How To Clean Mildew From Shower Tile Grout

Tile flooring is a durable choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas of the home that might get wet from time to time. With the proper care, tile flooring can look like new for years. Learn basic tile flooring care, deep cleaning techniques, and how to clean stained grout. These techniques are appropriate for both ceramic and faux tile flooring. However, don't over-clean or use too much soap, which can cause streaking or soap film on your tiles.^[1]

1
Sweep or vacuum the floor daily. This removes loose dirt, food crumbs, and other pieces of debris that can accumulate on tile floors. Dirt that is allowed to sit in wet areas can quickly turn into hard-to-remove grime.
- You should also sweep or vacuum the floor before mopping or cleaning it.
- Run a dry cloth duster or dust mop over the floors after they have been swept.
- If you have marble or natural stone flooring, make sure you use a soft broom for sweeping. A rough broom can scratch natural flooring.^[2]
2
Mop the floor with warm water. If the floor doesn't have stains or require heavy cleaning, running a damp mop over the floor will be sufficient to keep it clean. Cleanse the mop in fresh warm water after mopping one section of the room, and repeat until the entire floor is mopped.^[3]
- You may opt to add a small amount of dish soap to the mix to pick up everyday dust and debris.
- For everyday shine, simply run a clean damp dusting cloth over the floor, or consider using a dry mop such as a Swiffer.
3

Dry the floor. Whether you use water or water mixed with detergent, run a dry mop over the floor in small sections as you work across the room with your mop. This will prevent new dirt from quickly accumulating and staining the grout.
4

Clean up spills promptly. If you drop a glass of juice or even water, clean it up right away. The longer it sits, the more time it will have to soak into the grout. Dried orange juice and other sugary liquids also tend to become annoyingly sticky.^[4]
5
Clean the dirtier spills with disinfectant. If your pet has an accident or you drop raw meat on the floor, spray a disinfectant directly over the spot and wipe it up right away.
- If possible, limit the disinfectant to the area where the spill occurred. Strong chemicals may degrade or stain tile flooring.

1
Mop the floor with warm water and a vinegar solution. Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with a gallon of water and proceed to mop as usual. If the floor still doesn't look as clean as you would like, mop the floor again using fresh water and detergent.^[5]
- Rinse the floor with clean warm water after you are done washing it. It is important to remove all residual soap from the tiles so it doesn't remain on the floor to attract and hold dirt.
- Do not use vinegar or chemicals on marble flooring. See How to Clean Marble for information on safely cleaning stone floors.
2
Remove stains from tile floors. Prepare a paste using a 50/50 mixture of scouring powder and warm water. Rub the paste on the stain using a clean cloth, and then allow it to sit for five to 10 minutes. Scrub the area with a soft brush, then wash the area with warm water and a cloth to remove all remains of the paste.^[6]
- Repeat the process if the stain is still visible.
- If a spill is left to sit for a while, it can stain your tile floor.
3
Clean mildew from tile floors. Prepare a 50/50 solution of water and ammonia. Scrub the area using a soft brush and the ammonia solution. Rinse the floor with clean water after the mildew is gone.^[7]
- Tile floors in bathrooms tend to get mildew sometimes. The best prevention method is to air out the room after you've showered and keep the floors dry.
- If mildew does accumulate, an ammonia solution should take care of it.
- Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands. Also, make sure the room is well ventilated.
4
Remove rust spots from tile floors. Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands. Dampen a clean cloth with kerosene. Rub the rust stain away using the kerosene rag. Wash the area with warm water to remove residual rust and kerosene, then repeat the process if the rust is not entirely gone.^[8]
- You probably won't have to do this often, but if you do, cleaning with kerosene does the trick on rust.

1
Try a pencil eraser. This household trick is great for cleaning small sections of stained grout. Simply run the eraser of a number 2 pencil over the stain until it is gone. Use a clean white or pink eraser.^[9]
- Sandpaper or an abrasive grout tool may be more effective for stubborn surface stains.
2
Use baking soda. Make a paste with baking soda and water. Apply it to the dirty grout using an old toothbrush. Scrub the paste into the grout well. Wash the grout with warm water when you are finished.^[10]
- Most dirty grout can be brightened using this natural method.
- For the tougher stains, allow the paste to sit for a few minutes before you start scrubbing.
3
Remove tougher stains with bleach. If natural methods don't work, try a bleach solution. Mix a 75/25 solution of bleach and water if your grout is white. If the grout is colored, you will have to use plain water. Do not use bleach on colored grout as it may remove the coloring. Use a toothbrush or the edge of a sponge to clean the grout with the solution. Rinse the floor with warm water after you are done to remove all traces of bleach.^[11]
- Be careful to not get the bleach solution on the tiles.
- While using the bleach, wear a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands.
- After the floor is completely dry, carefully apply a coat of grout sealer to the grout between the tiles to prevent it from absorbing dirt in the future.
- If you don't like using bleach, you may be able to find a commercial grout cleaner that will be stronger than a natural cleaning product. However, check the label to make sure it doesn't list bleach as an ingredient.

Add New Question

Question

Can I paint my beige flooring tiles white?

Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

Yes, you can paint your beige flooring tiles white. Grout paint is available at most hardware stores.
Question

How do I remove stains and dirty marks off of tile?

Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Your best line of defense against stains is to wipe up spills immediately. If the stain has set, mix a 50/50 solution of scouring powder and warm water. Apply the mixture to the stain and let it set for 10 minutes. Then, scrub the stain with a soft brush. Continue applying the paste and scrubbing until the stain is gone. Finally, rinse the area with warm water until it's clean.
Question

What can I do to remove streaks from my mopping strokes?

Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Start by making sure you've removed all dirt and debris before you mop, as mopping an unswept floor will just spread around the grime. Additionally, use as little water as possible while you're mopping. You just need a little bit of moisture. Finally, dry your floors after you mop them.
Question

Should I use a chamois mop or a microfiber mop to clean a tile floor?

Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

Try a microfiber mop for better results picking up small particles when cleaning a tile floor.
Question

Can I use a steam mop on tile?

Yes, as long as the tile is sealed, you shouldn't have any issues. If your floor is not sealed, you might want to use something else to clean it, however. The steam created by steam mops can cause moisture-related issues.
Question

How do I clean paint off of tile?

Paint thinner can be used. Test a small area with a q-tip before cleaning larger areas.
Question

Why is the grout in my bathroom getting sticky?

It could be the accumulation of oil and dirt from foot travel, or it could be a type of mildew. Try a degreasing cleaner, and see if that eliminates the issue.
Question

What is Zep?

Zep Neutal Floor Cleaner Concentrate. It is not expensive, and goes a long way. Be sure to dry your grout lines after mopping a tile floor. Any cleaner will deposit the dirty water in the grout line, and the water will evaporate and leave the dirt in the grout. Dry the grout lines as a final step.
Question

How do I remove wax from a tile floor in my home?

Put a paper towel over the wax and run a hot iron over the paper. The wax will melt and get sucked up into the paper. When you are done, simply discard the paper towel.
Question

How do I clean a bathroom floor that has dirt stuck in the tiles?

Try Gumption multi-purpose cleaner. I had the same problem with my kitchen tiles. I tried everything, but with Gumption they came out looking like new.

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Hand washing and drying one section of a tile floor at a time often provides better results than mopping.
Use a wet mop on your bathroom weekly and on your kitchen biweekly to keep your tile in good shape.^[12]
You can also purchase a grout brush or an abrasive grout tool from the hardware store that is designed for cleaning grout on tile floors. It may be necessary to touch up your grout depending upon how much has been sanded away.

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Article SummaryX

To clean tile flooring, start by mopping the tiles with diluted white vinegar. When you're finished, rinse the floor with clean water to get rid of any vinegar residue. If there are any stains left on the floor, scrub them using equal parts scouring powder and warm water. If there's mildew on the floor, use a soft brush to scrub it with equal parts ammonia and water. You can also clean the grout in between the tiles by scrubbing it with baking soda and a toothbrush. For more tile cleaning tips, like how to routinely clean your tiles so they don't get dirty, keep reading!

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