The SonicScrubber Guide To Grout Cleaning
Cleaning grout isn't something anyone really wants to do. But it's one of those jobs you need to tackle to keep your kitchen and bathroom tiles looking fresh.
It's also a simpler task than many websites will tell you. They often make money through affiliate marketing links, so they'll recommend more products than you really need for the job.
In our view bicarbonate of soda, otherwise known as baking soda, water, a lint-free cloth and a good brush are often all you need. When it comes to selecting a grout brush, both SonicScrubber and SkinnyScrubber are excellent choices. But let's get into the details:
Tackling Grout Stains
New grout looks great. But over time it can get knocked, loosened by steam , cracked by temperature variations, or just absorb grease, dirt, liquid splashes, stains and moisture from the day to day use of your kitchen and bathroom.
All this can lead to your grout discolouring, getting penetrated by mould, or looking a bit shabby.
Grout damage not only affects the appearance of your tiles, it can also make surfaces less hygienic and harder to clean.
One of the first things to establish is whether your grout is physically damaged or just needs improving aesthetically. Physical damage can include cracks, chips or the grout going powdery and falling out of the gaps between tiles. In these instances regrouting is probably your best option.
But in most cases the damage is aesthetic, and can be easily tackled with cleaning. The approach you take to cleaning grout may vary according to the level of staining, the age of your tiles and whether you are simply dealing with stains and dirt, or mould.
We'll get into that below. Because cleaning grout properly helps maintain its appearance and extends its lifespan, whether it’s in kitchens, bathrooms, or busy areas like entrance halls and utility rooms.
Whether you're cleaning the grout between your wall tiles or wondering how to clean floor tile grout, using the right tools, cleaning products and techniques will help you achieve the best results.
The Best Grout Cleaning Products
In our view the best grout cleaning products are the ones that do the job, without damaging your tiles or making the grout fall out. This is particularly important if you are dealing with tiles that have a very shiny finish, porous 'natural' tiles or old grout that has been in place for many years.
Too many times we've seen people using harsh cleaning solutions or abrasive brushes, that scratch their tiles or which cause older grout to fall out from the joints.
Cleaning Grout With Bicarbonate of Soda
Using bicarbonate of soda, or baking soda as it's sometimes called, is a proven and environmentally friendly way to remove stains from grout. You can also use powdered soda or very fine soda crystals. All of these options are alkaline and less likely to damage surfaces than acid based cleaners. Baking powder contains a mix of bicarbonate of soda and an acid. You can follow the same method using Baking Powder, some even believe it creates better lifting action, but generally we prefer good old 'bicarb of soda'.
Mix your bicarbonate of soda, or soda powder, with water to create a thick paste. Test it by applying it to a small area, ideally one that's not too obvious, perhaps in a corner, leave it for 15 minutes or so and check there is no discolouration to your surfaces.
All being well, apply your paste to the grout and let it sit for about an hour.
It's ok for the solution to overlap the edges of tile faces, but try to avoid covering whole tiles with the solution and wipe away any excess.
You can use any bicarbonate of soda, but if you can't be bothered making the paste yourself, you could use a bicarbonate of soda based cleaning product, several manufacturers do them, such as Astonish.
After an hour give the grout a scrub. Focus on the areas with the worst staining. You can use an old toothbrush, but it needs to be clean and ideally not previously used with any bleach based solutions. The problem with old toothbrushes is that the bristles tend to splay and if you use them on a wide area they become less effective as you go. It also gives you aches in your arms and wrists.
Naturally, we'd recommend SonicScrubber. The bristles on the medium and cone brush heads are more durable than toothbrush bristles and because SonicScrubber tools are powered, oscillating the heads 10,000 a minute, they lift dirt faster than manual scrubbing too, so your wrists and arms ache less.
Another alternative is a manual crevice brush, such as SkinnyScrubber. These long, thin bushes are perfect for grout, very affordable and have better bristles for the job than a toothbrush. SkinnyScrubber is ideally suited to floor tiles, it's longer, thin brush head is great for larger areas, whereas SonicScrubber is perfect for detailed cleaning around wall tiles.
We don't recommend using brushes with wire bristles, they can pull out the grout rather than cleaning it and scratch tiles.
After a scrub, the residue of your paste can be rinsed away clean water and wiped down with a clean cloth. A good option is microfibre cloth as paper towels can disintegrate and leave bits on your grout.
If you still have any stubborn stains left, a good option to try is a magic eraser sponge. There are lots of different products on the market, but they all tend to become less effective when used over a large area, so we recommend following all the steps above, then spot cleaning any remaining tougher stains with a magic eraser.
Should I Use Vinegar To Clean Grout?
Some people recommend spritzing your grout paste with white (clear) vinegar, or lemon juice, after it has sat a while. Bicarbonate of soda is an alkaline and vinegar and lemon juice are acids. When they're sprayed on your bicarbonate or baking soda they 'fizz' as the chemicals neutralise each other. This fizz feels satisfying, looks great when people do it on social media and yes, it can have a lifting action. If you want to try it, test it on a small area first. But we'd suggest only trying this on fairly new grout and ideally avoiding the use of acids.
Vinegar and lemon juice (citric acid) are corrosive, and they can eat into the surface of tiles and grout. This can discolour some tiles and make grout more porous over time.
If stains have already penetrated so deeply into the grout that our recommended cleaning products can't remove them, you might be better off regrouting- applying new grout between the tiles- or trying a grout pen.
Grout Cleaner
Many manufacturers offer pre-formulated bathroom grout cleaner or cleaning pastes that are recommended for cleaning both kitchen and bathroom tile grout. In most cases they aren't necessary and it's worth checking the ingredients, since bleach based grout cleaners and some of the harsher, abrasive pastes can damage or stain tile surfaces. If you have natural tiles or tiles with a highly polished surface, some of these products are best avoided. Porcelain tiles are tougher and you may get away with it. But always check the label, and see if they are suitable for the surface of your tiles.
Can I Use A Steam Cleaner For Grout?
A steam cleaner is a good option for cleaning the grout between tiles with some caveats. If your tiles or grout are porous, such as some natural stones, steam cleaners can cause water staining if you aren't careful. They can also loosen older grout or cause it to come out from between the joints through heating and expansion. But for most tiles, so long as your grout is in decent condition, steam cleaners are a good option.
The hot steam penetrates into the gaps and is a reliable way to remove most of the dirt and stains, reducing the amount of scrubbing you need to do. You can then go over any remaining marks with your SonicScrubber or crevice brush and spot clean stains with a magic eraser. Steam cleaners are more environmentally friendly than harsh cleaning chemicals and the hot steam also kills bacteria and fungi.
What NOT To Use For Cleaning Grout
We strongly suggest that you don't clean grout using alcohol, nail varnish remover or strong solvent cleaners. They can damage tiles, dull shiny surfaces, remove protective coatings and aren't effective for long enough on grout before they evaporate.
Bleach and bleach powders can whiten grout, but the residual smell can be unpleasant and frequent use can weaken the material and cause it to go flaky and crumble over time.
Hydrogen peroxide based cleaners can be a better alternative for whitening grout but you do need to be careful with them. Make sure the concentration is below 3%, ventilate adequately and follow the instructions carefully. Always keep bleach and hydrogen peroxide away from children and NEVER mix them, as this can cause a chemical reaction.
Like bleach, acidic cleaners like white vinegar and citric acid are corrosive and they wear away at grout, making it more porous over time and prone to crumbling. They're good at cutting through greasy marks and can be useful when tackling mould. However, they can also damage some tile surfaces, so if you do use them, test on an inconspicuous area first and try not to use them too frequently, for this particular job.
Don't be tempted to use sandpaper on grout, you will just be removing its top layer, making it thinner and weaker. You will also create grout dust that you'll likely breathe in or get in your eyes. Worse still, one slip of the sandpaper and you will have irreparably scratched your tiles.
Don't use brushes with wire bristles or abrasive scouring pads either. They'll scratch tiles and wear down grout. Wire brushes can gouge uneven lines into the surface of grout, or even pull it out from the gaps between your tiles, making regrouting unavoidable.
Grout Brushes
Our favourite brushes for cleaning grout are manual crevice brushes like SkinnyScrubber or powered grout cleaning tools like SonicScrubber. Both have bristles that are the perfect stiffness for grout cleaning. Most toothbrush bristles are too soft for grout and quickly splay, whilst wire brushes are too abrasive and can rough up your grout and scratch your tiles.
You can also buy specialist joint or grout brushes specifically designed for cleaning between wall or floor tiles. These can be effective too, but some designs are expensive and may have few other uses around the home, beyond grout cleaning.
Alongside brushes we recommend getting some decent, lint free, microfibre cloths, for wiping everything down.
Magic eraser sponges, sometimes sold as grout sponges, are fabulous for spot cleaning stains, but can clog or wear out quickly if you try to use them on larger areas. So use brushes for cleaning larger tiled areas, then your magic eraser for the finishing touches.
Dealing With Mould In Your Grout
If you have surface mould on your grout try natural cleaners first, like a bicarbonate of soda and water paste followed by a vinegar spray. Mix your paste, spread it over your grout, let it sit for at least 30 minutes, then spread with vinegar, let the lifting action fizz, and then scrub.
You can try white vinegar by itself too, but be careful as it can erode older grout and damage natural tile surfaces. Test on a small areas first. If everything is ok, spray on your vinegar, leave it for an hour and then scrub.
If your mould is more stubborn, try a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste, mixing 3% hydrogen peroxide solution with baking soda, let it sit on the grout for 35 minutes and then thoroughly rinse.
For bad mould, for example in shower areas, spray a 3% hydrogen peroxide based solution, let it sit for 30 minutes, scrub, rinse then if necessary use a baking soda/bicarbonate of soda solution as a follow up to remove any residual staining.
Instead of natural, or hydrogen peroxide based approaches you can try bleach based cleaners for extra tough mould in your grout, but make sure you ventilate well and wear gloves. HG mould spray is our preferred pre-made, beach based cleaner for mouldy grout.
Or you can mix one part household bleach with 4 parts water in a spray bottle, let it sit for 20-30 minutes on your grout then rinse thoroughly.
Never use bleach on coloured grout and test an inconspicuous area first. We consider bleach a last resort, it can discolour tiles and the run-off can discolour work surfaces. We also recommend being very careful with bleach based scouring creams and powders since these are abrasive and they can take the shine off the surface of some tiles, or leave you with 'dull patches'.
Bleach should never be mixed with ammonia, hydrogen peroxide or vinegar based cleaners. Read the labels if you are unsure what's in the bottle.
Are Grout Pens Any Good?
Yes, grout pens can offer an affordable cosmetic fix to revive grout that has discoloured with time, or to change the colour of your grout. They're a bit like paint pens for grout, covering discolouration rather than cleaning it. Look out for grout pens that include an anti-fungal ingredient as the finished result from these typically looks better for longer.
In our experience grout pens tend to work best in smaller areas, when the gap between tiles is neither too close nor too wide, in areas that are not regularly exposed to flowing water for a long duration and when the surface of the old grout isn't cracked or flaking.
It's a good idea to measure the width of your grout lines and to have a look at a few different pens in the DIY or hardware store as the nib sizes can vary. When buying online check you are buying a pen with a suitably sized tip for your tiles.
If you are planning on tackling a larger area, buy a few identical pens at the same time as the tips tend to wear down, get rough or splay after using them for a while. This damage to the tips will result in your lines becoming less accurate. The flow of 'paint' to the tip will also be affected, as the pen starts to run out, so it's often a good idea to change pens before you get to that stage.
It's worth thinking about using masking tape, where practical, to minimise any overruns onto tile surfaces. However, you can normally wipe away any excess with a damp cloth, when the paint has started to dry but before it has fully cured, but be extra careful with natural tiles, crackle glazed tiles or those that don't have a sealed surface.
Keep an identical grout pen spare for any future touch-ups, once you have finished. Grout paint can chip and flake over time, so having a pen you know will match the original finish is a smart idea.
In summary, grout pens offer a budget friendly way to refresh grout, but they're a cosmetic treatment.
They work best on splash backs and walls where they aren't constantly exposed to water. The finish tends not to be as long lasting in showers or on floor tiles in busy parts of the house. Grout pens are most effective on relatively smooth grout that isn't cracked or flaking, when the gaps between tiles are even and consistent across the wall.
Grout pens won't treat underlying issues and it is best to treat any cracks, greasy stains or mould before applying them, to avoid these nasties coming through the paint over time.
Grout Lightening Pens
Standard grout pens apply a coloured 'paint' that covers old discoloured grout. But you can also get pens containing a fluid to lighten or brighten old grout, instead of covering it.
We've never found these products to be very effective. They typically contain an acid or a bleaching solution which, on a per-litre basis, is far more expensive than just buying a bleach or acid based grout cleaning product from the supermarket and a brush. Compared to using bicarbonate of soda paste they are even more expensive still.
Some of these tools also feature an abrasive attachment on the end, or a separate scraper, which just gouges out your grout, rather than actually cleaning it.
Our advice is, if you are thinking of trying out one of these products, find some independent reviews to check before buying them.
Cleaning Silicone Sealant
People sometimes confuse grout with the silicon sealant around the edges of baths, shower trays and sinks. But they are quite different materials. Silicon sealant is sometimes colloquially known as mastic or referred to as silicone caulking. It's the slightly rubbery sealant, applied in beads to give a waterproof seal between walls or floors and sinks, toilets, baths, worktops and showers. Whilst grout is hard, silicon is flexible, so it is more suited to joins where a sealing product needs a bit of 'give' in it, so it won't crack as easily with movement.
Prevention is better than cure and it's a good idea to regularly clean sealant with a gentle kitchen and bathroom surface cleaning product. The soft brush head on a Sonicscrubber, dipped in a water and washing-up liquid solution is a good way to lift the surface dirt and hairs, that sometimes get stuck in the slightly sticky surface of silicone sealant. Quickly address any surface mould that appears on your sealant with a specialist anti-mould product or a vinegar and baking soda paste.
Whilst silicone is good at repelling the grease and liquid mould thrives on, its soft composition means that once dirt or mould has penetrated it, you may find no cleaning solution is effective at removing it. You could try a good quality mould cleaner, such as HG Mould Spray, but often the best thing to do is to remove and replace it.
Never use a steam cleaner on silicone sealant, the heat and steam jets can make the sealant degrade, shrink or become misshapen and is likely to loosen it from the surfaces you need it to stick to.
Protective Precautions
We always recommend wearing protective rubber gloves when using cleaning products and if you are using bleach sprays it's not a bad idea to wear glasses or goggles to protect your eyes. If you are cleaning mould, consider wearing a suitable face mask to avoid inhaling spores.
Cleaning Grout with SonicScrubber
Cleaning tile grout is one of the most common cleaning jobs that people use a SonicScrubber for.
We recommend the Household System, Washing-Up System or Rechargeable System for grout cleaning. All three of these packs come with the 'medium' brush head and 'cone' brush head, within the selection inside the pack. These are the best SonicScrubber brush heads for cleaning between tiles.
Grout has a flat surface, so our recommendation is to start with the medium brush head, then swap it for the cone brush head to get into dirt that's built up in corners or along edges.
The large brush head is a good option for tile faces or the soft brush for any polished surfaces which need a lighter touch.
Whichever brush head you are using, resist the temptation to push down too hard on it when cleaning grout with SonicScrubber. Pushing down hard on the bristles can inhibit the effectiveness of the motorised lifting action. Instead, hold the brush head to the surface of the grout and let the tool do the hard work for you, moving it slowly back and forth, up and down, following the lines of the area you are cleaning.
Please make sure you buy an authentic, SonicScrubber branded product. Many of the inferior copies on the market have weaker motors, less effective brush oscillation patterns and don't come with the same level of certified water resistance or the long warranty that official SonicScrubber products ship with.
Cheap, copycat 'sonic scrubbers' often have less hardwearing brush bristles and you can't buy replacement brush heads or accessories.
You can buy authentic SonicScrubber products here on our website, around the world on Amazon and eBay and in the UK on TikTok Shop and B&Q Online.
SonicScrubber products are also available in Japan.
