Dirty Grout

Updated on June 20, 2009
N.P. asks from Macomb, MI
18 answers

I recently moved into my first home. My tub and bathroom floor is white ceremic tile with grout in between the tiles. How the heck do I keep the grout white? I used bleach spray and it made it yellowish to me. Please help. Oh, while we're on the subject what do you guys think works best on shower doors.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all the suggestions. I purchased some Awesome from the dollar store and it was just that. I also used the Magic Eraser and it was magic :~) I have not purchased the sealant yet.

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J.F.

answers from Lansing on

Hey,

I found that those heavy duty magic erasers work wonders! Let me know how it works out for you.

~J.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Mr. Clean Eraser! I swear by it, It was the only thing I could find that worked on mine. It takes a little elbow grease, but it is amazing!

1 mom found this helpful

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K.V.

answers from Detroit on

Just a note about sealing your grout. I went through a lot of work cleaning and sealing my sanded grout and then discovered that I was mopping with a substance (amonia) that damages the grout sealant. Please save yourself some work and look at the sealant label to know what you can use to clean the grout after you have sealed it.

22 moms found this helpful
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L.G.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Hello N.. Very strange you asked this question right now because we went thru the same thing when we got our house 5 yrs ago but recently replaced all the tile and grout and I sealed the grout last week. Before we replaced our tile we tried almost every grout cleaner at lowes type stores but nothing got it really clean. I finally found something at our dollar store (of all places) its called Awesome. Its in a clear spray bottle with yellow colored cleaner inside. I could not believe that it worked better then the expensive stuff. Our grout was a light pink colored that was stained a dark brown and it got it pink again. As for the sealing.. Lowes has a sealer small bottle with a brush on the top. You just turn it upside down and brush it on the grout then wipe off the tile corners and its done. The bottle was only $3 and I did my kitchen counters in about 5 minutes and there is still 3/4 of the bottle left.
I use "the works" because its the only thing that works with my rusty well water. They also make a CLR type cleaner for the bad areas. But the squeege works good after the shower too as someone already mentioned. I do that too.
Well good luck with the grout. I know it can be a pain but it sure looks beautiful when its clean.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.W.

answers from Detroit on

Once you get your grout clean and it is dried, you can buy grout sealer at Lowe's or Home depot and seal it. It will be allot easier to clean. I didn't know about the first suggestion so I will try that.

For our showers we use " Bar Keepers Friend" You can find it by the comet it is in the same type of container and Meijers carries it. It gold with blue on it.

It is a cleaner and polish for Stainless steel, Fiberglass, Porcelain and even glass cooktops. It can be use on almost anything and it works awesome. You will see it takes the grime right off. Then we use GEL-Gloss it comes in a pink and white spray can. It is a one step cleaner and polish. See once you get the heavy build up off then you can use this regularly. After every shower we use a squeegy to avoid spots. The polish really helps with water spots and not needing to clean as often. It is safe on Fiberglass, Marble and Acrylic.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.W.

answers from Detroit on

If you don't like to use chemicals in your home try a mixture of baking soda and peroxide to make a paste and leave on the stained tile overnight.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.N.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I would agree with the heavy duty magic erasers. They really do work magic!
Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.

answers from Detroit on

Hi N.!

I also have white tile and grout in my bathroom. I use ZEP Professional Grout Cleaner and Whitener. You buy it at Home Depot. But when you start you'll have to finish, because this stuff really works and you'll see it instantly!! You'll have to vent the bathroom, wear gloves and I like to wear an eye googles, just because of the fumes. This stuff is awesome.

I use for my shower doors the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, but not the normal one, the one that is Heavy Duty, it really get's off the build up and then I use Tilex every evening after out last shower of the night.

Hope I've helped!
J. in Macomb Twp.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.H.

answers from Detroit on

The way I keep my grout clean is to use a Clorox Bleach Pen first, wipe it down with a scrub pad then follow up with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sponge. And any product meant for soap scum removal works on shower doors. Windex multi-surface is a great way to make the whole bathroom sparkle with a wipe down in between major cleanings. (I wipe down the bathroom every day and scrub it once a week, with three men in the house, it gets messy fast.)

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Detroit on

Hello N.!

You need to try ECOSENSE products by Melaleuca they are awesome. Not only do they work well but they are safe to use in your home. They contain no harsh chemicals. I buy all my household products from this company. The only thing I buy at the grocery store now is food and paper products. What's even better about these products are that they have a money back guarantee.

1 mom found this helpful
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4.

answers from Toledo on

N.,

I had the same problem. Here's what I did... I cleaned with Mr. Clean Magic Erasers and then used grout sealer. (Be sure your grout is dry first, thought!) You can usually find Magic Erasers in any store, but I recommend getting some really good grout sealer at Home Depot or Lowe's. It won't prevent having to clean again, but it gives you more time between cleanings. I recommend sealing the grout once every 12-24 months, depending on use and need. (Floors will likely need less treatment than grout inside the shower stall.)

Magic Erasers are great on shower doors, too. When we moved into our "new" home, we found that the previous owners (who had owned the house for 5 years) hadn't taken very much care with the shower doors. The Magic Erasers removed what seemed to be 5 years' worth of soap scum! It took some elbow grease and several Eraser pads, but they worked when NOTHING else did. (And I even tried some of the industrial-strength cleaners that they use in hotels!)

Best of luck to you.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.H.

answers from Toledo on

You have been given some really good ideas. Please consider going to your local "dollar store." I work at Family Dollar. Many of our brand products do the same thing as the expensive products. Much better price. We also have many name brands at a lower price. Those Magic Clean erasers are great!

1 mom found this helpful
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T.R.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Hi N.,
Everything in my house is white, stupid huh with 2 kids? Anyway The Works is super strong smelling so don't do it with your boys around but it works wonderfully and Mr. Clean erasers work in between deep cleanings Mr. Clean works really well in the grout cracks. Hope this helps!!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hello N., You use the same thing I use. That Awesome is really "AWESOME". And those Magic Eraser's wow they are just as AWESOME also.....I lknow you posted a while back. But I thought I would just say GREAT work....A.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I have tried the magic erasers and they get alomst anything. The other thing I have tried is the bleach gel pens. Those work pretty well too.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.R.

answers from Detroit on

As for the shower doors, I have another suggestion.I worked for a maid service for a short time years ago.We used baby oil to clean the shower doors.It took the soap scum off and protected it from getting more on.Makes it super easy to wipe everything off at each cleaning.

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L.P.

answers from Detroit on

white is not easy to clean keep it sealed real well after you get it clean. A tile person told me that. As far the shower doors I just read in an article the best is vinegar and water - that cuts the water deposits. Then use lysol cleaner. I may still have the article but at my cottage; can let you know if you would like just email me at ____@____.com

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D.H.

answers from Detroit on

I know it's been awhile since you posted, but I'm new here. I also read what you used to clean the grout with. I don't know if you've heard or not, but make sure you keep the magic erase sponge away from the kids - they can get horrible chemical burns from them. Also, what works best on the shower doors - drier softener sheets! I have gotten the email about multiple use for drier sheets a few times, but always forget what they say, but I heard it mentioned on the radio not too long ago, and they work fabulously! I have used the used sheets - just wet them down a little, then rub you doors down. It's amazing!

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