How do You Clean Colored Grout Without Destroying the Color or General Aesthetics?

If you’ve got colored grout in your home, you might be looking at the typical grout cleaner that promises to restore grout to its original light-grey color with suspicion. You might (rightly) wonder if the TikTok hacks involving toilet cleaners that you see bouncing around the internet would clean or destroy your current aesthetic (but admittedly dirty) grout. Colored grout does indeed require a little bit of extra care. You don’t want to erode, bleach or discolor it while you’re getting rid of dirt and dust. Want to make sure your tile stays looking good while getting cleaner? This is what you need to know.

Cleaning Colored Grout Strategically and Well

First, let’s talk about the difference between intentionally colored grout and grout that merely looks colored because it’s, well, gross. When grout gets dirty, it can take on several different colors. Perhaps the most common is simply a darker gray, brown or black due to deposited dirt and grime. With bathroom tile, excess moisture and the heightened presence of mold on grout, you can see other colors, too — such as orange and pink. If these colors happen to go well with your tile choices and it’s been a long time since your grout received some TLC, it can be easy to assume that these colors are intentional. Give your grout a thorough cleaning in any case to see if it is or if it isn’t! Colored grout is a mixture of cement, water, sand and colorant. As there’s colorant involved, one of the main rules about treating colored grout is simple: Avoid bleach. Note that this includes hydrogen peroxide, which has mild bleaching effects. Similarly, vinegar, baking soda, oxygen bleach and other homemade or DIY solutions will not only ruin your grout, they may even damage your tile. Don’t take that chance. Instead, reach for a specially formulated grout cleaner that can handle both traditional white tile grout and colored grout. They’re inexpensive, and they’ll simplify both your cleaning arsenal and your stress levels!

Follow These Steps for Clean Colored Grout, Every Time

Start your cleaning process off right by, first, removing everything from the area and wiping away all surface-level crumbs and substances with a clean, lint-free microfiber cloth. Then, gather your materials. You will need more cloths, a nylon bristle brush, your grout cleaner of choice and a source of warm water. Then, complete the following steps: Firstly, make sure that the nozzle on your grout cleaner is in the “stream” setting (for vertical surfaces, use “foaming action” by pulling out the tabs at the end of the nozzle). Once done, point the nozzle at your grout, and spray along the lines of the grout. Next, allow the cleaner to sit in the grout for approximately two or three minutes so it can clean deeply. Then, using your nylon bristle brush, scrub the grout for a minute or two. You’ll generate a dirty paste. Then, using a small amount of warm water and a cloth, rinse and wipe away the area. This will give you a good idea of how well this process is working. For more intense soil, you may need to repeat this process a few times, so give it some time and effort if you don’t see instant results. When you’ve finished, rinse and dry the area with soft cloths and allow to dry before using the area.

Clean Your Colored Grout with Confidence by Partnering with the Stone Care Experts

Ready to make your kitchen or bathroom look like new once again? Restoring the clean beauty of your colored grout can go a long way towards making that happen. However, you do have to make sure that you do it right. Fortunately, one very simple swap can make this whole process a lot easier. Using a trusted, high-quality grout cleaner, you can work towards an easy deep clean for your colored grout and protect the surrounding tile in one simple step. Lastly, we always recommend sealing grout to protect against soil build-up.