The best natural ingredients for cleaning tile grout

Tile grout should be cleaned frequently, primarily for hygiene reasons: dirt, grease, soap scum, and moisture easily accumulate there, which can promote the growth of mold and bacteria, especially in the bathroom and kitchen. These bacteria, in turn, produce unpleasant odors and make the entire room feel dingy. Furthermore, the accumulation of dirt and mold can gradually deteriorate the grout material, making it more fragile and prone to cracking.

To clean tile grout naturally, you can use common ingredients that help dissolve dirt, grease, and mildew without expensive and harmful detergents. The two key ingredients you can use are baking soda and white vinegar. 

Let's see the respective recipes. 

Sodium bicarbonate

Baking soda is a gentle, slightly abrasive cleaner, especially useful for removing surface dirt, soap scum, and light stains from tiles and grout.

1. Mix 3 parts baking soda  with  1 part water until you get a paste.
2. Apply the paste to the joints.
3. Scrub with an old toothbrush or a soft-bristled brush.
4. Leave it on for 10–15 minutes and rinse.
5. Baking soda is particularly suitable for ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware, and glazed tiles. 

White vinegar

White vinegar is useful for dissolving soap scum, dirt, and some of the limescale that builds up in the grout, especially in the bathroom and kitchen.

1. Spray white vinegar on the grout.

2. Leave to act for 5–10 minutes.

3. Scrub and rinse.

Baking soda and white vinegar should absolutely be avoided on marble, travertine, and limestone surfaces. 

Baking soda + vinegar

For particularly dirty grout, you need to combine both ingredients, baking soda and white vinegar:

1. Apply the baking soda paste first.
2. Sprinkle a little vinegar on top.
3. When the fizzing reaction subsides, scrub.
4. Rinse thoroughly.

In this recipe, you can add tea tree essential oil, a powerful antibacterial and antifungal that prevents the growth of new mold and provides a fresh scent. The mixture should act for 15 minutes, and you can use either sponges or even an old toothbrush. 

Hydrogen peroxide

It should be used for joints that are gray or stained with light mold. 

1. Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide directly onto the grout.
2. Leave to act for 10–15 minutes.
3. Brush and rinse.

To prevent dirt from staining the tiles, dry the surfaces thoroughly after showering, ventilate the bathroom and kitchen well, and periodically wipe them with a solution of warm water and neutral soap. 

Read also:

• Recycling Tiles: 10 Ideas You Can't Miss 
• How to decorate your home with ceramic tiles
• How to Make a Tile Patchwork