If your tile grout is looking a little worse for wear, then the time has probably come to give it a good clean. But if you’ve ever tried to remove those annoying black stains from tile grouting, then you know that they don’t come out easily.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at how to clean tile grout like a pro. Once you’ve finished reading this, you’ll be able to get rid of all those ugly black marks in your kitchen and bathroom and leave those rooms looking their best once more.

Before You Begin

Before you begin, you’ll need the following:

• A small stiff scrubbing brush, like a toothbrush
• Baking soda and vinegar
• A bowl for the mixture
• Special mold or mildew spray
• Rubber gloves

Removing Mold The Traditional Way

In general, there are two ways of removing mold from your kitchen and bathroom grout. You can either use off-the-shelf products or you can make your own, eco-friendly version from regular household ingredients.

Let’s take a look at a DIY, home-made solution first.

Step #1: Mix Together The Baking Soda And Vinegar

Put on your rubber gloves. When you mix baking soda and vinegar, they make a powerful cleaning compound. Mix them in a bowl, ready to use.

Step #2: Spread The Paste On The Affected Grout

Next, put the paste on the grout and leave it to work its magic for around 30 minutes.

Step #3: Scrub With The Brush

Take your small, stiff brush and start scrubbing. You should see the black stains begin to peel away, leaving you with fresh, white grouting underneath.

Step #4: Rinse

Finally, rinse the area with plain water.

Should You Use Bleach?

One of the first questions people have about how to clean tile grout is whether or not they should use bleach. The answer to that question is that “it depends.” In general, bleach is okay to use on grey grout stains, but not on black. If used on black, the breach will cause the grout to fade.

Bleach is a strong alkaline substance, so it’s important that you rise it off with plain water after you’ve used it. Remember always to wear rubber gloves while using bleach, as it can cause severe skin irritation.

Clean A Small, Inconspicuous Area First

Are you worried about any of the cleaning solutions outlined above? It’s always good practice to apply a cleaning agent to a small area first to see whether it has the desired effect.

Market-leading mold and mildew sprays include antifungals: agents which can kill black mold stains on contact. These sprays are an excellent tool for preventing the buildup of mold in the first place, as well as removing them when it becomes problematic.

In most cases, you shouldn’t encounter any problems. Strong bleach should not damage grout. If the grout is damaged or cracked, you may have to replace it. Cracks provide space for water to build up, provoking the growth of mold.