Vinegar will slowly dissolve the sealer on the grout and tile, allowing dirt, oils, and stains to penetrate deeper into the grout. Using Vinegar on grout can also cause the grout to breakdown overtime. And, that strong acid could damage the finish on the tile too.
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.
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.
Vinegar is an outstanding non-toxic cleaner, but it is not perfect for every type of surface. If you have natural stone tiles (like travertine), it's better to stay away from vinegar. It could easily remove the sealants and even discolor or etch the stone!
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.
Moreover, vinegar safely disinfects most hard surfaces and works wonders with grease and hard water stains. And the best part about it is that once it dries, it leaves behind a fresh and neutral scent. You can safely use vinegar to clean ceramic or porcelain tiles, whether they are glazed or unglazed.
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.
Let the shower head soak for several hours. For an especially dirty fixture, leave it overnight. However, if you have a brass, gold, or nickel-coated shower head, remove it from the vinegar after 30 minutes. Any longer than this could damage the finish.
For stubborn shower stains, soap scum and grime, mix one cup of warm water, two cups of white vinegar and one teaspoon of a vegetable-based dishwashing soap in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the shower walls, let it work for 15 minutes and use a sponge to scrub off scum and grime.
Cleaning The Shower Walls And Bathtub
Bathtubs provide the perfect spot for bacteria, dirt and grime to accumulate over time, and a white vinegar solution can be very useful in getting rid of them. Just spray the solution around the tub and the shower walls and let it rest for some time.
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.
What's the best homemade grout and tile cleaner? Mix together 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tsp dish soap. Apply cleaning mixture onto the grout, wait 5-10 minutes, scrub, sweep up the excess baking soda, and rinse.
The acidity is mild, so it doesn't damage or etch most surface. Lemon juice also has mild bleaching properties that help whiten dingy grout.
While white vinegar is best known for its culinary uses, it can work wonders in the bathroom. Praised for its powerful acetic acid solution, vinegar helps to dissolve mineral deposit, bacteria, dirt, grease and grime.
"Apple cider vinegar has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory benefits, which is why it's commonly used as a DIY treatment for skin issues such as sunburn, acne, and dandruff," explains Joshua Zeichner, MD, board-certified dermatologist and professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
White vinegar is an acidic solution that can etch or corrode some tiles, particularly those made from natural stone or unglazed ceramic. The acid in white vinegar can also weaken and deteriorate certain grouts over time, particularly if the grout is already damaged or in poor condition.
Use the following tips and your shower is sure to come out looking better than new. First mix white vinegar and water into a 50 / 50 solution. Pour the mix into a spray bottle and shake. Then spray on the glass.
Do you need to rinse after washing with vinegar? If you have used vinegar in your washing machine to clean or to do laundry, then you do not need to run a rinse cycle afterward as a standard laundry cycle runs a plain water cycle towards the end anyway to remove any residue left behind.
Vinegar And Water
This mild spray will help keep your shower clean without needing to wash it weekly. To make this spray, you must mix identical parts vinegar and water, in a regular spray bottle.
Option 2: Baking soda paste grout cleaner
Mix 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tsp dish soap into a paste that you can apply to grout and surrounding tile. The dish soap is especially great at cutting through grease that might make its way onto your kitchen grout.
The easiest way to clean grout without scrubbing involves hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Mix the two into a paste with some dish soap and apply to the grout lines. Alternatively, you can use a cleaning solution of water, vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda.