Green DIY Grout Cleaner
It’s easy to make a variety of cleaning solutions to use around the house and most take no time at all the put together. These options are usually cheaper, safer and create less waste than commercial cleaners. What’s not to love? This post marks the beginning of a series dedicated to Green Cleaning Solutions and how well they work.
I’ve written a fair amount about grout- who knew there was so much to cover. I’ve touched on everything from selecting the right grout to the best way to remove grout. Well, I recently came across a do-it-yourself recipe for making your own grout cleaner and decided to give it a try. I don’t think I’ll purchase commercial grout cleaner again!
Make Your Own Grout Cleaning Solution
There are a couple different recipes for making your own grout cleaning solution. Some are more rigorous than others but most household grout stains will come up with a simple, mild cleaning solution and some scrubbing.
What you need:
- Baking soda
- Stiff brush
- Water
- Clean rag
Cleaning the grout
Dampen the grout with water. Don’t overdo it- you can always add more later. Sprinkle some baking soda over the grout and scrub with the stiff brush. If the baking soda clumps together, add some more water. Let it sit for a few minutes. While you wait, put on the kettle and boil some water. Dribble (very sparingly) boiling water over the grout and wipe it clean with the rag.
Voila! You have nice, clean grout.
Cleaning Tips
Here’s a couple things to keep in mind:
- Be careful with boiling water!
- A stiff toothbrush probably won’t do the trick. Purchase a cheap-o grout brush.
- Rather than dribbling the boiling water, you can dip the rag to wipe clean.
- Other recipes call for equal parts vinegar and water, mixed with baking soda to make a paste.
- Always test out the cleaner in an obscure location first.
What do you think? Ever use baking soda for cleaning?
May 14th, 2010 11:34 pm
Use baking soda for cleaning? It’s almost all I use. Baking soda, vinegar, and cheap shampoo clean all sorts of things. Add quality microfiber cloths – even without cleaner – and you are set for almost anything.
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May 20th, 2010 5:12 pm
Funny enough, I bought the Sonic Scrubber (made for tv thingy) and it does a really good job whisking away the scum! I’ve never tried cleaning with baking soda, though. I keep telling myself I will try it…
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May 21st, 2010 8:40 am
@Sara, does the SS come with a cleaning solution too? I’ve never heard about it. Is it pricey?
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May 24th, 2010 9:48 am
No, it doesn’t come with cleaning solution, although they might sell it separately. The unit itself is only around $10 – $15 bucks, I got it at Bed Bath and Beyond with a 20% off coupon (of course!) so that helped. It comes with a standard brush head, but they also sell other brush heads for around $10 a set. I think it’s a cool tool, but it’s really just an electronic ‘toothbrush’ for tile, so it’s just for detail work, not large enough to scrub all the grout lines in an average shower. I use it on the spots that don’t get clean with regular scrubbing with a large brush.
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