Clean Discolored Grout
Tile looks new again the moment the grout does. Most grout cleaning is just elbow grease, not chemicals.
Ad728×90 leaderboard — replace with AdSense unit code
🛠
Want help as you go?
Open this guide in the interactive Fixly app — ask follow-up questions and get AI-powered tips for your specific situation.
⚠
Don't mix bleach + ammoniaSome bathroom cleaners contain ammonia. Mixing bleach with anything ammonia-based releases toxic chloramine gas. Stick with one product per cleaning.
Tools
- ✓Grout brush or stiff toothbrush
- ✓
- ✓
- ✓Trust us
Materials
- +Start cheap — 2:1 baking soda to water
- +Step up if baking soda doesn't work
- +Sealer applied after cleaning slows future staining
As an Amazon Associate, Fixly earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the guides free.
AdIn-content rectangle — replace with AdSense unit code
🔧
Prefer to leave it to a pro?
We get it. Compare quotes from background-checked local pros in minutes.
Find a pro →
Steps
-
1
Try baking soda first
Mix into a thick paste. Apply along grout lines with a finger or old toothbrush. Let sit 5–10 minutes. Scrub with the brush, rinse, wipe with a clean rag.
-
2
Step up to oxygen bleach
For dark or moldy grout, sprinkle oxygen bleach (powder) directly on grout, spray with warm water to activate. Wait 10–15 minutes, scrub, rinse.
-
3
Last resort: chlorine bleach
Effective but harsh — etches some grout and discolors colored grout. Use only on white grout, ventilate well, wear gloves. 1 part bleach to 3 parts water in a spray bottle.
-
4
Seal once dry
After grout dries fully (24 hrs), apply a penetrating grout sealer. It dramatically slows future staining and is worth the $15.
AdEnd-of-guide unit — replace with AdSense unit code