How to Make a DIY Grout Cleaner for Stain-Free Tiles

Process of Making a DIY Grout Cleaner

Making a DIY grout cleaner is an easy and cost-effective way to tackle dirty grout lines in your bathroom or kitchen. Here’s a simple process to create your own grout cleaner using common household ingredients:

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

Before you begin mixing, make sure you have all the ingredients you’ll need. These are common household items, each playing a unique role in the cleaning process:

Baking Soda

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a naturally abrasive substance that helps scrub away dirt, grime, and stubborn stains. It works as a gentle scouring agent, which allows it to clean grout without scratching or damaging it.

Beyond scrubbing, baking soda also acts as a deodorizer, neutralizing odors that may be trapped in the porous grout surface.

Hydrogen Peroxide

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Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent natural cleaner and disinfectant. It has mild bleaching properties, which makes it effective at breaking down tough stains, especially mold and mildew that can accumulate in grout lines.

In addition, hydrogen peroxide helps lift away stains by oxidizing the dirt and debris, leaving your grout looking whiter and cleaner. When mixed with baking soda, it produces a gentle effervescence, which helps loosen grime from the grout.

Dish Soap

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Dish soap or Castile soap is a detergent with grease-cutting and emulsifying properties. Its primary purpose in this mixture is to break down oils, dirt, and grease that might be stuck in the grout.

Dish soap helps the mixture achieve a smooth, spreadable texture and ensures the paste adheres to the grout without running off.

Step 2: Measure and Add Ingredients to the Mixing Bowl

Once you have your ingredients ready, take a small mixing bowl, and begin by adding each ingredient in the following order:

Baking Soda (1/2 cup)

Start by adding half a cup of baking soda to the bowl. This is the foundation of your grout cleaner, and it will provide the abrasive action needed to scrub away dirt and stains. Be sure to measure carefully to maintain the correct balance of abrasiveness in your paste.

Hydrogen Peroxide (1/4 cup)

After the baking soda, pour in 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide will react with the baking soda to create a slight fizz. This fizzy reaction helps lift dirt from the grout’s surface and creates a gentler scrubbing effect without causing damage.

As you add the hydrogen peroxide, you’ll notice a slight fizzing or bubbling. This is a sign that the cleaner is starting to work its magic.

Dish Soap (1 tablespoon)

Finally, add 1 tablespoon of dish soap to the mixture. The soap will help to loosen grease and oil in addition to breaking down any soap scum that may have accumulated on your grout.

The soap will also help the mixture spread evenly across the grout lines, ensuring that it covers every spot that needs cleaning.

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Step 3: Stir the Ingredients Together

Once all the ingredients are in the bowl, take a spoon or a small whisk and begin stirring the mixture thoroughly. Mix the ingredients in a circular motion, ensuring that all three components—baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap—are well-combined.

The goal is to create a smooth paste without any dry patches of baking soda or liquid hydrogen peroxide left unincorporated.

As you mix, you will notice that the hydrogen peroxide reacts with the baking soda to create a foamy or fizzing effect. This is completely normal, and it’s part of the cleaner’s action in breaking down dirt and stains. Continue stirring until the mixture has a thick, paste-like consistency.

Step 4: Adjust the Consistency

After mixing, the paste should be thick enough to stay on the grout lines without dripping. However, if the paste feels too thick or difficult to spread, you can add a small amount of additional hydrogen peroxide. Add a few drops at a time and mix again until you achieve the desired consistency.

Conversely, if the paste is too thin or runny, add more baking soda to thicken it up. Be cautious when adding more baking soda, as it’s easy to make the paste too thick.

Start by adding small increments until the paste reaches a texture that is smooth but firm—similar to a thick cream or a pudding-like consistency.

The final mixture should be thick enough that it will cling to the grout lines but still easy to spread over the surface.

If the paste is too runny, it may slide off the grout and fail to clean effectively. On the other hand, if it’s too thick, it may be difficult to apply evenly across all the grout.

Related: The 7 Best Grout Cleaners of 2025

Step 5: Check the Texture and Finish Mixing

Before using your DIY grout cleaner, make a final check to ensure the paste has the ideal consistency. Take a small amount of the paste with a spoon and test it on your grout lines (or on a piece of tile) to see how well it spreads.

It should be easy to apply, without dripping, but also thick enough to stay in place while you scrub. If the mixture is too runny and slides off, add a bit more baking soda. If it’s too thick and difficult to spread, add a little more hydrogen peroxide.

Once the mixture has the right consistency and is well-combined, your DIY grout cleaner is ready for use.

This detailed process ensures that you create an effective grout cleaner from simple household ingredients, providing an affordable and eco-friendly solution for keeping your grout clean and fresh.