Tile grout can be a nightmare to clean, but a professional cleaner has revealed the ‘only’ way to get sparkling grout – and it doesn’t involve vinegar or baking soda
Cleaning tile grout lines can be a challenging task, and a simple mop won’t eliminate the dirt. However, cleaning professionals have a straightforward solution that will make your grout appear as good as new.
Home experts at The Spruce consulted Jade Piper, a professional cleaner and Operations Manager for BetterCleans, to uncover the ultimate grout cleaner – and it doesn’t involve vinegar or baking soda. The secret? A steam cleaner. Jade clarified: “My favourite grout and tile cleaner is not a chemical solution of some sort.
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“Wave goodbye to those because all you need is a steam cleaner!” She continued: “It reduces the elbow grease by at least half, and you’re not stooped over with a toothbrush.
“I always cover much more area in less time, and the results are far more consistent. Once you’ve finished, sweep a clean microfiber mop across the floor, then dry it immediately with another dry mop or towel. his prevents streaks and stops any dirt from resettling.”
The professional cleaner endorses the Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner, available on Amazon. The cleaner includes a 17-piece Accessory Kit, featuring an extension tube, brass brush, garment steamer bonnet, nylon brush, and cleaning pad. It’s currently priced at £159.99, reduced from £229.99.
The steam cleaner presently holds an average rating of 4.3 stars from over 2,900 reviewers.
One delighted customer raved: “I’m genuinely impressed with the Dupray steam cleaner! First off, it’s incredibly lightweight and compact, which makes it easy to carry around and store, perfect for smaller homes or apartments. But don’t let the size fool you.
“On a single tank fill, I was able to deep clean an entire bathroom, tackle a heavily soiled oven, and refresh all my kitchen cabinets-without needing to stop and refill!
“The steam output is strong and consistent, and it made stubborn grime and grease disappear with minimal effort. This little machine packs a serious punch and has completely changed my cleaning routine. Highly recommend!”.
Another buyer voiced their thoughts: “I love that it comes with different attachments and the steam is ready pretty quickly and pretty powerful. However, steam cleaning requires constant steam on a surface for 30 sec to actually kill all germs so this becomes very time consuming.
“However, if you’re not concerned with sanitising, it still does a pretty good job on different types of flooring (mine was wooden) and material (couches, chairs etc). The assembly and removal of parts are very easy. However, the low efficiency meant I did return it as I didn’t want to wait 30 seconds every time.”
Meanwhile, bargain hunters can find a budget-friendly option at Argos where the Tower 16-in-1 Steam Mop is available for a mere £40.
A favoured gentle cleaning tactic for tackling grout involves utilising lemon juice and baking soda. DIY Natural attests that these two ingredients are “excellent natural cleaners for most everything in your home”.
Commence with a specific quantity of baking soda (perhaps a quarter cup) and proceed to blend in spoonfuls of lemon juice until you attain ” a thick paste.
“Spread the solution out on the grout lines,” they guided. “Let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub it with the tile brush. A grout brush is a great tool for this because they have extra stiff bristles, but if you don’t have a grout brush, an old toothbrush is a great substitute.”
To conclude, sweep away the remaining mixture from your floor.