The best way to clean the grout in the bathroom

Those grout lines indeed. If we were to make a top-five list of cleaning chores that people like to postpone, they would definitely be on it.  

The truth is that it often takes a long time to clean the grout, and shortcuts don’t always work. But it can be done with a little patience, and now we'll tell you how to clean the grout in your bathroom!

Bicarbonate fixes the grout

One of the best ways to clean grout is to make a paste of bicarbonate and water. Exact measurements are tricky, but think of it as being runny enough to spread, yet still thick enough so it doesn’t run.

Apply the paste onto your tile grout and let it sit for a good while. The dirtier your grout is, the longer it needs to work. If the grout isn’t very dirty, rinsing the paste off with warm water may be enough. But if it’s dirty and mouldy, a toothbrush is your best tool. Opt for a toothbrush with firm bristles so the brush itself does the work, and you don’t have to press too hard.

1. Make a paste of bicarbonate and water.

2. Smear it onto the grout and let it work for as long as you have time.

3. Scrub with a toothbrush.

4. Rinse with warm water.

Another effective alternative is to use limescale and grout remover. One product we use for tougher cleaning is Alfa Clean Fresh Grovrent.

What do you do if the grout is discoloured?

Sometimes you can clean the grout in the bathroom until it’s completely clean, yet still end up with unsightly mould stains. In fact, tile grout can become discoloured so that it can’t be restored to its former glory. In that case, the easiest way to get it looking good again is to use grout colour. There are, for example, pens you can paint on the grout to brighten it up. But it’s important that it’s completely clean first, so your hard work cleaning the grout wasn’t in vain!

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How to prevent mouldy grout in the bathroom

The grout moulds either due to poor ventilation in the bathroom or because water on it doesn’t get properly dried between showers. Make sure you have good ventilation and turn on the extractor fan, open a window or similar to keep the airflow going.

Grout often moulds where, for example, shelves hang against the tiles or where suction cups and similar are attached. If you want to prevent mouldy grout, make sure the entire tile surface gets a chance to dry properly. If you have a shower cabin, open the doors after every shower. Then you won’t need to clean the grout in the bathroom as often.

Feel free to scrape off water with a window squeegee after you’ve showered. By the way, it’s great to do this on shower doors too, as it reduces water stains that make them look dirty. Read more about how to clean shower walls here.

Are you tired of your dirty bathroom tile grout but don’t have time to do anything about it? If you live in the Stockholm area, feel free to contact us at Städade Hem and book a deep clean. Talk soon!