No matter how much effort you put into keeping your bathroom and kitchen clean, they will still look dingy if they have stained grout. The good news is that cleaning the grout is easier than you think, and all you need is a product you probably already have at home. So, before you go to the store to buy a product full of harsh chemicals, ask yourself, Does Hydrogen Peroxide Clean Grout?
Yes, hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizer known for lightening or whitening things. It’s also an excellent deodorizer, disinfectant, and sanitizer. It can clean grout instantly, and when mixed with baking soda, hydrogen peroxide becomes a more powerful grout cleaner with cleaning power comparable to commercial products.
In this post, we will tackle how hydrogen peroxide cleans grout, its efficiency, and some tips for how to use it around the house.
What is Grout and How to Clean It?
Before knowing how to clean grout, it’s crucial to understand what it is and where it came from. This way, you will learn the best ways to remove dirt, stains, or grime. Grout is a porous material from water, sand, and cement.
You can clean grout by brushing the stained area with an old toothbrush. For a better result, you can apply non-toxic cleaners like hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to it first before using a toothbrush. Baking soda is abrasive, so it removes the dirt on grout surfaces.
Hydrogen peroxide, however, is a natural alternative to bleach which eliminates germs and brightens grout surfaces. It is also non-toxic and decomposes into oxygen and water.
Is It Difficult to Clean Grout with Hydrogen Peroxide?
Generally, grout is difficult to clean, regardless of the cleaner you use. So, even if you use hydrogen peroxide to clean grout, the solution may need a few minutes to work.
Grout is porous, which makes it tricky to keep clean. Since the grout lines are slightly deep, more than wiping the surfaces is needed to clean them.
Cleaning grout with water alone is usually not enough. Cleaning the grout requires a cleaning agent, like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, or toothpaste.
Is Hydrogen Peroxide Safe to Use on Grout?
Hydrogen Peroxide is a non-toxic cleaner, thus safe to use on grout. It is a popular alternative to harsh cleaners for grout. It won’t damage colored grout or regular tiles. However, it would be best not to use it on polished marble.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Clean Grout on the Floor?
Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent grout cleaner because it doesn’t damage floors. Sometimes, you might need to add another powerful cleaning agent, such as baking soda. Follow these simple steps to clean the floor properly.
Ingredients:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Mixing bowl
Instructions:
- Mix one cup of baking soda and half a cup of hydrogen peroxide in a bowl (double or triple this ratio for larger floor areas).
- Pour the mixture on the stained grout of the floor.
- Leave the mixture for a few minutes, scrub it if necessary, then wipe it up with a towel and warm water.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Clean Grout in the Shower?
Hydrogen Peroxide is also efficient in cleaning and disinfecting the shower. It can remove stains on grout and kills harmful viruses and bacteria, and is safer than other commercial cleaners.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to cleaning the shower grout with hydrogen peroxide:
Things you’ll need:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking Soda
- Water
- Bowl
Instructions:
- Combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and baking soda in a bowl.
- Put the mixture on the stained grout of the shower tiles.
- Leave the mixture for about 10 minutes.
- Scrub the stained grout if necessary.
- Rinse the tiles with warm water.
To learn how to clean your bathtub with baking soda, read our article – Does Baking Soda Clean Bathtubs?
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Clean Grout with Mold?
There are a lot of chemical cleaners that can get rid of mold. However, hydrogen peroxide can also kill mold without exposing you to these toxic chemicals.
Here’s how you can get rid of grout with mold:
Things you’ll need:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Water
- Mixing bowl
- Old toothbrush
Instructions:
- Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and baking soda in a mixing bowl to create a paste.
- Apply the paste to the grout with mold. Leave the paste for 15 minutes.
- Scrub the mold away with an old toothbrush, then rinse it with water to finish.
Learn the easy and safe way to kill mold by reading our post – Does hydrogen peroxide kill mold?
Pro Tips for Cleaning Grout with Hydrogen Peroxide
To remove grout with hydrogen peroxide, you must follow the procedure above correctly to achieve the best results. Moreover, the tips and tricks below will help you get your grout back to its original color.
Give it Time
Before scrubbing the stained grout, pour the hydrogen peroxide and leave it for a few minutes. Wait 5 to 10 minutes before removing the dirt with a sponge, old toothbrush, or mop.
Brush Away
Grout, like humans, contains pores or holes that permit grime and dirt to rest on it. Removing them with a firm brush will loosen the dirt. Brush the affected area before you wipe or mop the floor.
Mop
After you clean the floor grout, you can mop the floor. To mop the floor correctly, use warm water and add a few drops of detergent to cleanse your floor.
Other Natural Products You Can Use to Clean Grout
If hydrogen peroxide isn’t available at home, and you wonder whether there are other natural products you could use to clean grout. Well, you are right. Here are other natural products that may aid you in lightening the grout.
White Vinegar
If white vinegar is available at home, you can use it instead of hydrogen peroxide. White vinegar is cheap, safe, and a natural cleanser like hydrogen peroxide. However, do not use white vinegar on unsealed grout, as it may penetrate its pores and weaken the material.
Lemon
Lemon has acidic properties that make it a powerful grout cleaner. It eats away dirt, discoloration, and stubborn stains. You can use the method above by replacing hydrogen peroxide with lemon juice. It’s also a bonus that the aroma of lemon juice will make the surroundings fresh.
Baking soda
As mentioned before, you can use baking soda to clean grout. However, you may need another solution, such as hydrogen peroxide or a little vinegar to do it. The paste from the resulting mixture is enough to clean the grout.
To learn more about cleaning grout with baking soda, read our post – Does Baking Soda Clean Grout?
Conclusion
Hydrogen Peroxide is an excellent cleaner for grout. It is efficient, cheap, and safe to use. Because of its non-toxic oxidizing and bleaching properties, it can remove grout stains and lighten and brighten grout.
To successfully clean the grout in your house, follow the step-by-step guides above, along with the tips we provided. If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, use one of the natural alternatives we listed above to clean your grout.
To learn what else you can clean with hydrogen peroxide, read our article – Can Hydrogen Peroxide Clean Carpet?
