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How To Clean Grout

Old grout may need cleaning with a wax stripper or heavy-duty cleaner plus a grout brush. Use a bleaching cleanser on tough spots. Once the grout is as clean as you can get it, rinse it well. When it's thoroughly dry, apply a coat of masonry sealer so that it doesn't absorb dirt in the future.

For mildewed grout in tubs or showers, use a grout brush with a 1:5 solution of chlorine bleach and water. Never use bleach in combination with any ammonia-based product and be sure the area is well-ventilated. When you've finished cleaning, rinse the area well to remove all traces of bleach.

Clean colored grout with a heavy-duty cleaner and a grout brush, but don't use bleach because this may remove the color from the grout. Be sure never to use a bleaching solution on colored grout. A masonry sealer can be applied to clean, colored grout to ward off future stains.

Things You'll Need

  • Wax stripper or heavy-duty cleaner
  • Grout brush
  • Bleaching cleanser
  • Water
  • Masonry sealer

How To Do It

  1. Apply a wax stripper or heavy-duty cleaner to a grout brush to clean old grout. Use a bleaching cleanser on tough spots.
  2. Rinse well with water once the grout is as clean as you can get it.
  3. When it's thoroughly dry, apply a coat of masonry sealer so that the grout doesn't absorb dirt in the future.
  4. For mildewed grout in tubs or showers, use a grout brush with a 1:5 solution of chlorine bleach and water. Never use bleach in combination with any ammonia-based product and be sure the area is well-ventilated. When you've finished cleaning, rinse the area well to remove all traces of bleach.
  5. Clean colored grout with a heavy-duty cleaner and a grout brush, but don't use bleach because this may remove the color from the grout. Be sure never to use a bleaching solution on colored grout. A masonry sealer can be applied to clean, colored grout to ward off future stains.

Tip

Cleaning grout is a job for a professional. We suggest contacting our sister company, ServiceMaster Clean® for help. Visit the ServiceMaster Clean website today.

DIY