How To Clean Tile And Grout: The Ultimate Guide

By Perth Home Cleaners
Posted in House Cleaning
On August 27, 2025

Look, sure, anyone who’s ever had to scrub the grout knows the pain of it. Tile and grout seem to just attract dirt and grime like nothing else in your home. But here’s the thing – it doesn’t have to be as hard as you think.

We will cover how to clean these surfaces and keep them looking nice without scrubbing on your hands and knees every weekend. Which is always good.

What is grout anyway?

Before getting carried away with the material, let’s talk about the true nature and purpose of grout. It’s basically a mortar that fills the gaps between your tiles — usually made of cement, water and sand.

Over time it gets stained and discoloured because it’s porous, meaning it absorbs stuff. If you’ve ever tried cleaning it before, you know what we mean. The good news is there are ways to facilitate things. The bad news? It’s going to take some effort still.

The main ways to clean tile and grout

You really have two options – chemical cleaners or steam cleaners. Both work; it is just up to what you are most comfortable with.

Chemical cleaners are the liquid ones you use a sponge or brush to administer. They are usually associated with some pretty nasty chemicals, however, so you should be cautious. Always read the label and follow the safety precautions – open windows, wear gloves, that sort of thing. Safe Work Australia recommends proper ventilation and protective equipment when using household chemicals.

Steam cleaners rely on hot water to clean surfaces. The steam penetrates into the grout and breaks up the dirt and stains, which is pretty neat. This is a good option if you want something more natural.

Both can work well. You may need to experiment to find what works best for your special tiles and the amount of grime you’re going through.

Different methods you can try

There are literally tonnes of ways one can approach dirty tile and grout, depending on what resources you have and the severity of the grime. Some are better for light cleansing, while others are for really gross grime.

Here’s what you can do.

Method 1: Steam cleaning

If you can get your hands on a steam cleaner, this is one of the best options. You can rent one from Bunnings or most hardware stores if you have neither a machine to use nor the funds for one. The key is to read the instructions correctly.

Method 2: Pressure washing

If you have access to a pressure washer, simply point it at the grime and blast it away. Be cautious, as an excess of pressure can in fact do damage to your tiles and grout. If that’s less complicated, you might also want to hire a high-pressure cleaning service.

Method 3: Natural solutions

Warm water and vinegar is a surprisingly effective alternative for a cheap and natural option. Mix equal parts in a spray bottle, let sit for a few minutes, and scrub and rinse. Baking soda mixed with water into a paste also does the trick.

Method 4: Commercial cleaners

If you don’t want to make your own solutions, there are loads of commercial tile and grout cleaners. They are engineered for harsh stains and work pretty quickly. Just be sure you read about what they’re meant for before you buy them.

Method 5: For really stubborn stains

Sometimes you may get stains that refuse to budge. In that case you can make a poultice, which is basically a paste that you apply to the stain and leave for a while. It pulls the stain away from the surface and into the paste. Hydrogen peroxide or oxygen bleach is also excellent for tough stains; just follow the directions on the bottle.

What’s the difference between tile and grout?

People often confuse tile and grout, but they’re not the same material. Tile is the hard surface – produced using ceramic, stone or glass – and it’s pretty durable. You will find it on floors, countertops and walls.

Grout is the porous stuff that fills the gaps between tiles. It’s typically a cement-based material with sand mixed with water, and it stains much easier than tile does. This takes in moisture and dirt over time. Mould and mildew both love grout, which is why bathrooms are such a problem.

Why you should actually clean your tile and grout

You might be wondering: “Do I really have to clean it very often?” Well, sort of. Regular cleaning helps stop dirt, mould and mildew from developing in the first place. Which means less elbow grease later on.

Here’s why it matters:

Stops dirt, mould and mildew from building up.
Keeps your tiles and grout looking decent.
Makes your home more sanitary.
Saves you from having to do a massive deep clean later.

But if you don’t clean it, you’ll see visible discolouration, staining, mould growth and sometimes bad smells. Particularly in bathrooms and kitchens with moisture. Not great.

The important thing is mould is not just ugly. NSW Health warns that mould exposure can cause respiratory problems or allergic reactions. So it’s actually a health thing too.

Tips to make cleaning easier

Choose the right cleaner; keep in mind the porous structure of tile and grout absorbs liquids. Don’t use harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbers that can damage your tiles and grout. Your best bet is to use a soft-bristled brush, and a damp mop will help remove any leftover residue.

Take your time too. I know it’s tempting to rush through it, but if you apply too much pressure, you can actually damage the surface. Work slowly and methodically and make sure you rinse everything properly.

Honestly, if you’re not confident or just can’t be bothered, call in the professionals. They’ve got the right tools and experience to do it quickly without damaging anything.

Cleaning your shower specifically

Showers are one of the worst areas because they are always wet, and that moisture simply creates mould and soap scum. If you’re suffering from mould issues, see our guide on how to tackle bathroom mould. Make sure to clean your walls, drain, fixtures, shower curtain, floor and grout.

The key areas to tackle

For walls, use a mildew-resistant cleaner with a soft brush. For the drain you will probably want a plunger or drain snake to get rid of soap scum build-up. Polish your fixtures to restore the shine, wash your curtain in the machine on a gentle cycle and sweep and mop the floor with disinfectant.

Vinegar and water method

The vinegar and water trick works really well in showers too. Mix equal parts in a spray bottle, spray everywhere, let it sit for a few minutes then scrub and rinse. Easy.

Other cleaning options

If you don’t have vinegar, baking soda mixed into a paste works. Or you can just buy a store-bought shower cleaner – Scrubbing Bubbles is pretty popular. Just spray it on, let it work, then rinse.

The dryer sheet trick

Weirdly enough dryer sheets can work in a pinch. Wet one and scrub it over soap scum. It breaks up the grime and leaves things smelling fresh, which is always good.

The challenges you’ll face

Tile and grout cleaning can be tricky, to be frank. The truth is they’re so porous that they soak up dirt pretty well.

Another challenge is that tile and grout are often in hard-to-reach places. That kind of stuff, in shower corners, behind toilets. It’s harder to clean them right, especially if you don’t have the right tools.

A good vacuum cleaner with attachments makes the job easier, as does a stiff brush. Just be sure to vacuum first to remove loose dirt particles that might scratch the tiles during scrubbing.

How often should you clean?

Depending on how much traffic the area gets, here’s a rough guide:

High-traffic areas like hallways or main bathrooms: once a week is good.
Less-used areas like ensuites or guest bathrooms: every two weeks should be fine.
Kitchens: probably need weekly cleaning too because of cooking grime and food spills.
Areas that get wet frequently: more often to prevent mould build-up.

The thing is, the more you stay on top of it, the easier each clean becomes. Let it go for too long and you’ll be scrubbing for ages.

What about costs?

Professional cleaning averages about $100 to $200. This obviously varies depending on the area and what type of tile and grout you have. DIY is of course cheaper but tedious and labour-intensive. If done incorrectly, you can damage your tiles, which costs more to repair.

Wrapping up

Look, tile and grout cleaning isn’t exactly exciting, but regular cleaning prevents build-up and keeps things manageable. With the right products and tools, DIY is absolutely doable. Just work slowly and methodically to avoid damaging your tiles or grout.

If you just want to do it correctly and don’t want to go through the hassle, hiring the experts is a good investment. They have the expertise to clean everything thoroughly without damaging your tiles or grout.

If you’re based in Perth and would like assistance cleaning your tile and grout, Perth Home Cleaners can do it for you. Contact us, and we will get your surfaces looking good again.