How to clean bathroom grout until it sparkles

BATHROOM can be humid places – great when you’re thawing out in the wintertime, but not so great for letting mould grow and thrive.

With its porous condition and generally light colouring, grout is especially prone to harbouring dirt and discolouration, which can really impact the overall appearance and cleanliness of your bathroom. While it’s essential to thoroughly clean to prevent the build up of dirt, it’s equally important to maintain the lifespan of your grout by minimising use of harsh chemicals.

So, start off simple and work your way up with these easy and practical tips for cleaning the mould from grout. Plain old water

To begin with, try the classic combination of plain warm water, a stiff bristled brush and a little bit of elbow grease. While this won’t prevent mildew from reforming, scrubbing the grout in circular motions will loosen the build-up between your tiles and ease the rest of the cleaning process. Baking soda & vinegar

Before heading straight to the heavy products, try a natural solution to avoid filling your home with the strong fumes of chemicals.

Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with water to force a thick paste, and scrub into the grout with a bristled brush. Once all grout has been covered with the paste, spritz with a half-half mixture of white vinegar and water, and allow the combo to bubble away for the next half an hour. Repeat the process once over if necessary. Borax & lemon

For the next step up in cleaning power, mix together ¼ cup of borax, ½ teaspoon lemon oil and enough liquid soap to form a paste.

Using an old toothbrush, scrub this paste into the grout with circular motions before rinsing with warm water. Bleach

For deep-rooted discolouration and grime, bleach might be the only answer.

First, ensure your bathroom is well ventilated and the bleach will only be used on white grouting. Then dilute bleach with water and spray across the grout. Using an old toothbrush, scrub in between the tiles and rinse when finished.

— realestate.com.au