Tile floors stay looking good with regular mopping, but grout lines discolour over time from embedded dirt and mildew. Restoring the grout makes the whole floor look new again.
Regular Mopping (Weekly)
- Sweep or vacuum first — mopping without dry-removing grit just spreads it around
- Mix warm water with a few drops of dish soap in a bucket — or use a pH-neutral tile floor cleaner
- Use a damp mop (not soaking wet) — excess water pools in grout lines and can loosen the grout over time
- Mop in sections, rinse the mop frequently in clean water
- Allow to dry or wipe with a dry mop
Avoid vinegar on natural stone tile (marble, travertine, limestone) — it etches the surface. Vinegar is fine on ceramic and porcelain.
Cleaning Grout
For lightly discoloured grout:
- Make a paste of baking soda and water
- Apply to the grout lines with an old toothbrush or small grout brush
- Scrub along the grout line
- Spray with white vinegar and let the fizzing reaction work for a minute (ceramic/porcelain only)
- Scrub again and rinse thoroughly
For heavily stained or mildewed grout:
- Apply a commercial oxygen bleach grout cleaner (OxiClean paste, or dedicated grout cleaner) to the grout lines
- Allow to sit 10–15 minutes
- Scrub with a stiff grout brush
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water
- Avoid chlorine bleach on coloured grout — it can bleach the pigment unevenly
Sealing Grout
Once clean, sealing the grout dramatically reduces future staining and simplifies maintenance. Apply a penetrating grout sealer (available at tile shops and hardware stores) with a small foam brush along each grout line. Allow to cure per the manufacturer's instructions. Reseal every 1–2 years in high-traffic areas like kitchens and entries.
Tips
- A steam mop is highly effective for sanitizing tile and brightening grout without chemicals
- Place mats at kitchen entrances — tracked-in grit is abrasive and dulls tile glazing over time
- Bathroom grout benefits from a quick weekly spray of daily shower spray to slow mildew growth