Don’t you just hate some parts of cleaning? What’s your least favourite chore?
Mine is cleaning tubs and showers. And cleaning grout.
Cleaning grout has got to be the worst job ever. Down on you knobby knees, staring at a dirty floor all by yourself. It’s a lonely job keeping a house clean! ;)
But it’s got to be done whether we like it or not. So let’s try to make things a little easier on us hardworking gals (and guys), mkay?!
By now, if you have ever spent any time on Pinterest, I’m sure you all have seen the ever-popular-shower cleaning solution of Dawn & white vinegar? If you haven’t it’s a miracle really…it’s there every time I peruse…BUT I do have to say that it is AHMAZING. Ah. Maze. Ing. Honestly, we have never used a better shower cleaner. Ever. Ever. It works and it’s cheap. Love it.
So on to the tile grout…
Over the holidays while I was getting ready for all of our guests to come over, I had a look at my tile floors and they gave me the chills. Ugly. Dirty grout. Dirty dirty grout. How on earth are you supposed to clean grout? I don’t clean ours regularly. I mean, I wash the floors, but that’s the extent of cleaning the grout gets most days! But this time was different, my grout was gross.
And honestly there is no easy way to clean grout that doesn’t require some good old fashioned scrubbing! But I have discovered that the same solution that we use to clean our showers, also cleans grout. Really, really well!
Here’s how it all looked (and this grout in our mud room had not been properly cleaned for at least 2 years. I kid you not):
What You Need:
- 1 cup Dawn Dish Soap
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 empty spray bottle
Here’s How To:
- Put the vinegar in the microwave for 1 minute.
- Add the Dawn soap to the spray bottle.
- Add the hot vinegar to the spray bottle too.
- Close the lid tightly, and lightly shake it to get it all mixed together.
- Note: Don’t use too much of the solution, or you will be wiping it off of your floors for days! Remember, a little goes a looooong way here!
- Lightly spray the solution onto your grout (you don’t need to cover the tiles, just get it in the grout).
- Let it sit for a few minutes.
- Using a brush of some kind (I use an old toothbrush), give it a scrub. You won’t have to scrub too hard or for very long, because this cleaning solution just lifts up all the dirt – it’s amazing!
- Wipe off the cleaning solution with a wet cloth, then wash your floors well with plain hot water to get rid of any soap residue.
- Like I mentioned before, don’t use too much of this solution!! Or your floors will have a soapy residue left on them!
- I realize that this method likely isn’t practical for large tiled areas! I use it in my bathroom and mud room, so the size of the rooms are manageable.
- You can use this solution in your shower or tub too! Just spray it on, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub off. It’s the best. I always have a bottle made up and ready to go.
Pretty Linking: DIY Dreamer, Delightful Order, Blissful and Domestic, The Frugal Girls, Funky Junk Interiors, Design Dining & Diapers
Hi I'm Jo-Anna! I mom. I blog. I cook. I craft. I like pretty things.
Love clean grout! Sure turned out super :))) Looks great!!
Pinned! Want to try this out!
Jo-
The grout in my main bathroom is from 1938. It’s hideous. If this works…I’m sending you a gift.
<3
N
Jo-Anna, does the solution have to be “heated” each time it is used, or kept warm the whole time using it? Thanks. “Just Me”
Good question! No you just have to heat it up the one time – it’s just to make sure the mixture is combined well! I’m going to update my post! Thank you Cindy!
Jo-
While I wrote my last comment to you, my husband was rotting up said ancient bathroom’s tub. I cleaned it up the hot mess with your recipe, and it saved me an hour of scrubbing.
xoxo
n
Woot woot!
I really need to try this. I haven’t cleaned my grout in several years and cringe when I think about it. Thank you!!
Oh I am going to try this Thank you. B
Yes, you actually DID inspire me to clean my grout! I’ve been meaning to in my laundry for the longest time. It’s definitely overdue. Not that there aren’t many other areas in my home that could benefit. I’m also going to give it a go on the glass in my bathroom shower. Thanks for this helpful tip, I hadn’t seen it before. Just goes to show that if it’s good, it’s worth repeating! I’m pinning it to my cleaning tips board. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Debbie
I’m soooo going to have to try this Jo-Anna! I have a tile counter and tables with tiled tops.
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality!
Your cleaned grout looks amazing! I have tile coutertops in my bathroom and have tried everything, other than replacing the grout, to get it clean. I can’t wait to try this! I’ll be pinning!
I have tried the Dawn and Peroxide mixture and it took out an AWFUL set in stain that I thought would NEVER come out. I’ve been meaning to try this and I will! I read over on One good thing with Jillee about an all purpose vinegar cleaner for counters too. When my store bought cleaner runs out I will try this! Thanks!
Oh I’ll have to remember that Dawn/Peroxide trick! I also use vinegar to clean all my counters and bathrooms…it’s such a great cleaner!
Happy Cleaning!
Jo-Anna
Great mixture. Worked for me!!!
Love that! Yay!
Does it have to be Dawn or would any liquid dish detergent work?
Hi Pat!
I’m not sure if it would work with any other dish soap…I’ve only ever seen Dawn being used, so it’s the only one I’ve tried.
Congrats!!
You have been featured at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality!! Come on over and grab your featured button, you deserve it :)
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I’m pinning this one! Having a craft party at my house in a couple of weeks and I really need to clean my tile. Thanks for forcing me to do it! LOL!
Thanks for the great tip!
Hi all,
Since our son has asthma and I have eczema, I use “green” products . Jo-Anna (or anyone else) – do you know if this would work with any dish soap or just Dawn?
Before I make up a bottle, I thought I’d ask.
Thanks!
I’ve only ever done this with Dawn, but I see in the next comment a reader used Palmolive Oxy and it worked for her!
Good luck!
I tried this with Palmolive Oxy [since it was all I had on hand...] and it worked! I was skeptical at first since I didn’t see much results, and only did a few grout lines [it took a bit of scrubbing with a tooth brush!] but once it was all washed off and dried…I walked into my kitchen and you could actually pick out which ones were cleaned! Now I really have to do the rest of it all to match the areas I tried since they stand out so much.
Love it!
I had this grout cleaning problem too, so I got to try it and guess what.. it really works! Thanks Jo-anna!
Excellent! I’m happy to hear it!
A friend recommended me to this resource. Thanks for the details.
You have shared such an informative post which would be very useful about cleaning and sealing grout . It is very helpful for every one who want to clean tiles and grout. Thanks for sharing such information and keep posting.
Stopping in from the Dog Days of Winter Clean It link up. I have been looking for a grout cleaner for our bathroom and this might be it. Thanks for linking this up.
-Cate from Random Crafty Georgia Girl
My wife wanted our kitchen counters and floor to be re-grouted, so I was going to do just that. I learnt about NuGrout from a buddy of mine who agreed to help me with the re-grouting. Boy am I glad I asked him to help me out. The NuGrout cleaner and Pre-treat products worked wonders! It appears as if we have a brand new kitchen. We even used the products to clean our bathrooms. Don’t hesitate to check them out at http://www.nugrout.com/
Cleaning the grout, tubs and showers are my least favorite too when it comes to doing household chores. The dirt is just so hard to remove at times that it may take you a couple of hours just to get rid of it. All this tips will definitely be noted! I’m going to try your solution the next time i clean the bathroom.