Material file · Hard surfaces
Tile grout: what it can take
Covers cement grout between floor, wall and shower tiles. No soaking, so each treatment is applied, given a few minutes, and blotted away.
- Water
- Yes
- Max temperature
- 60 °C (140 °F)
- Rubbing
- Fine
- Stain files
- 16
01 What it is
Cement grout is porous and alkaline; acids slowly dissolve it.
It is porous, so time matters: the longer a spill sits, the deeper it goes.
02 House rules
- No soaking, so each treatment is applied, given a few minutes, and blotted away.
- It tolerates hot water (up to about 60 °C (140 °F)) for the final wash, but only after any protein has been rinsed out cold.
03 Field notes
- Cement grout is porous and alkaline; acids such as vinegar slowly dissolve it, which is why acid cleaning makes grout lines sink and crumble over the years.
- Oxygen bleach paste whitens grout without the fumes of chlorine, and works on most coloured grouts too.
- Sealing grout after cleaning keeps the next spill on the surface for long enough to wipe up.
04 Every cleaner, rated
| Cleaner | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Acetone | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Baking soda | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Borax | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Chlorine bleach | Test first | It kills mildew in grout, but can lighten coloured grout. Ventilate well. |
| Citrus adhesive remover | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Cornstarch | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Dish soap | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Bio detergent | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Enzyme cleaner | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Hot water | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Household ammonia | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Hydrogen peroxide 3% | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Magic eraser | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Oxalic acid cleanser | Test first | Briefly, for rust only, then rinse; acid erodes grout. |
| Oxygen bleach | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Rubbing alcohol | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Steam cleaner | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Lemon juice | Avoid | Acid eats into cement grout. |
| White vinegar | Avoid | Acid slowly dissolves cement grout and its sealer; use oxygen bleach paste instead. |
| WD-40 | Never | Grout is porous and will darken with oil. |
05 Stains on grout
| Stain | Difficulty | Never |
|---|---|---|
| Hair dye | Specialist | Vinegar, Hot water |
| Mildew and mould spots | Tough | Vinegar, Mixing bleach |
| Nail polish | Tough | Vinegar |
| Turmeric and curry | Tough | Hot water, Vinegar |
| Wall paint (latex/emulsion) | Tough | Vinegar |
| Grape and cranberry juice | Stubborn | Vinegar, Hot water |
| Grease and cooking oil | Stubborn | Vinegar |
| Red wine | Stubborn | Vinegar, Hot water |
| Rust | Stubborn | Chlorine bleach, Vinegar |
| Tomato sauce and ketchup | Stubborn | Hot water, Vinegar |
| Urine (pets and people) | Stubborn | Chlorine bleach, Ammonia |
| Vomit (pets and people) | Stubborn | Hot water, Vinegar |
| Blood | Manageable | Hot water, Chlorine bleach |
| Candle wax | Manageable | Hot water, Vinegar |
| Coffee | Manageable | Vinegar, Hot water |
| Cola and soda | Manageable | Vinegar, Hot water |
06 The most common mistakes on grout
Counted across all 16 stain files for grout:
- Vinegar (15 files). Acid slowly dissolves cement grout and its sealer; use oxygen bleach paste instead.
- Hot water (11 files). Heat helps pigments bond to the fibres before you have lifted them.
- Bar soap or soap flakes (3 files). True soap is alkaline, and alkalis set tannin stains such as wine, coffee, tea and fruit.
- Chlorine bleach (3 files). Chlorine bleach can worsen rust-related marks. Use a compatible product labelled for the actual stain and material.
- Leaving it until morning (1 file). Oxidative dyes keep developing for 30 minutes or more.
- Mixing bleach with other cleaners (1 file). Bleach with vinegar, ammonia or acidic cleaners releases toxic gas.
07 What the grout files use most
These are the products the 16 stain files for grout rely on most. Dish soap leads because surfactants have a water-loving end and an oil-loving end.
08 When to call a professional
Cracked or crumbling grout, which needs regrouting, not cleaning.
Specialist-rated stains on grout: hair dye.