It is easy to make tiles sparkling. After all, there are a lot of cleaning agents that do the work. However, no matter how clean the tiles are, they will look tired and old if the grout is dirty. So, how can you make the grout look clean and new naturally? Does baking soda clean grout?
Yes, baking soda cleans grout. While you can use many cleaning tools to clean grout, baking soda is the easiest and most effective cleaning tool in your pantry. You can use baking soda alone without using other substances. But if the grout is too dirty, you might need to add a compound to mix it with baking soda.
So, don’t panic if the grout on your floor or walls at home is a mess. Cleaning them is easier than you think. Here are effective ways to clean grout with baking soda.
How Does Baking Soda Clean Grout?
Does baking soda alone clean grout? Well, the answer is yes. Baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate, has many uses for cleaning.
Baking soda helps clean organic compounds like dirt, mold, stains, and grease. Also, the mineral properties of baking soda make it a gentle abrasive that helps clean the tiles or grout without scratches.
Read our article – Uncovering the Truth: Can Baking Soda Clean Carpets? to learn how to clean your carpet with baking soda.
Best Tips Before Cleaning Grout with Baking Soda
Before we dive into the exciting part, here are some tips and tricks you should know. This will help you better clean stubborn stains and dirt on the grout lines.
- Use Electric Toothbrush
An electric toothbrush is an optional tool for cleaning the grout. This tool will prevent using too much elbow grease with an old toothbrush or scrub brush. It will serve as your mini tile grout cleaning machine.
- Avoid Straight Vinegar
If you want to mix baking soda with vinegar, use white vinegar instead of straight vinegar. Straight vinegar is a popular cleaning ingredient but is too acidic for cleaning grout.
- Pour Boiling Water Into the Grout
Before cleaning the grout, you can pour boiling water into the affected area. The heat will help remove the grime.
- Leave the Baking Soda Mixture on the Grout
If the grout is very grimy or dirty, set the paste onto the grout for around 10 minutes.
If you use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste (we cover this below), leave the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes. Let it sit because it takes time for the whitening properties to work.
How to Clean Grout with Baking Soda
Are you expecting a visitor or want to feel a spa or hotel-like home? Well, revitalizing your grout with baking soda can make a significant impact. Follow these steps to clean your grout effectively:
Materials you need:
- 3 cups of Baking Soda
- Old Toothbrush / Old Electric Toothbrush
- 1 bowl of water
Instructions:
1. Make a paste by putting the baking soda in the bowl of water and mixing it.
2. Put a paste on the old toothbrush. You can also use an old electric toothbrush to clean the grout. It does wonders and saves you time from rubbing the grout.
3. Now, use the toothbrush to scrub the dirt or grime. Once the grout is clean and neat, rinse it with water.
Can Baking Soda and Vinegar Clean Grout?
If the first hack doesn’t work, it’s time to make the baking soda paste more powerful. Vinegar alone can eliminate dirt, but it may damage certain tiles when not diluted. But baking soda and vinegar together make perfect and safe cleaning agents.
Materials you need:
- 3 cups of baking soda
- 3 cups of white vinegar
- Old Toothbrush / Scrub brush
- Hot Water
- Bowl
Instructions:
Make a paste by combining equal parts baking soda and white vinegar.
Put the paste on the old toothbrush and clean away the dirt. If you use a scrub brush, put the paste in the ground lines and scrub away the dirt.
Once you scrub the grout, finish the task by rinsing the solution with hot water. Let it dry.
Baking soda and vinegar are a powerful cleaning combination, so powerful they can remove rust. Read our article – The Magical Combination: Baking Soda and Vinegar for Rust Removal, to learn how.
Can Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide Clean Grout?
If you want to achieve whiter or lighter grout lines, use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide removes hard-to-remove stains or discoloration. While you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean grout alone, mixing it with baking soda makes a powerful combo.
Baking soda will eliminate the dirt from the grout, while hydrogen peroxide acts as non-toxic bleach.
Materials you need:
- 3 cups of baking soda
- 2 cups hydrogen peroxide
- Old Toothbrush / Scrub Brush
- 1 teaspoon Dish Soap (Optional)
- Bowl
- Damp Cloth (Optional)
Instructions:
1. Mix the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to create a paste. For a more effective cleaning agent, you can add dish soap.
2. Apply the paste to the dirty grout. Leave the mixture for about 10 minutes to loosen the dirt.
3. Now, scrub the grout with an old toothbrush or scrub brush to clean the grout.
4. Clean the surface with a damp cloth or leave it for around 30 minutes to dry.
Can Baking Soda and Lemon Juice Clean Grout?
If all hacks fail, baking soda with lemon juice is a game-changer. With the power of baking soda and vinegar, lemon juice will act as a degreaser to remove dirt and stains.
Materials you need:
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- 1/3 cup of lemon juice
- 1/4cup of vinegar
- 7 cups of water
- Large Jug
- Spray Bottle
Instructions
1. Mix the baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, and water in a large jug. After doing so, transfer the mixture into the spray bottle.
2. Start cleaning by spraying the grout line using the spray solution. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Spray the grout line and scrub the affected area until clean.
Best Tips for After Cleaning Grout with Baking Soda
Now that you know how baking soda cleans grout, you should also learn how to keep grout clean. Check out these helpful tips:
- Allow the Grout to Dry
After you finish cleaning the grout, allow it to dry. Don’t sweep the floor if it is still wet; otherwise, you will have to clean it again. Also, If you want to seal the grout, it’s essential to clean and let the grout dry for about 45 minutes.
- Mop the Floor
Once the grout is clean, use a gentle cleanser and mop the floor to clean the entire surface. This will clean away all remaining bits of grout cleaner or even dirt. It will help your tiles look good as new.
How to Prevent Grout From Future Dirt
Although cleaning grout with baking soda is easy, it can be tiring if you do this task repeatedly. Follow these tips if you wish to prevent grout from future dirt.
- Seal the Grout
To prevent the grout from getting dirty again, apply a grout sealer. This will protect the grout lines from staining and avoid having to consistently clean it.
- Vacuum
One of the best ways to keep the tiles’ surfaces clean is to change how you clean them. Sweeping the tile floor spreads the dirt. In comparison, a vacuum will remove the dirt so it won’t settle into the grout lines.
Conclusion
We hope we answered your question – Does Baking Soda Clean Grout? Baking soda, indeed, does clean grout. When you use it, you make the cleaning process of cleaning grout quick and easy. It eliminates dirt, mold, mildew, and even stubborn stains.
If you want to improve baking soda’s cleaning power, follow our grout cleaning guide and add vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or lemon juice to it. Remember that after you clean the grout, follow our tips to prevent grout from becoming dirty again.
If you’re interested in learning what else baking soda can clean in your home, check out our post – Does Baking Soda Clean Rust?
