Cleaning grout lines between tiles can be especially difficult, as regular mopping often fails to remove built-up dirt and grime. Luckily, there’s a simple and effective solution that cleaning professionals swear by to bring grout back to like-new condition.
Home experts at The Spruce spoke with Jade Piper, professional cleaner and Operations Manager at BetterCleans, to discover the top method for tackling dirty grout—and, surprisingly, it doesn’t involve vinegar or baking soda. The go-to tool? A steam cleaner. Jade said: “My favourite grout and tile cleaner isn’t a chemical product at all.”
“Say goodbye to those because a steam cleaner is all you need. It cuts down the elbow grease by at least half, and you’re not hunched over with a toothbrush.
“I always cover way more ground in less time, and the results are way more consistent.
“Once you’re done, run a clean microfibre mop over the floor, then dry it asap with another dry mop or towel.
“This keeps streaks away and stops any grime from settling back in.”
The professional cleaner suggests the Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner, available on Amazon.
The device 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.
The steam cleaner maintains an impressive 4.3-star rating from more than 2,900 customers.
Does it work?
A delighted customer said: “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.”
They continued to rave about its efficiency, saying: “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 shared 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 seconds to actually kill all germs, so this becomes very time-consuming.”
They added a caveat: “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.”
For those looking for a more budget-friendly option, Argos offers the Tower 16-in-1 Steam Mop at a mere £40.
Other methods
A favoured ‘gentle’ method for tackling grout involves the use of lemon juice and baking soda. DIY Natural suggests that these two ingredients serve as “excellent natural cleaners for most everything in your home”.
Begin with a certain quantity of baking soda (perhaps a quarter cup), then gradually add spoonfuls of lemon juice until you achieve a thick paste. “Spread the solution out on the grout lines,” they advise.
Allow it to sit for a few minutes before scrubbing it with a tile brush. A grout brush, with its extra stiff bristles, is ideal for this task, but an old toothbrush can also do the trick if you don’t have one.
Finally, mop up any remaining paste from your floor.