Looking for the easiest way to clean dirty grout? This simple grout cleaning method helps remove stubborn dirt and buildup without spending hours scrubbing your tile floors.
Dirty grout can make an otherwise clean floor look filthy. And the worst part? Scrubbing grout with a toothbrush for hours isn't exactly my idea of a good time.
If you're looking for an easy way to clean dirty grout without spending all day scrubbing, this simple method is worth trying. It uses a toilet bowl cleaner and a small scrub brush to break down the grime and leave your grout looking dramatically cleaner.
Check out how dirty my grout was before I started cleaning.
Why Dirty Grout Is So Hard To Clean
When you are mopping, your grout can collect all the dirt and grime that is on your floor. Grout tends to be more porous and gritty, letting everything drift into the grout.
Toilet bowl cleaner is easy to dispense into the grout lines and can take care of stains and dirt that is in the grout.
To get started cleaning your grout, you will need a few supplies and some time. Most of your time will be spent waiting on the cleaner to work, not actually scrubbing.
Supplies Needed:
- toilet cleaner
- power brush or scrub brush (I love this power brush for cleaning)
- microfiber cloth or rag (I love these microfibers)
- water
- If you are looking for a stiff brush, I love this grout brush from Amazon
I bought the toilet cleaner from the dollar store for a dollar each.
Before You Start
I recommend you start by testing in a very small, inconspicuous spot to start with. I started by testing in the back of my closet.
Once you have tested it and it has dried without any problems, then you can clean your whole floor.
Never mix cleaning products; just use one thing, like the toilet bowl cleaner.
The Easiest Way To Clean Grout
To get your tile clean and grout shining, follow the instructions below.
I like to pour out some of the toilet cleaner in the grout lines in about a 10-square-foot area.
Step 1: Make sure your floor is free from debris. I like to move everything out of the way and vacuum.
Step 2: Pour out some of the toilet cleaner, keeping it within the areas of the grout.
Step 3: Set a timer for about 5 minutes and let the toilet cleaner sit on the grout.
Tip
Make sure none of the toilet cleaner spreads into a carpeted or wood area.
Step 4: Once the five minutes are up, use the scrub brush to go over the area.
Note
You don't need to spend a lot of time doing this, just a minute or two for the whole area. You can see how dirty-looking the toilet cleaner is now that I scrubbed it.
Step 5: Then, reset the timer for two minutes.
Step 6: At the end of two minutes, give the grout one more quick scrub down.
Step 7: Then wipe the toilet cleaner away using a wet rag or microfiber cloth. You can see all the dirt that came off on the cloth below.
Note
If your grout is like mine, it doesn't look that different at first; however, once it dries, it looks much better! Look at how clean my grout looks. The improvement is amazing.
Step 7: Keep working your way around the room, just doing small areas at a time.
Step 8: When you are finished, let it all dry and check for any spots you may have missed or need to go over again.
Note
My area in front of the stove needed to be done twice.
Step 9: Once you're finished, mop the floor once with water to remove any extra residue, then mop once with a floor cleaner. I like this homemade floor cleaner.
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What I Love About This Method
I have used this method over the years, and I love it so much! I know it seems so weird, but there are reasons I keep coming back to it.
- There is little scrubbing involved
- It's inexpensive
- Uses items I already have on hand
- Works great for serious dirt and food stains
- Doesn't require a grout cleaning machine
My floors look much better after using the toilet cleaner on them. Who knew toilet cleaner would do such a great job? It really is the easiest way to clean grout. If you have ever wondered how to clean grout without all the scrubbing, this is the method for you!
Check out the before and after of the easiest way to clean grout. Not only does the grout look better, but my tile looks lighter and not so dark. The whole room looks brighter after cleaning it!
Want some other easy bathroom cleaning tips?
Jane Pierce says
Will this work if your tile has been sealed?
Julie says
If your tile has been sealed it should be fine. If the grout has been sealed I would maybe try it in a small hiden area and see how it works?
Patty says
I use toilet bowl cleaner with bleach on my corian kitchen sink comes out great
Julie says
Thanks for the tip! It's amazing what toilet bowl cleaner will clean!
Camille Tindall says
Do you think I could use this on my kitchen counters?
Julie says
Hi Camille,
I think it would depend on the toilet cleaner that you are using. I wouldn't want to put a lot of those chemicals in the same area where I am preparing food. If you have white or very light grout you can use a homemade bleach pen on your kitchen counter grout. You can see my recipe below.
https://www.frugallyblonde.com/homemade-bleach-pen/
Linda Ratcliff says
Thank you so much!!! We bought a new house and were told to seal the grout fast before we got it dirty. I didn't.of course, so now I will wash it with your toilet cleaner and seal it and no more fooling with it ever again, I hope!!!!!
Julie says
So glad I could help! Congrats on the new house.
Judi Mantos says
Great idea! I’m going to try it. I had scrub brushes, but I got empty plastic mustard and ketchup bottles at the dollar store for $1each because they had a very small opening in the pointed spout. Thought that would make spreading the toilet bowel cleaner along the grout lines easier
Julie says
That's a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Vonda says
I thought I was the only one! I use it on My tub, too!
Julie says
I've never tried it on my tub before. Thanks for the suggestion!
Elena @ Latina Wife and Mom Life says
I have the same exact floor and I am so trying this!
Sunflower says
Is this method something you can use to clean grout in the shower? Note, always use gloves when using chemicals!
Julie says
I wouldn't see why not? Maybe give it a try in a small corner and see how it works.
Charlotte Brinkley says
What kind of toilet cleaner? Scrubbing Bubbles?
Julie says
I use The Works that I get at the dollar store, but you can buy it on Amazon if you don't have a dollar store nearby.
https://amzn.to/2v2PMp2
Selina says
Just wondering what kind of toilet cleaner you used......ie one with or without bleach?
Thanks
Julie says
Hi Selina, I use the one without bleach.
Jo Ann says
The tile in your after photo looks to be a totally different color.
Are you sure this is the same room?
Julie says
Yes, believe it or not, it is the same room. I couldn't believe how much lighter the whole room looks with the grout cleaned. I do have windows in the room where I took the picture so the time of day the picture was taken could affect the lighting, but it really does make the tile look lighter and brighter.
Laura Wells says
After cleaning my grout, I painted the grout with a Laytex paint the original color of the grout. I used a small sponge paint brush and washed off immediately any paint that may have gotten on the tile. I did this months ago and i am very pleased with the results and the paint doesn’t allow spills to absorb into the grout.
Julie says
I love that idea! I was just saying to my husband recently that I might try that out. Thanks for sharing!
Jeanne says
Is this grout cleaning method using toilet bowl cleaner safe for cleaning the grout in vinyl tile?
Julie says
I haven't tried it on a vinyl tile yet. I would suggest trying it in a small spot that you can't see. Like maybe in a closet or under where furniture sits. I hope that helps.