This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full Disclosure Policy for details.
To quote the Grinch, “I hate, hate hate hate, double hate- looooooathe entirely” my counter tops. They are small white tiles, with even smaller “white” grout between them. Other than the popcorn ceilings, nothing dates our house more! I really hate them because of the cleaning required for my large counter space. I usually use Soft Scrub with bleach to get the grout white again, but when I saw this pin from someone as reputable as This Old House, I figured I’d give it a try.
I’m not really a fan of vinegar as a cleaner, but that’s mostly because of the smell. I know there are a myriad of uses around the house for vinegar. Some I’ve found work well, while others pale in comparison with a commercial cleaner. This one, I’m happy to report worked very well. I opened a new toothbrush and just dipped it into the mixture. It didn’t really take much scrubbing to get a clean result. I also liked the fact that I could easily wipe down the counter with a rag when I was done. Using another cleaner like Comet of Soft Scrub leaves a lot of mess behind that required good rinsing to get the counter clean. And, of course, it always feels good to use a cheap, natural product (as long as it gets the job done!).
How to whiten tile grout:
- Mix equal parts water and distilled white vinegar
- Optional: add a drop of dish soap (I like to do this for my kitchen counters where there’s lots of grease)
- Brush on to grout using a stiff toothbrush or a nail brush like this (these last longer) affiliate
- Let sit for just a minute and then scrub gently. Grime lifts right off!
- Wipe down with a clean rag and you’re done!
Try this one out to whiten tile grout in your house! You won’t be disappointed. And then maybe make a donation to the “Buy Nicole Granite Counter Tops” fund. 🙂
Just in case you already forgot how nasty they looked before I started:
Hi, I'm Nicole!I love chocolate chip cookies, good grammar, and trying new things. Pinterest is my happy place. Come follow me down the rabbit hole!
Latest posts by Nicole Burkholder (see all)
- Chocolate Orange Cookies - November 2, 2024
- Nutella Banana Bread - October 14, 2024
- Bacon Onion Dip - September 13, 2024
Sarah White says
Interesting post Nicole! I usually just get my tile and grout cleaned by a professional once a year and they do a good job. But, I’m going to test this out on the grout in my kid’s bathroom shower- it’s so dirty!! Those before and after pictures are awesome, so I’m hoping mine turns out that well! Looking forward to more of your cleaning tips! 🙂
Melanie says
I really like DIY cleaners, especially lemon juice. It is simply irreplaceable on kitchen. Have never used vinegar to clean tiles though, thanks for the idea!
Richard Black says
My wife wanted our kitchen counters and floor to be regrouted, so I was going to do just that. I learnt about NuGrout from a buddy of mine who agreed to help me with the re-grouting. Boy am I glad I asked him to help me out. The NuGrout cleaner and Pre-treat products worked wonders! It appears as if we have a brand new kitchen. We even used the products to clean our bathrooms. Don’t hesitate to check them out at http://www.nugrout.com/
grout repair says
Hey ! I think if you add some more post about cleaning and sweeping services then I sure you get more and huge list of fans and dealers.
Mommy Burkholder says
Hahaha!!! If I could afford cleaning and sweeping services, do you think I’d be posting about DIY grout cleaning? I’m pretty sure my audience is in the same boat, so I’m afraid you may be out of luck there. 🙂