How To Remove Mold From Tile Grout. What pros say

Mold growths on tile grout aren’t just unsightly but can also be unhealthy. You can eliminate the mold with the right strategy and only a few essential household items. 

Here’s how to successfully remove mold from tile grout in 9 easy steps:

1. Gather your cleaning agents, applicators, and sealant.
2. Fill a bowl with warm water, and add baking soda.
3. Add a few drops of liquid soap to the paste.
4. Pour the vinegar along the tile grout.
5. Apply the baking soda paste over the vinegar.
6. Clean the lines, then wait five minutes to scrub again.
7. Wipe off the vinegar mixture with a sponge.
8. Gently scrape the top layer of the grout.
9. Apply the grout sealer along the tile grout.

Although there are other methods to remove mold from tile grout, vinegar, and baking soda mixture remains the quickest and most affordable method. It is also a non-toxic method; hence its environmentally friendly. Continue reading this article to learn how to clean your grout with these household items. 

Step 1: Gather Your Cleaning Agents, Applicators, and Sealant

The supplies used for this procedure are affordable as many products are already lying around your house. 

You will need the following supplies: 

• Liquid soap 
• Grout knife (optional) 
• Baking soda 
• White vinegar 
• Spray bottle 
• Warm water 
• A bowl or cup 
• A stiff brush or grout brush 
• Applicator stick or spoon 
• Sponge or towel rag 
• Grout sealer. 

Step 2: Fill a Bowl With Warm Water, and Add Baking Soda

The amount of warm water used in this step depends on the size of the area you want to clean. You can use a bowl or a cup; however, you may require a larger bowl or basin of warm water for larger surfaces. 

Be careful not to use too much water, as it may affect the quality of your paste. A good paste shouldn’t be too loose or too thick.

Then you should proceed as follows:

• Step 1. Mix baking soda and water: Combine half a bowl of baking soda with a considerable amount of warm water and stir the mixture gently to make a spreadable paste. 
• Step 2. Apply the paste: Apply a paste consisting of warm water and baking soda to the surface to help to dislodge the mold stain. 

Baking soda is a mild base; it also easily dissolves stains and oil in water, ensuring effective removal, hence often used as a cleaning agent. Moreover, in contrast to many other cleaning detergents, baking soda is non-toxic and can also be used in food.

Step 3: Add a Few Drops of Liquid Soap to the Paste

Adding liquid soap to the warm water mixture lowers its surface tension. Surface-active agents, commonly known as surfactants, are present in detergents and soaps. These surfactants help water adhere to objects better by reducing its surface tension value. 

Water with soap can spread over a larger area (expanding its scope of impact) and seep through the finer areas of the dirty tile grout. Thus, by reducing surface tension, the liquid soap makes removing debris embedded in the grout easier.

Step 4: Pour the Vinegar Along the Tile Grout

Vinegar is a great, all-natural cleaning solution that often won’t damage or discolor the grout. Use distilled white vinegar for this stage since it keeps household spaces cleaner and more pristinely maintained. Then spray the white vinegar generously over the moldy area using a spray bottle.

Step 5: Apply the Baking Soda Paste Over the Vinegar

One of the best lifting agents is baking soda. Once you get a spreadable consistency, tweak the mixture. Directly apply the baking soda paste on top of the vinegar to the moldy grout using an applicator stick or a spoon. 

However, to save time, you may use a spray bottle in this step, especially when working on a larger surface. Gently pour the mixture onto the grout lines and proceed to the next step.

Step 6: Clean the Lines, Then Wait Five Minutes To Scrub Again

For this step, you may use a toothbrush or a cleaning brush with firmer bristles, but a grout brush would be ideal since it’s bigger and stiffer than a toothbrush. It also fits nicely into the tile grouts, thus would make the job easier for you. 

Scrape the mold and leave it for about five minutes before giving it another scrub; this will remove the stubborn mold stains from your tile grout.

Step 7: Wipe Off the Vinegar Mixture With a Sponge

Once the dirt is out, wet a sponge or a cleaning towel and rinse the grout. Be sure to use clear water to prevent further staining of the grout. Also, rinse the sponge occasionally to remove the mold stains. 

After rinsing, leave the floor to dry; this may take about an hour, depending on your ventilation. 

Alternatively, you can use a clean cloth to absorb any remaining moisture. Leave the windows open or the fan running until the grout seems completely dry.

Step 8: Gently Scrape the Top Layer of the Grout

If you find stubborn, embedded mold in the grout, you can use a grout knife to gently scrape the damaged layer of grout off of the surface. However, do this cautiously since the tool is perfect for removing grout, and you only want to remove the upper stained layer. Removing too much will encourage mold growth in the future. 

Step 9: Apply the Grout Sealer Along the Tile Grout

The grout sealer is a great way to ensure that you won’t encounter mold in the future as it projects the grout. You should then follow these steps:

• Step 1. Apply the sealer: Once the floor surface is dry, apply the grout sealer along the tile to seal the grout and further discourage organic growth. 
• Step 2. Let it dry: Leave the sealer to dry for hours before applying the second coat. 
• Step 3. Repeat yearly: It is also wise to use the grout sealer at least once a year to prevent it from staining again. 

Final Thoughts

Removing mold from your grout is easy if you don’t mind a DIY project and have extra time. It is also relatively low cost as most items are already on hand in your home. It’s also an excellent technique for cleaning on the spot or between professional cleanings. 

The main steps in the process include: 

1. Dividing the cleaning process into phases.
2. Combining baking soda, liquid soap, and vinegar.
3. Cleaning the tile grout
4. Sealing your grout to prevent mold in the future.