby tile, mainly when diluted or used in a paste.
To whiten grout, use a paste of baking soda and water/hydrogen peroxide, scrub with a stiff brush, let it sit, then rinse; for tougher stains, try a vinegar/baking soda mix or a bleach/baking soda paste, always rinsing well and allowing it to dry, as grout darkens when wet, and consider a grout pen or sealant for a fresh, white finish.
Cleaning Bathroom Grout With Baking Soda And Vinegar
Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar. Spray the vinegar directly onto the grout. Sprinkle baking soda on top of the vinegar. Leave the vinegar and baking soda to work for at least 10 minutes.
Bicarbonate of soda & vinegar – this natural solution works well for lifting stains, but vinegar can weaken particular tile finishes. Always test a small area before use. Hydrogen peroxide – a strong but safe alternative to bleach, is great for cleaning floor tile grout and tackling mould, especially in bathrooms.
The occasional use of vinegar on porcelain or ceramic tile with cement-based grout should not cause damage. However, frequent or regular use can discolor and weaken grout and should not be used for routine maintenance.
Steam cleaning is one of the most powerful ways to clean grout without the use of harsh chemicals. Professionals often use steam to loosen the dirt and other particles trapped in the grout without needing to scrub manually.
I want to actually clean my grout. Magic erasers get the job done, and they do it quickly and relatively painlessly. Technique-wise, I usually cut my standard size magic eraser in half, wet it to slightly more than damp, and scrub the grout line as I squeeze gently.
Important note: To avoid damage to grout, it's best to avoid any acidic cleaners, such as vinegar or chlorine bleach, as they will damage and erode your grout over time.
You generally should not grout directly over old grout for longevity and adhesion, as it often leads to cracking and peeling; instead, you must first remove a significant portion (at least 2mm) of the old grout, thoroughly clean the area, and then apply the new grout to ensure proper bonding and a lasting finish. Special rejuvenation grouts or epoxy grouts might require less removal, but scraping out most of the old material is the best practice for standard grout.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Using caustic cleaning solutions like ammonia or bleach can cause severe discoloring to your tile's grout. We highly advise against using ammonia or bleach to clean any grout.
Sealed grout protects it from those outside elements, bacteria growth caused by moisture, and spills that cause staining. Not only that, sealed grout helps strengthen it and slows down the wear and tear process.
Limited Effectiveness for Serious Clogs
The chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar can break up some minor debris, but it won't dislodge or dissolve the heavier blockages caused by grease, hair, soap scum, or mineral buildup.
Maintain clean pipes.
Use white vinegar to maintain clean kitchen and bathroom drains. Periodically, pour a half cup down the drain, let it sit for at least an hour (the longer, the better), and then run water down the drain. Add baking soda to break up clogs.
Here's why: When baking soda (alkaline) and vinegar (acid) combine, they create carbon dioxide gas (fizz bubbles), but once the gas is released, the reaction is over and you're left with mostly water, salt, and residue.