Bleach is the most effective method for removing mold from shower grout. Method One: Make a solution of one-part bleach and four-parts water, and put it in a spray bottle. Spray the affected area and scrub with a brush after 30 minutes. Rinse with water and repeat if necessary.
You can kill black mold on surfaces with vinegar, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and most of our recommended DIY and commercial cleaners. But removing the humid environment that allows it to thrive is crucial to the long-term integrity and safety of the bathroom.
Use a Bleach Solution
Prepare a one-part bleach and four-part water solution in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the moldy grout and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Use a rigid toothbrush and do some vigorous scrubbing to make sure you have covered all the areas.
White vinegar
For coloured grouts, vinegar is a great natural cleaning agent that won't damage your tiles or grouting. Using a spray bottle, cover any mouldy areas of grout with undiluted white vinegar. If you don't have a spray bottle, don't worry – you can also apply the vinegar with a cloth.
It should be noted that vinegar cannot kill every type of mold, according to a study from 2015. It is highly effective at getting rid of Penicillium chrysogenum, which is most commonly found in damp areas, but not Aspergillus fumigatus, which is typically found in plant matter and soil.
You can also use white vinegar for chemical-free grout cleaning. Simply pour vinegar from the bottle into the cap and pour it over the dirty grout lines. Allow the lemon juice or vinegar to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, scrub with a small brush or old toothbrush.
Methylated Spirits is the all round hero cleaner for your bathroom. When it comes to killing mould, methylated spirits works the same way as vinegar. It penetrates the mould spores and makes the mould explode. (Source: Dr Heike Neumeister-Kemp, Mycologist/mould expert).
Grout that hasn't been sealed, needs to be resealed, or is in poor shape should not be cleaned with vinegar. The vinegar penetrates into the pores of the grout, further weakening the material. Over time, vinegar will deteriorate the condition of the grout by etching or wearing it away.
Discolorations in your tile and grout aren't just unsightly—sometimes they are downright dangerous. The dark spots on grout are most likely the result of mold, mildew or plain old dirt buildup. It is important to determine what you're dealing with first, so you can wipe it out with the appropriate treatment plan.
To remove the black stains that mold leaves on non-porous surfaces like grout, mix equal parts of bleach and water in a spray bottle and spray it over the stained area, allowing it to sit for several minutes. Return and spray the area again, and use a scrub brush to scrub out any remaining discoloration.
We highly advise against using ammonia or bleach to clean any grout. Cleaning solutions that contain bleach or ammonia will not only work to erode your grout over time, they will cause your grout to become even dirtier by leaving a film behind, which attracts dirt.
When your grout gets grungy Mandy people grab for the standard bleach and a toothbrush to get their grout lines looking white and sparkling again, but it won't work for colored grout. The purpose of colored grout is the color, and bleach will ruin that color.
Our first method to clean black grout is with a simple combination of white vinegar and water. You will need to mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle. Spray it onto the affected grout joints and leave it for 5 minutes.
On the day of treatment, a mold removal professional will use a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter to filter the air, clean mold spores, and remove other airborne impurities in the target area.
Homeowners can handle cleaning about 10 square feet (roughly 3 feet by 3 feet) of black mold on their own. If the patch is small enough, a combination of bleach, water, scrubbing, and ventilation should do the trick. Before treating mold on your own, prioritize ventilation and protective gear.
For really tough black mold removal, mix two parts baking soda with one part white vinegar and one part water. Stir the mixture until it becomes a thick paste. Spread your mixture liberally onto the surface and let it dry. Scrub away the black mold and stains, and wipe down with water.
If cleaning with detergent doesn't work, it's possible to remove mould using diluted vinegar and a microfibre cloth. If mould cannot be removed using the vinegar method, cleaning with diluted bleach or a commercial product may be required.
The most common and effective homemade grout cleaner is a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. Cream or tartar and lemon juice is the best all-natural solution for whitening. Avoid using highly-acidic solutions like vinegar because they can corrode grout.
Get 3% hydrogen peroxide and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the affected areas – the mouldy surface should be saturated with the substance. Leave the hydrogen peroxide to sit for 10 minutes – the time will be enough for substance to eliminate mould spores. Scrub the surface and wipe off to clean mould residues.
So, how do you clean grout with vinegar and baking soda? Apparently, vinegar is a popular natural household cleaner, but it's too acidic for cleaning grout. In fact, the acetic acid in vinegar can corrode the grout over time, so you might want to avoid using it for cleaning in this case.
Cleaning Grout with Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is a safe, natural cleaner and disinfectant you can use all around the house. Pour or spray undiluted vinegar onto your grout and let it sit for 10 minutes before using a toothbrush, scrubbing in a circular motion. Next, rinse away the dirt and mildew.