Cleaning Grout Stains

Grout stains are unsightly and can be moldy. The lighter the color of the grout, the more apparent the stain will be. However, there are fairly easy ways to clean your grout and remove the stains that make it look bad.

Preparation

No matter what you use as a cleanser, plan on grabbing an old toothbrush and adding a bit of elbow grease. Scrubbing with a cleanser usually is the most effective way to remove stains.

Wear rubber or latex gloves to protect your hands. Some high-powered cleansers are not gentle on your skin. You'll be grateful your hands are covered when using those.

Also, wearing safety goggles is a good idea. Some compounds can cause damage if splashed into your eyes. A good pair of goggles can keep that from happening.

Last, good ventilation is extremely importance. Keep windows open and fans blowing the fumes out and away.

Getting down to it

Start with the mildest cleansers. Plain vinegar, a weak natural acid, will sometimes remove a stain with a little brush work. Add baking soda to the mix to make the vinegar more viable.

General household products also can remove grout stains. Toilet bowl cleansers remove stains on porcelain fixtures, and they can do the same with grout.

Hardware and department stores carry a line of grout cleansers. Usually packaged in spray bottles, the cleansers work best when sprayed on and allowed to sit for a awhile before scrubbing.

Heavy-duty cleansers like chlorine bleach, bleach powder and hydrogen peroxide also can be used if nothing else has worked. They can be found in the cleaning section of hardware stores, but when using these, a bit of caution must be exercised. Mixing an acidic solution with bleach can create a dangerous chlorine gas.

Keeping it stain free

The best way to keep your grout clean is by applying a grout sealer. Wait until the grout that has been cleaned is completely dry. Then cover the grout and seal it.

A sealer that fills in microscopic holes in the grout and won't allow dirt, mold or mildew in is called a penetrating sealer. Made of latex or silicone, this type of sealer soaks in deeply, keeping dirt and stains out.

After that, a simple washing is all that will be required to keep your grout looking as good as new. Plan to seal your grout again about once per year.