Is your ceramic tile grout looking dingy, dirty, and just plain gross?
The good news is that you can clean your grout with some basic cleaners and elbow grease to restore the grout to its original color.
photo courtesy of MattHurst flickr.com/photos/skewgee/5216253285/Vacuum Then Clean with Plain Water
Before attempting to deep clean your tile grout, start by vacuuming the tile grout then clean it with plain water.
You don't want to scrub surface dirt into the grout when you are deep cleaning.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Create a paste of vinegar and baking soda.
Using an old toothbrush or grout brush (not a wire brush because it may damage your grout), scrub the vinegar and baking soda paste into your tile grout.
For best results, apply the paste and let it sit for 5 minutes before scrubbing in a circular motion instead of just up and down.
You can also add lemon juice to the vinegar and baking soda to boost the cleaning power and leave your floors smelling nice.
Commercially Available Options
If vinegar and baking soda was not strong enough to clean your grout, try using commercially available cleaners.
You can try oxygenated bleach (not chlorine bleach because it may discolor your tile), other powdered floor cleaners, or commercially available grout cleaners.
Many of these cleaners can be quite harsh so make sure to use proper protection so you don't get any on your skin.
Other Options
If your grout is still not clean, you can use a steam cleaner, hire a professional grout cleaner, or paint your grout the color you want it to be.
Seal the Grout
If it has been a while since you last sealed your grout, you should probably reseal your cleaned grout.
Sealing the grout will keep grout stains from forming and make the grout easier to clean.
Tips
When cleaning grout, make sure to start in an inconspicuous area first to make sure you like the results before moving to a more obvious area in your room.
Never mix cleaners together else you may inadvertently create dangerous fumes.
When using commercially available cleaners, make sure the room is well ventilated.