How to Clean Grout, Every Method Compared
Dingy grout lines make a whole room look tired — but the fix is cheaper and faster than you'd think. Here's every way to clean grout, ranked from the gentle everyday paste to the heavy-duty stuff, plus the one popular method to skip.
The short answer
The best way to clean grout is a paste of baking soda and 3% hydrogen peroxide: spread it along the grout lines, wait 10–15 minutes, scrub with a stiff grout brush, and rinse. It's color-safe and handles most household stains. Step up to oxygen bleach (like OxiClean) for heavy or old staining, and use steam for chemical-free sanitizing. Skip vinegar as a routine cleaner — its acidity slowly etches cement grout — and never use it, or any acid, on natural stone.
Head to head
Which grout-cleaning method should you use?
Match the method to the mess. Every option below actually works — they just differ in effort, muscle, and whether they're safe on colored grout and natural stone.
| Method | Best for | Effort | Colored grout | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baking soda + hydrogen peroxideRecommended | Most everyday household stains | Low | Color-safe | Start here — the best all-rounder |
| Oxygen bleach (OxiClean) | Heavy, old, or large-area staining | Medium | Color-safe | Best for deep, stubborn stains |
| Steam cleaner | Chemical-free sanitizing & upkeep | Medium | All tile, incl. stone | Great for maintenance; weak on set stains |
| Dedicated grout cleaner | Neglected grout & kitchen grease | Low | Check the label | When DIY pastes stall out |
| Diluted chlorine bleach | Mildew on white grout only | Low | Strips colored grout | White grout only — use sparingly |
| Baking soda + vinegar | Light soap scum & mineral film | Low | Never on stone | Avoid as a routine — acid etches grout |
One safety rule for every method: never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia — the combination releases toxic gas. Use one product at a time and rinse well before switching.
Step by step
The three methods worth mastering
Start gentle and escalate only if you need to. These three cover almost every real-world grout job.
Baking soda + hydrogen peroxide
- 1Mix two parts baking soda with one part 3% hydrogen peroxide into a thick paste.
- 2Spread it along the grout lines and let it sit for 10–15 minutes.
- 3Scrub along each line with a stiff grout brush, then rinse and dry.
Color-safe and gentle on the grout itself — the single best at-home method for most stains.
Oxygen bleach slurry
- 1Stir OxiClean or another oxygen bleach into warm water to a loose slurry.
- 2Pour or brush it over stained lines and wait 15–20 minutes.
- 3Work small sections, scrub firmly, then rinse until the water runs clear.
Far stronger than a paste, yet still safe on colored grout and tile — unlike chlorine bleach.
Steam cleaning
- 1Fill the steamer with plain water and fit the narrow grout-brush nozzle.
- 2Run steam slowly along each line — moving too fast reduces the effect.
- 3Wipe loosened dirt away immediately with a microfiber cloth.
Sanitizes every tile type including stone, but pair it with a paste for set-in discoloration.
Why we don't recommend vinegar
Vinegar shows up in nearly every "natural cleaning" list, and it does clean grout at first. But standard cement grout is alkaline and vinegar is acidic — so every use slightly etches the surface and makes it more porous. More porous grout re-stains faster, which means more scrubbing, more acid, and grout that eventually turns chalky and crumbles at the edges. On marble, travertine, or any natural stone, acid causes permanent etching. Reach for the baking soda and peroxide paste instead.
Seal it, and it stays clean
Clean grout with no sealer is dirty again in a few months. Once your grout is spotless and fully dry, brush on a penetrating grout sealer — it soaks in and repels water without changing the color. Reseal every one to three years: drop a little water on the line, and if it soaks in instead of beading, it's time. Squeegee the shower, run the fan, and do a quick weekly wipe, and that fresh-grout look holds for years.
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FAQ
Cleaning grout, answered
The questions Los Angeles homeowners ask us most about getting grout lines bright again — and keeping them that way.
What is the best way to clean grout?
A paste of baking soda and 3% hydrogen peroxide is the best all-around method for household grout. Spread it along the grout lines, let it sit 10–15 minutes, scrub with a stiff grout brush, then rinse. It lifts most stains, kills mildew, and is safe on both white and colored grout. For heavy or old staining, step up to oxygen bleach; for chemical-free sanitizing, use a steam cleaner.
Does vinegar really clean grout?
Vinegar cleans grout in the short term, but it damages it over time. Standard cement grout is alkaline and vinegar is acidic, so every application slightly etches the surface and makes it more porous — which means it re-stains faster and eventually turns chalky. Baking soda plus hydrogen peroxide gives the same cleaning effect without the acid damage. Never use vinegar (or any acid) on natural stone tile like marble or travertine, as it permanently etches the stone.
Can I use bleach on colored grout?
No. Chlorine bleach strips the pigment from colored grout, leaving pale, mismatched patches you can't undo. Bleach is only appropriate on pure white grout, and even then it's harsh with repeated use. For colored grout, reach for oxygen bleach (OxiClean), a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste, or a pH-neutral grout cleaner instead.
What's the best tool for scrubbing grout?
A stiff-bristle grout brush sized to your grout lines is the standard tool. For large floors, a drill-mounted grout brush cuts the work dramatically and applies even pressure. An old toothbrush works for small touch-ups but tires your hand on anything bigger. Avoid metal wire brushes — they scratch tile and gouge grout, making it more porous and quicker to re-stain.
How do I keep grout clean after I've scrubbed it?
Seal it. Once the grout is clean and fully dry, apply a penetrating grout sealer and reseal every one to three years (drop water on it — if it soaks in rather than beading, it's time). Then squeegee or wipe shower grout after use, run the bathroom fan during and after showers, and do a light weekly wipe-down. Those habits prevent buildup far better than an occasional deep scrub.
Can I just hire someone to clean my grout?
Absolutely. Grout scrubbing is one of the most tedious jobs in the house, and it's easy to hand off. La La Land Cleaning matches Los Angeles homeowners with trusted, insured independent cleaners who bring the right tools and products for your tile — with white-glove care for the whole home, not just the grout lines.
A home that sparkles, grout lines and all
From the tile to every last corner, La La Land Cleaning brings white-glove care to LA's most beautiful homes. Upfront pricing, trusted independent cleaners, a sparkle guarantee.