How to Clean Shower Tile Grout: 6 Expert Tips You Need to Know

Your shower is one of the dirtiest spots in your bathroom. In fact, a study found an average of 120,000 bacteria per square inch in the drain alone. That doesn’t even include your shower tile that harbors bacteria.

Wondering how to clean shower tile grout to get rid of the germs, mold, and mildew? We are here to help you get that shower clean and give you some expert tips on cleaning shower tile grout.

Keep reading to learn how to make your shower sparkle.

1. Use Water and a Brush

To get started, you want to start with the mildest cleaning method. See if you can use water and a brush first. Go to your local hardware store and look for a brush meant to clean shower grout—you will be thankful to add this to your shower cleaner supplies.

These brushes have stiff bristles and nylon. Then, all you need is water.

Take your brush and dunk it in a bowl of water. Then scrub your group. If water is not cutting it, you may have to use another method below, but this will remove at least the first layer of scum.

2. Spray With Vinegar and Water

If you have more mild stains and dirt, grab some vinegar. Using vinegar is a trusty standby to clean many things around the house, so it’s a good, inexpensive staple to keep in stock.

Fill a spray bottle with half vinegar and half warm water. Then spray this mixture on your grout. Let it stand for five minutes and scrub it with a stiff brush.

You may need something stronger than an old toothbrush because they aren’t typically stiff enough.

After the mixture sets on your grout for a few minutes, you can rinse it with water. Then towel dry the grout. Repeat in small sections so the dirty water doesn’t get back into your grout.

If you want an even deeper clean, you can add a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent to the mixture. It will probably take longer to rinse because you don’t want to get soap grime, but it will cut through grease and grime.

3. Make a Baking Soda Paste

One of the best ways to clean shower tile grout is to use a combo of baking soda and your vinegar solution. First, make a paste of water and baking soda. Then spread this mixture over your grout lines.

While the mixture foams, spray it with the vinegar mixture and scrub it with a stiff brush. Then rinse with clean water.

You can also spray hydrogen peroxide on your shower. Make a paste with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and add to your grout. Then rinse it with a sponge and fresh water—repeat all steps if necessary.

4. Use Bleach

For the toughest stains and grime, you may need to pull out the bleach for a deep clean. You will need to wear rubber gloves when you work with bleach products to protect your skin.

Add two parts of powdered oxygen bleach and mix with one part water. Make a paste that resembles the consistency of toothpaste. Spread onto your grout and let it sit for about 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing off with a sponge and clean water.

You can also try cleansers with chlorine bleach or a mixture of chlorine bleach and water. Be sure you apply this sparingly and carefully. You want to rinse the shower to remove any cleaners you have tried before applying the bleach, especially any vinegar mix because it produces a toxic gas.

Make sure you ventilate the room before you start. You don’t want to use this method too often because it can ruin or damage your grout.

5. Steam Clean

Do you have a steam cleaner? If so, you can use a grout-cleaning nozzle to clean your grout. The nylon scrub brushes are safe for tiles and grout but beware of brass scrub brushes because the steam can damage them.

Before you start, you want to use a sponge and mild detergent to remove loose dirt or anything that can clog your cleaner.

Some steam cleaners are meant only for floor tile, so make sure your model works on shower tiles. Follow the manufacturer’s directions as you start cleaning the grout.

Make sure you stop regularly and sponge or rinse the dirty water so it doesn’t settle into the grout.

6. Keeping It Clean

Now that you know how to clean grout, how can you keep it clean? You can clean them two to three times a week with a cleaning product designed for removing soap scum.

First, squeegee your shower walls, door, and floor to dry them. Then wipe down with a towel to dry any remaining wet spots.

Make sure you always run your exhaust fan for about 20 minutes after using your shower. You can also open a window to remove humidity. You should leave your shower curtain or shower door open to let the air circulate.

After you clean the grout, make sure you let it dry thoroughly and treat it with a grout and tile sealer at least once or twice a year. This will help it last longer and keep your shower cleaner.

How to Clean Shower Tile Grout and More

Now that you know how to clean shower tile grout, do you want more advice on keeping your home clean? Is it hard to keep your house clean? If so, have you considered hiring a cleaning service?

We get it—life is busy. That’s why we are here to help you make your house sparkle. Contact us today to get a free quote and learn more about our cleaning services.