Nothing makes your shower look as gross and as unappealing as mold. If you’re having trouble cleaning your shower grout, you’re not alone. Mold and grime can be extremely stubborn and difficult to remove.
You probably tried everything to clean those brown stains. Did you try cleaning your tile with chemicals from the supermarket, but they never got the job done? It happens. And while bleach is still commonly used as a household cleaner, you don’t need to resort to such a corrosive fumigant for what should be a relatively simple chore.
So how do you really clean shower grout? What’s powerful enough to work? The solution is simpler than you think. Here’s what you need to do to whiten the lines between your tiles.
First things first. Grab these items:
- White vinegar is the most versatile cleaner you could ever imagine. The best part is that vinegar will clean up mold between tiles without causing discoloration. White vinegar is available in a number of different concentrations — 5 percent vinegar being the most common. But anywhere from 5 to 12 percent is fine for tub and tile cleaning.
- Baking soda pairs well with vinegar to create a fizzy, effective surface cleaner for bathroom and kitchen surfaces.
- A hard-bristled toothbrush will knock out whatever is lodged in the pores of the grout once you’ve applied the all-natural cleaner.
That’s all you need: vinegar, baking soda, and a hard-bristled toothbrush. Oh, and a good amount of elbow grease. It might take a little time to scrub all of your tile lines, but the final results will blow you away.
Next, follow these simple steps for tile and grout cleaning:
- Mix two tablespoons of baking soda and enough water to create a paste. Apply the paste to the grout using a sponge. Then, use the hard-bristled toothbrush to scrub the surface.
- Spray a half-and-half mixture of vinegar and water on the grout lines. Let the chemicals bubble for 15-20 minutes.
- Scrub the baking soda and vinegar on the grout lines again, then rinse the surface with water.
Grout is very porous, which makes it susceptible to mold bacteria and mildew growth. You could try adding lemon juice to the mix. Lemon juice is acidic and creates an unwelcoming environment for mold causing bacteria.
Once you’re done with cleaning, you’ll wonder why you ever tolerated the grime in the first place. For more #springshowers, keep an eye on Green Gobbler’s blog. We’ll be sharing a few shower and tub maintenance tips all April long.