When I discovered this easy, quick, and budget-friendly way to clean grout NATURALLY with vinegar, I had to share it with the world! This grout cleaning tip uses vinegar and two other natural ingredients you probably already have in your home, with additional DIY cleaning recipes for using vinegar to clean your sink and tub. Plus, it’s so safe that even kids can get in on the grout-cleaning fun!
Is natural cleaning your jam? Then don’t miss this hack for making DIY Natural Cleaning Wipes and these Homemade Toilet Scrubbing Bombs for Cleaning Your Toilet Naturally.
When the school where I used to teach decided to use vinegar– VINEGAR!– to wash the cafeteria floors each day I was completely skeptical. After doing a little research it turns out vinegar is a healthy cleaning alternative to products with scary ingredients. Plus, it’s cheap and safe for both the environment and the 400+ kids we were in charge of caring for each day… BUT.
BUT There’s that one little detail, the thing I silently wondered and was scared to ask– wouldn’t the cafeteria smell of vinegar all day? Because if it did, believe you me, we would hear about it from those 400+ darlings I previously mentioned. They don’t hold back. On anything. EVER.
Guess what? The smell dissipated within moments of being put on the floor. Our school saved tons of money using vinegar to clean, and soon I was slinging the stuff all over my home, too. It combines beautifully with other non-toxic products to clean your home naturally, safely, and cheaply. What’s not to love?
1. Easy Homemade Grout Cleaner (“The Magic Grout Trick”)
Our previous kitchen had large white tiles with {very dirty} grout. When we first moved in, we’d spend hours scrubbing with a chemical grout cleaner. Then I discovered a MUCH easier way and cleaning it became a breeze because of this trick. Plus, my “helpers” can get involved and I don’t have to worry about harsh chemicals!
Ben back in the day in our old home, he loved helping his mama!
1. Sprinkle baking soda on the grout. Use your finger to make sure it covers all the grout, also wiping away excess powder. Use a spray bottle filled with vinegar to apply it over the baking soda. Sixth grade science project lovers unite– the {safe} chemical reaction does all the work for you! Let it sit and bubble and scrub itself for a few minutes. But not too long, or the dirt settles back into the grout.
2. Using a grout brush, give it a little scrub to get the dirty solution off the grout. Prepare for it to be muddy! Keeping a cup of water to quickly rise the brush off helps, but don’t add too much water to the floor– the grittier the solution, the less elbow grease you’ll have to put into it.
3. Wipe up the muddy solution (I used rags instead of paper towels, to further my green cleaning mojo). Then, clean as usual: quickly run the vacuum to get up excess baking soda, and then go over it with a mop.
There you have it, clean grout with half the work, and no expensive special cleaner to buy. I cleaned this section in under 30 minutes and it had– and I’m mortified to admit this– over 7 years of build-up on what must have been unsealed grout. My ‘ah-ha’ moment came when I opened the door to the bathroom, and saw this line where I stopped cleaning. YUCK! And yet, so cool to see how well the vinegar trick worked.
2. The Sink Bomb
I call this the sink bomb because it’s just that– the BOMB! Vinegar is amazing when it comes to cleaning sinks. First, I sprkinkle some baking soda in the sink and then spray some vinegar and let it bubble. The baking soda is a low-grit way to scrub the sink, and the vinegar a disinfectant. Wipe off and rinse, your sink is now fresh and clean. Next, if your garbage disposal is a bit stinky simply add a cup of vinegar and let it sit for about an hour. No more s-t-i-n-k.
This one is the real bomb-diggity. If your garbage disposal or drain is clogged, add equal parts baking soda and then vinegar. Here comes that 6th grade science project again– hello, volcano! A cleaning volcano, that is. Rinse with warm water. Good as new, with NO strong chemicals to worry about.
3. Amazing Tub Cleaner
I used to hate cleaning the tub. It bothered me to think that my kids were sitting in a tub of water potentially filled with the reside of whatever I’d just used to clean it, so I’d scrub and rinse forever. Then I discovered this tub cleaner, and it’s amazing. Simply put equal parts blue Dawn dish soap and vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray it on the tub, let sit for about an hour, and wipe away. Then a quick rinse of water. That’s it– NO scrubbing, and NO dangerous chemical bath for my kids. This stuff works, friends, it’s amazing!
I first published this post 7 years ago, before I started using essential oils. Now for a daily household cleaner, I use Thieves Cleaner because it’s natural and safe and smells like Christmas. But for tough tasks like grout or the sink, I still use vinegar all. the. time.
Natural cleaning isn’t just great for the environment. It’s also great for your budget. As you can see, instead of buying specific products for each cleaning job, vinegar and one or two other non-toxic ingredients does it all. For waaaaayyyyy less. And won’t clutter up every shelf, sink, and cabinet either.
RG :) says
That grout shot is amazing! I’m glad we don’t have tile anymore, but if we did, I would be using this trick. Even with special grout cleaner, it takes a ton of elbow grease to get the floor that clean — if at all!
Rebecca E. Parsons/Cre8Tiva says
you rocked this one!!! love the story and the images to illustrate it!!! Thank you for being awesomesauce!!!
NN says
Great information! Pinned it! And, your kitchen is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!
Janel from NellieBellie says
Love the tips!! I too use the dawn vinegar bathtub stuff…love it!!
I am soo doing the grout cleaner. But, I might not want to know how bad it is. I just might not want to.
Jennifer Carroll says
OMG?!! I too have been really, really skeptical about the “real” cleaning power of vinegar – and a bit worried about the smell too! but I have to say you’ve intrigued me enough that I’m TOTALLY going to try this! I hate using the harsh cleaners but felt I had to, to really get everything clean. This is exciting!! Gotta go buy vinegar right now!! 🙂
Taryn @ Design, Dining + Diapers says
Great tips! I need to try some of these 🙂
Heather SettingforFour says
Our Mom’s knew what was best – love this ‘old school’ cleaning technique!! I am using this on my grout ASAP!! Thanks for sharing these terrific tips!
Casey says
I’ll have to try the grout one. Our bathroom floor is a little worse for wear..
Katherine says
I love finding new ways to clean with vinegar! Every few weeks or so I also use it to clean out my coffee maker. I put 1 part of vinegar to 1 part of water and run my coffee maker as usual. When my coffee maker is clean, I pour the solution into my tea kettle and boil the water to clean my kettle as well. Then I make a paste of baking soda, pour it down my kitchen sink and follow it up with the boiling vinegar. No more nasty smell!
The same ratio can be used to spray post-shower to prevent mildew build-up. I also use it to clean my mirrors and windows (wiping with newspapers, of course).
Carrie says
I SO need to do that to my coffee maker. It’s amazing all the ways you can use vinegar, and I love how you’ve found a way to use it several times before disposing of it– especially since you are cleaning while you dispose of it!
D says
Hi there, thanks for posting. I’m sure you know by now, but vinegar is cheapest at Costco. $3.54 for 2 huge bottles !! I’m also going to try sprinkling baking soda before I spray the cleaner in the bottom of the tub get a deep spring clean. Have you tried? Dawn and vinegar is the only cleaner I use in my house on. Have you found the perfect dishwasher, window cleaner, or laundry homemade cleaners yet? Thanks again
Sammy says
Perfect window cleaner and so cheap!
1/4 c. rubbing alcohol
1/4 c. white vinegar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
2 c. warm water
Combine everything in a spray bottle and shake well. Shake well before using, too, as the cornstarch will settle at the bottom (and plug the spray mechanism if it’s not mixed in well).
Ellen says
Put a drop or two of mint oil in this – helps keep flies away in the summer.
Tina Rainbolt says
Hey Carrie – the pic of your black and white kitchen came up on my Pinterest feed since I’m looking for a good gray paint to go in my black and white kitchen. Yours is perfect! Any idea what brand/color name/number it is?
Carrie Higgins says
It’s Wood Smoke by Glidden! It’s the perfect ‘greige’, that mix of gray and beige. 🙂
Tilly says
I love your bath cleaning tip. I used to use a mop to clean the bath when I was very pregnant. (One specifically for the bath). I use white vinegar in dish soap and water for all glass and mirror surfaces, and neat inside stubborn marked vases before rinsing. Thanks for sharing.:)
Lorenda says
Straight vinegar on weeds poking up through concrete, bricks, any place that you aren’t growing anything other than weeds, is amazing! Over the next 24 to 48 hours, it will kill the weeds but not your wallet or the environment! Win, win! (BONUS! This is a “chore” the little ones LOVE to help with!)
Carrie says
That’s a great tip, Lorenda! I’m trying it this weekend– my kids would love to help with that, actually!
Jeri Niksich says
I have a bottle of grout cleaner in my garage for day when I finally get down to it. After seeing your post I (literally) immediately went to kitchen grabbed the baking soda, spray bottle & vinegar then went to husbands man cave & informed him we were going to do an experiment……THANK YOU!!! The soda & vinegar won HANDS DOWN!!! Now I need to do the rest of the room & foyer….that will be the hardest part of the job making myself do it but I’m sure not dreading it like I was before this is a BIG SCORE for me.
Carrie says
YAY! That’s awesome to hear! It’s crazy how well such simple ingredients can work, and they’re safe for your home. I still have a section to clean still, perhaps we can motivate each other to do it!
Jaclyn Stevens says
Hi! Can you please tell me your kitchen paint color? That grey is beautiful!
Carrie Higgins says
Thank you! It’s Wood Smoke by Glidden, but I believe I had it color matched by Sherwin Williams. 🙂 It’s the perfect ‘greige’ color.
Carrie Higgins says
Wood Smoke by Glidden!
jeanne says
can the solution be used to clean kitchen cabinets? I have cabinets that are about 50 years old . The house was built in 1948. I want to renovate not ge rid of them HELP ME clean them!!!t
Carrie Higgins says
We painted our cabinets too instead of replacing them, saves SOOOO much money! I’d give it a try on an inconspicuous area and see how it goes. Good luck!
Joyce says
I clean my white kitchen cabinets with half vin and half water. Spray on wipe off. They looks really white! I also use it in my whirlpool tub.. Fill the tub with hot water , add 1 gallon of vin and turn on the jets… It gets rid of ads the soap in the tubes and the tub is sparking white( I use the half and half sol to clean the tub right after a bath). Good luck to you!
Donna77642 says
What is your tub made out of? I have a marblecrafter whirlpool (faux marble). Would this work?
Danielle says
Does it need to be Dawn or can you use any dish soap?
Carrie Higgins says
That is a great question, and I’m so sorry it took me so long to see it! I’ve only used Dawn, but I bet another name-brand detergent would work too. If you give it a try, let me know!
Ann says
Dawn is the one that is known to cut grease and grime. Would use Dawn only.
Paul Klosterman says
Actually it should be Dawn. I didn’t believe it at first and I tried a few different soaps I had around the house. Dawn works the best. Don’t waste your money on others like Palmolive. I know Costco doesn’t sell Dawn but rather Palmolive. Even in bulk Palmolive is still garbage.
Marian Pena says
There is something about Dawn in particular that works well for cleaning other than dishes. When I’ve seen tips with cleaning that use Dawn, they are specific to that brand, so I’d say that if they chose Dawn, that it really means to use Dawn and not other types of dish washing soap. Not that you couldn’t try using other brands, but it’s like Avon’s Oil of Olay and keeping mosquitoes away, there is just something about Oil of Olay that works where other oils of that purpose do not work.
Wendy Clarke says
This works like a charm for porcelain and ceramic tile. For Marble, Limestone, Travertine or Granite tiles the vinegar will damage the edges of all your tiles.
Carrie Higgins says
True, I imagine it’d bubble if put on limestone!!
Home Cleaning says
Great post! Been reading a lot about cleaning with vinegar. Thanks for the info here!
Jo Orta says
You mentioned that Heinz cleaning vinegar is 8% strength as opposed to the regular 6% of ‘regular’. I found this surprising because I’ve been buying 9% strength for years. Our local grocery store in San Antonio and much of South Texas is called HEB (we say it by the letters, not rhyming with ‘web’) and their store brand comes in regular and 9%. I used it on my coffee pot (before I started using filtered water – our water is very hard) and it’s always worked beautifully. Why wouldn’t a “cleaning” vinegar be at least 9% since it is readily available, I wonder?
Ashley says
Would this work on the walls of my shower grout? Im thinking the baking soda would fall right off..but there has got to be a way!
Carrie Higgins says
I think it would… maybe try mixing it together into a thick paste and then scrub it. Let me know if it works!
Jill Pastula says
Good tips. I’d love to know the shade of gray on your kitchen walls,
Debi rosin says
I tried baking soda on the chrome bumpers, mirrors and running boards on my pick em up truck. It does the same thing to chrome fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen. as a matter of fact I recently did a face lift in my bathroom. The shower fixtures were so old I couldn’t find one to replace it. I had no choice but to keep the old one. I rubbed some baking soda on the old one and it looks as good as the day it was new. Love vinegar AND baking soda.
Jen @ Fresh From The... says
I had a mold-growing-on-the-wall problem (gross, I know) and tried various different things, from bleach to vinegar. And vinegar wins hands down. It kills the mold, AND keeps it from coming back. If anyone ever has this problem, I would definitely recommend using vinegar. First use it to help clean off the wall, then spray the wall and let it dry on there to keep it from growing back.
Mrs. Seifert says
My mother was an avid user of vinegar for everything.
She kept a small glass of 1/4 cup vinegar with 1 cup water flavored with honey on the cupboard all the time. She would just sip on it during the day. She drank it for her arthritis.
She used it to clean under her arms to kill odor.
If we had athletics feet, she would warm water, vinegar and salt on the stove and we would soak our feet in it for 20 to 30 minutes every night for a week. It would usually kill the fungus.
When we were coming down with a cold, we would soak our feet in the warm water, vinegar & salt at nite.
Amazing stuff. And she was doing this back in the 60’s.
Tasia says
Yes my grandma whom is 86 years old drinks the same thing and she also is the one who taught us hownto clean out our coffee machine and carafe with it. Also, she has always used it for glass and mirror cleaner anf for walls and floors!! This was back in the 40s and 50s she started this! Vinegar rocks!!!! Oh and brush your teeth with baking soda at least 1 X a day to whiten your teeth and get rid off all the plaque build up!!!!
Steve says
we keep vinegar in a spray bottle and use it full strength when one of the dogs pees on the carpet. Keeps it from staining and removes the odor too.
Kathy says
I am kicking myself in the butt for not taking before and after pictures. I will the next time. Let me just say that this worked!!! The bathroom tile floor… 7 years of nasty buildup– gone. I didn’t think it worked at first, the magic happened after I did the clean up. I returned to the bathroom to set things back up and wow- the grout appears brighter!!! Tub: now my tub is gross. I not sure way but the commercial cleaners weren’t doing the job. We take multiple showers daily = a lot of build up. Build up gone, although it took some scrubbing on my part, I didn’t mind, considering the tub was in such a poor state. Sink: Although, my sink wasn’t a complete disaster, the bomb gave it a sparkle!! I’m done with commercial cleaners on so many levels. Thank you!!!
Carrie Higgins says
Haha! I’m kicking you in the butt too, I would have loved to see those before/after photos! SO happy it worked for you! Enjoy your sparkling clean grout!
Elaine says
I just cleaned tub today with equal parts Blue Dawn & vinegar. Put in spray bottle, spray, leave on 10 min, wipe clean & rinse. Easy as can be.
TK says
This solution is the best! I went a step forward and put the baking soda in a parmesean cheese dispenser and taped all but one row of holes shut. It makes dispensing the baking soda a lot easier with less waste!
Carrie Higgins says
That’s brilliant!! Thanks for sharing.
Yolanda says
I use a Tupperware item, it looks like a cup with a strainer like top, it is for powder sugar. I keep baking soda in it and sprinkle it where I need it. Cleaning fruits, vegetables, sink etc.
Teresa says
YES! As I was reading these delightful posts, I was wondering how to best dispense the baking soda onto the grout. An empty parmesean container should be just the ticket. I just bought a new-to-me house, had all the carpet cleaned, but there was no time yet to clean the tile/grout. The next trip there, I’m going to enlist the help of my grands. I’m sure we can save the $200 it would cost for a professional job! I’ll try to remember to take before and after pictures, too;-)
Laura says
The vinegar and Dawn solution is fabulous. However, even better for cleaning soap scum on shower doors, floors, walls and bathtubs is vinegar, Dawn and cornstarch. Warm a cup or two of vinegar in the microwave. Stir in a tablespoon or two of Dawn. Pour into a clean, empty spray bottle. Add a tablespoon or two of cornstarch, replace sprayer tightly, and shake vigorously. Immediately spray areas needing to be cleaned, making sure to cover all surfaces with the spray. Let sit for 20-30 minutes. Rinse and wipe with a damp cloth and BE AMAZED!! No scrubbing is necessary. The cornstarch keeps the vinegar and Dawn adhered to the dirty surface so that they can do the work — not you! This has been a game changer for me! Do not use on marble or other porous stone, as the vinegar will etch it. Safe — and amazing! — on chrome.
Meme Dee says
Just a note:
I went crazy cleaning my kitchen, coffee pot, appliances, etc with vinegar and baking soda. Everything was fresh and wonderfully cleaned!
It hadn’t rained for a few days so the vinegar went straight to the yard and garden (drain field) killing my smaller Japanese maple tree and several other plants.
Vinegar makes a great weed killer! lol Along with everything else it gets to…
Christina says
I ran across this blog just today, YAY! So I thought I’d share something I learned not to long ago. Everyone gets stains on their mattresses, yeah? Just the other day I spilled a cup of tea on my bed (/facepalm.. it was one of those mornings… nothing worse than tea on a white mattress!) Of course it went right through the covers and the mattress “protector” and left a nice stain on my mattress. I immediately thought of baking soda to absorb the liquid from the tea and sprinkled it on the mattress and let it sit for a few hours to continue to draw out any liquid, once it was dry to the touch I was going to vacuum it off but the stain was still there so I thought why not spray on some vinegar?
Sure enough the vinegar started bubbling away and you could physically see the stain lifting away. I then gently blotted with an absorbent towel to find that the majority of the stain was completely gone. There was still some slight discoloration but it was very faint, much better than the great big brown spot that was there!
As the final step I let the mattress dry completely and vacuumed it top to bottom.
I also discovered side benefits, my mattress immediately felt and smelled much fresher, you really don’t notice the odor of a mattress until it’s no longer there lol.
I also discovered that baking soda kills dust mites, so for any allergy sufferers/ dust sensitives use baking soda on your mattress once a month, leave on for 15 mins and vacuum off. You notice the difference right away!
Sandra Barnett says
If any family members have trouble with allergies, vinegar and the combinations you have mentioned, works wonders. Though it smells very strong at first, there’s not chemicals to irritate the allergies. I have had problems for years and I’m not young, and using this has made more difference than anything, including shots. I add Essential Oils for fragrance and they also will help clean.
Suzanne Grimes says
I ran across your blog today and I can hardly wait to try the vinegar for cleaning. I don’t have a garbage disposal but I do have a tub drain that keeps clogging. I don’t like using drain cleaners and I’m at my wits end. We have a septic system which they don’t recommend using a lot of chemicals. Do you have a solution for tub drain?????????
Marny CA says
I always buy the largest white vinegar available and/or on sale.
I use it to clean showerheads (put some in a baggy and tie it over the showerhead so the head is in the liquid, and faucets, too. Windows, drains, add to laundry, to name a few more uses.
When making tuna or salmon salad, the tart taste is what I crave sometimes instead of mayo.
When making sweet/sour pork chops, I use vinegar as the sour and a tiny amount of sugar into the sauteed onions. Then I put the browned pork chops back into the liquid, cover and let it cook until tender.
I love the ‘gravy’ on mashed potatoes as well as with the pork chops!!
frank says
Thanks for sharing your tips, Carrie! I use it on my bathroom grout that gets moldy–great stuff!
Jeff Cox says
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
Yellowcatface says
Tried the vinegar and baking soda mixture on my kitchen floor grout. Fantastic! The floor looks new. I can’t believe it thanks for this amazing tip.
Freda Lindley says
Can you use vinegar, baking soda, &dawn to clean sealer on a room full of tile, when the porcelain is dingy?
debbie says
We also use white vinegar in the carpet cleaner. you will have a vinegar smell – only until the carpet dries. takes the stains right out of the carpet.
I use white vinegar as a fabric softener in the washer – keeps the towels absorbent.
Donna77642 says
When do you add the vinegar as a fabric softener?
Nadine says
I use Dawn too but unfortunately I’m pretty sure it is full of harsh chemicals…. I wouldn’t call it natural.
Carrie Higgins says
Um, good point. I don’t know where my brain was with that one! Maybe I should put ‘natural-er’ than the really harsh stuff. 😉
Annette Kearney says
I use vinegar and bicarbonate soda for all my cleaning also in the laundry as fabric softener and dark coloured clothes do not pick up fluff in the wash.
Kathy says
Hi! Thank you for the great cleaning tips. I will try it tomorrow!! By the way, I love your beautiful kitchen. What is the name of the paint on the walls? The grey color looks terrific!
Jessica says
I love the grey colour in your kitchen! Do you have the brand and colour name?
Anna says
Just an FYI – This past month I had to have my entire shower (only 12 years old) completely re-grouted & cleaning with vinegar was in large part the problem. I always try to use natural cleaners & used vinegar and Dawn for the past 7 years or so until my grout started to become discolored & mildew spots began to appear. The grout guy told me that vinegar is an acid & consistent use will eventually eat away at your grout sealer and will create air pockets in your grout. Once the grout gets air pockets it will begin to crumble, moisture permeates the grout and the mildew grows from within the grout. It was very expensive to repair so I caution everyone against using vinegar too much on grout (but I use it everywhere else!)
Carrie Higgins says
Thanks for the update! I only use the vinegar once in awhile to clean the grout (once a year, max) and after reading your advice I’ll start wiping it down with water afterwards.
Lupe says
You are supposed to re-seal your grout once a year per my tile guy.
maria alamo says
I did it once and I didn’t have any problem. Cleaning grout is something you don’t do it often. I did it about 2 years ago and still looks good.
Sue says
I just found your site and am excited about all your ideas. I was particularly interested in the grout and tile cleaner idea with the vinegar and baking soda. Will this affect the color of the tile if you just are cleaning the grout? Thanks and I will be waiting to hear from you. Merry Christmas to you.
Carrie Higgins says
Hi Sue! I can’t promise it won’t impact the color, but I can tell you that it didn’t affect my tile color at all. When in doubt, spot check a small area first. And Merry Christmas right back to you!!!
frances says
Hi there. I use plain white undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle which I then spray onto my carpets as I vacuum. It settles the dust and freshens the carpet.
I spray undiluted white vinegar onto my windows and wipe down with old newspaper. That’s it. Also on mirrors.
Regards Frances from Sunny South Africa
Maggie Simpson says
The vinegar and baking soda for grout cleaning is great, but here are two extra tips:
1. If you use an electric toothbrush like Braun with a small round head – you guessed it – use it to scrub the grout lines. It works wonders and no sore hands/arms from manual scrubbing. Just be careful to label the toothbrush head that you use as your household cleaning brush!
2. To avoid having your grout wear out over time, try applying Grout Renew, a colored grout sealer that is mildew resistant and available at stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot and also online. I used it on my kitchen and bathroom tile floors, applying with a baby sized toothbrush, and it is amazing! A bit of a pain to apply, but you only have to do it once. You can choose a color to match existing grout or actually re-color your grout. And no, I am not affiliated with the company in any way! 🙂
Jan says
Hi, I can’t find Grout Renew, do you mean Grout Refresh? Thanks!
Freda Lindley says
By the way I used Dawn & vinegar with not much water & mopped my full of sealer all over the porcelain tile, but it took at least 3-4 moppings but it’s really not that sticky anymore. The person who did the sealer did it wrong. Thanks to y’all & God it’s feeling & looking better.
Kathleen scherban says
I was told by a tile installer that I should not us vinegar as a cleaner for tile grout as it will deteriorate the grout. Would lemon juice work?
Carrie Higgins says
I wouldn’t recommend doing it often, just once a year and then seal it. Once in awhile should be okay. I actually have only needed to do it once, it still looks great!
Carlee says
Vinegar is good for just about anything! The only thing I don’t like about it is the smell. When I clean stainless steal sinks, I use Vim and a SS scrubber and it works amazing. But of course, it’s not natural. I’m going to give the baking soda and vinegar a try for my Clients who want only natural products. Great post!
Eileen says
I have used all of these vinegar cleaning tips based on multiple Pinterest tips, and they have worked to varying degrees. Recently, though, I’ve read articles from very reputable sources cautioning against using vinegar to clean grout, indicating that the acid will break down the grout, causing it to crumble eventually. I like to clean with vinegar, but this makes sense. What are your thoughts?
Carrie Higgins says
My feeling is if you do it infrequently, you won’t have problems. Honestly, if you do this once and seal it you won’t have to do it again for a REALLY long time!
Chris N says
I found a different grout cleaning method, after this one and many others failed. I also tried Oxiclean, bleach, grout cleaners, etc. My tile floor grout had significant grease/oil build-up since it’s in a bathroom and takes conditioner and lotion spills, along with foot traffic. The grout was brown and dull.
After everything else failed, I tried enzymatic drain cleaner, the kind you put down drains that have slowed due to grease and oil build up. I applied it straight to the grout with a toothbrush and let it sit overnight. Then I lightly scrubbed with hot water, and the grout was instantly white, whiter than I had ever seen it. There was no damage to the tile or grout, and I followed-up with grout sealer. Just wanted you to know about this method. It uses no harsh chemicals since the enzymes used are found in nature and requires very little scrubbing. Thanks!
Sherri says
What do you seal the grout with once it’s clean?
Carrie Higgins says
I use a grout sealer from Home Depot. 🙂
Mike says
I put the Baking Soda in an old spice container
It made it so much easier to put a little Baking Soda on the grout line then hit it with vinegar from a spray bottle set to stream (not spray). Otherwise, because you hands are always in and out of water it makes it difficult to spread the Baking Soda evenly. I was able to work 3x faster with just this simple trick. The results are amazing. This was a rental for almost 15 years. You can imagine. But looks like new. Thank you.
P.S. I used a discarded “small” cardboard packing box to kneel on. That made it a lot easier on the knees.
ZofiaA says
I did some research on cleaning grout with a vinegar and I’ve come across few experts who are not recommending this option as they say that vinegar can damage your grout. Have you experienced any problem with your grout disappearing after a while? I tried to clean small area and grout looks fantastic but I’m hesitant to go big…
Carrie Higgins says
Honestly it works SO well that you won’t need to do it often. I did the grout using this method, making sure to rinse really well so no vinegar remains, and then sealed it. Haven’t needed to do it again in all those years! So if you’re doing it all the time I could see it would be a problem, but the good news is you won’t have to. 😉
ZofiaA says
Thank you so much for your reply. All right I’m doing it! I’m just waiting on my grout brush I ordered as i prefer not to knee around the house 🙂 Can’t wait..
thank you Carrie and everybody else who commented I love to learn new cleaning tricks and if they are natural and chemical free I love it even more !!! Have a great day!
Jules says
1-I’ve been using vinegar to clean with for years! I discovered it by researching how to get that weird smell out of my towels. We had well water in our first house and the towels always smelled funky after washing them. I sprinkled baking soda into the washing machine, then added a cup of vinegar, let the bubbles get going, then added the towels, and washed as normal. There was never a problem with the colors and the towels smelled great!
2-I also use baking soda and vinegar on my kitchen sink. I sprinkle the baking soda, then spray the vinegar and water solution and let it sit for a few minutes at least. Then I use a lemon to scrub it! Yup, cut a lemon in half. Then slice the lemon horizontally and vertically once, down about an inch into the inside part of the fruit. Squeeze some juice out, press down and scrub. The rinds starts to fold back and you use the lemon as a scrubbie. When you’re done, rinse the sink and put the lemon down the disposal. Smells great!
David Brown says
I have a question: isn’t vinegar going to eat away grout lines, if used too frequently? I always thought that the acid can do this to grout lines and for this reason have been using baking soda/bleach only to clean tiles.
Carrie Higgins says
The awesome thing is you don’t need to do it frequently; I did it once, made sure to rinse away ALL the vinegar, let it dry, then sealed it. Never needed to do it again!
Craig Kalucki says
Your grout looks amazing now. The vinegar shows how powerful it is as a cleaning solution. Its natural and works really well on certain things. Just don’t mind its smell.
Linda says
How do you seal the grout after you clean it?
Rob says
Don’t know if anyone is still following this post but thought I’d offer my 2 cents as a caution too. For those using baking soda in their wash keep in mind that although the ratio of water to baking soda is relatively small it is abrasive. Over time the seal on your washer pump may start leaking. I’ve seen this happen on my washer and on industrial pump seals using baking soda based cleaners also. I believe my garbage disposal supplier also warned of seal damage if used on their disposal.
On another note, vinegar and baking soda works great for removing drain orders too. I’ve loaded bathroom and kitchen drain traps (not the disposal side of the sink) with baking soda then poured vinegar in the drain and let sit over night. Rinse with water the next morning and no more odor.
Karin says
I too ise vinegar for everything!! People think im crazy when I buy my jugs of vinegar. The cashier always ask in a suspicious tone why Im buying so much vinegar. It really is amazing and really works for most stuff. However, I did try it on my bathroom tile grout and I have to say it DOES NOT work. Did everything just as directed but nk avail. I guess I have to use the strong stuff.
Chris Douglas says
Just used this idea – works a treat! My problem now is the baking powder residue left between and on the tiles. Any ideas for that one?
Carrie Higgins says
A deep wash with water should do the trick!
Karen says
Any ideas for doing this on tile walls? I can’t get the soda/vinegar to stay on long enough to work their magic.
Carrie Higgins says
Maybe try making a paste with it, not sure if it will work but it’s worth a try. 🙂
Patti says
My favorite vinegar trick is I keep a small spray bottle of vinegar in the shower and a dish sponge with the fillable handle in the shower. I fill the handle with half Dawn dish soap and half white vinegar. When the conditioner is in my hair, I shave and then I wipe down the shower doors, tub and walls with the sponge. I then rinse myself off and then rinse off the shower walls, tub and such. Before leaving the shower, I spray it with the vinegar spray. Vinegar kills mold spores.
Tile Cleaning Alpharetta says
Can I use Oxygen Bleach on grout between marble tile on a shower floor ?
Sarah says
For all saying the vinegar eats grout, the baking soda neutralizes the acidity.
Cindie says
I was researching online recently how to get rid of the smell in my clothes washer (even though I always leave the lid open after cycles, ugh!) and I ran across a post that said to try pouring 2 cups of white vinegar into the empty washer tub and let it sit for 3 hours. After that, run a (empty) regular cycle with hot water. Well, I did and it worked wonders! I am going on week 2 with no smell in my washer! I was buying pre-made washer cleaner at the store and it only worked for a day or two but then the smell would come back – vinegar by far was a much better solution!
Carolyn says
I am so excited to hear your suggestions and also the follow up replies. I am anxious to share with my Sister….she is a fanatic about cleaning.
This is probably a dumb question, but is there a difference in White Vinegar and Cleaning Vinegar? I recently bought 2 large bottles of White Vinegar at Costco. Hope it works the same.
Emily in Houston says
Thanks for the tips. We got almost 24 inches of YUK water in our home during Hurricane Harvey. Sheetrock is finally going up, and the grout everywhere is caked with sheetrock dust as well as YUK from the water. My floor scrubber doesn’t get to the grout, but I can’t wait to try this.
And as another tip, vinegar worked pretty well in the laundry washing things that got wet, but when combined with a 1/2 cup of Borax, well, that was a true miracle. So laundry detergent in that slot, vinegar in the fabric softener slot, and Borax in the main compartment. Best. Solution. Ever. Any hurricane recovery efforts should include this.
DIY Home Sweet Home says
This is great. We don’t have any tile in our home now but planning to remodel soon. Thanks for sharing
lisa says
thank you. i’ve been looking for a grout cleaner for a long time
Lyn says
I just got a glass top stove and I found taking old orange peels and vinegar in a mason jar works way better than the high price cleaner you get and it smells amazing gives off that citrus smell. I tried it on my storm door and it was great home made citrus cleaner.
Amic says
Thanks for sharing such a great tips with us!
Karry says
I use vinegar to clean almost everything in my house since it helps me avoid using chemicals. Thanks for sharing this!
end of leasxe cleaning says
great informative article thanks for sharing.
Barbara says
You told how to clean floor tiles,grout, but what about the grout in the shower?
Ashley Maxwell says
Thanks for mentioning how you can use vinegar to clean your tiles. I also like how you said that baking soda is an effective additive. My husband and I are looking for a professional to clean our kitchen tiles since I don’t know if we could do it ourselves. Thanks for the post!
Lawrence @sweetbathroom says
I have never thought of using vinegar and soda for unclogging drains. I am so glad that you shared this with us, totally made my day!!! Thanks for the tips!
Lonnie Johnson says
Honestly it works SO well that you won’t need to do it often. I did the grout using this method, making sure to rinse really well so no vinegar remains, and then sealed it.
Charlette Pitfield says
I have a 1500 gallon storage tank and would like some input on filtration as the water in the storage tank water will sit there longer before it’s cycled through to the house. We have a well and only recently added the storage tank and booster pump to keep the well pump from working so hard as it’s 360ft down.
Lisa English says
I use vinegar in place of fabric softener when I do laundry – just pour it in the dispenser where you’d normally put the fabric softener. My towels come out SO fluffy and fresh-smelling – not like vinegar at all, and it works great with all fabrics! Thanks for sharing YOUR vinegar tips!
Carrie Higgins says
That is brilliant and so helpful, thank you!
Tina says
I sprinkle baking soda in the bowl of my toilet and follow up with vinegar, let it work for 5-10 minutes. I let the bubbles do the work. Wish it did the entire toilet but can’t be too choosy when it does help. I clean the rim and entire outside with a spray bottle of vinegar. Especially having a man in the house!!
Thanks for your tips. I do all but the tub one and it is definitely next to try. For my tub I always use blue dawn, borax and magic eraser. Works well!!
Sabrina Addams says
My family and I have lived in our home for about 8 years now, and I noticed that our tile is getting a bit worn and dirty. I want to deep clean it, so it’s nice to read that you can use baking soda and vinegar on the grout so you can scrub it off. I think I might find tile cleaners to clean for me to make sure the floors get cleaned nicely.
Asprucedhome says
Hey, thank you for your writing. I was looking for the best and easiest way to clean grout and tile floors for my bathroom. Your article is knowledgeable and helpful and I’m going to share it along with my wife.
Michele says
If you get residue in your dishwasher then use Tang and put it in where you would put your dishwashing liquid and run it a whole cycle… your dishwasher will be sparkling when it is done washing. Found this out from the Sears guy that came out to fix my dryer in the basement and he asked if there was anything else he could help me with and I remember that I had the residue in my dishwasher and he told me Tang so I went to the grocery store and picked it up and put it in my dishwaher and it worked… so happy to find out this little tip.