Clean Moldy Grout

Grout is found in most bathrooms because it helps keep tiles attached to the walls in high humidity. Unfortunately, because of the moisture, grout is also susceptible to mold growth. Mold is not only an unsightly nuisance, but it can also be hazardous to your health if you inhale it or are exposed to it. Luckily, if you take right safety precautions, you can use common household ingredients to clean the mold off your grout and take the proper steps to prevent mold growth in the future.

Steps

Taking the Proper Safety Precautions

1. Get an N-95 respirator. Inhaling mold spores is very unhealthy for your respiratory system. For this reason, it's important that you get a respirator or a facemask that can filter out the spores. You can purchase an N-95 respirator at most hardware stores or online.
2. Pick up a pair of goggles when cleaning mold. Wearing a pair of thick goggles will prevent mold spores from getting into your eyes. Wear them when cleaning the mold on your grout and don't touch your eyes, mouth, or nose while you clean. Afterward, make sure to shower and wash your hands.
3. Wear long rubber gloves. Do not touch mold with your bare hands. Instead, purchase a pair of natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane, or PVC gloves that go up to your elbow. This will keep your hands safe from the mold and chemicals while you clean.
4. Seal off air vents and heating ducts with plastic. Seal off vents by placing a sheet of polyurethane plastic over them and sealing up the sides with duct tape. When you clean mold, the spores will often go into the air and can get stuck in your heating ducts or vents. Sealing them off while you clean will prevent the mold from spreading to other parts of your house.
5. Open up a window and point a fan outdoors. To further prevent mold from being spread to other parts of your house, make sure that the room your cleaning is well-ventilated. A fan can push the mold spores outside, instead of spreading them around your house.

Washing Grout with Vinegar

1. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar. Combine distilled white vinegar and water together in a spray bottle, in equal portions. Shake the bottle to mix the liquids together.
   • Avoid using other acidic cleaners to wash your grout because it could damage your tile.
2. Spray the moldy grout. Start from the top of your grout and spray the solution onto the grout. Concentrate more of the vinegar and water solution on areas with visible grout or areas where you may suspect mold growth.
3. Wipe the grout with a grout brush or scrub brush. Work a stiff brush in a circular motion over the visible mold. As you scrape the grout, the mold should start to disappear. If you are having issues getting into the crevices, you can use a toothbrush.
4. Rinse and dry the grout. Rinse off all of the vinegar and water solution with water from your showerhead. Use a dry cotton towel to soak up any leftover moisture from rinsing.
   • Rinse out the brush you used to remove any leftover mold spores in its bristles.

Cleaning with Bleach and Baking Soda

1. Mix baking soda and bleach together until it forms a paste. Combine 3/4 cup (96 g) of baking soda and 1/4 cup (59.14 ml) of bleach in a bowl. As you mix the two ingredients together, it should start to into a sticky solution similar to toothpaste.
2. Apply the paste to the grout with a paintbrush. Use a paintbrush to slather on a large portion of the paste onto your grout. The bleach will destroy the bristles of your brush, so use one that you don't mind throwing away.
   • If you don't have a paintbrush, you can use a toothbrush.
3. Cover the grout with plastic wrap and let it set. Put sheets of plastic wrap over the paste to and secure them in place with pieces of tape. Let the paste sit on the grout for at least 10 minutes. During this time the solution should start to whiten your grout.
4. Use a damp sponge to rinse the paste away. Remove the tape from the edges of the plastic wrap and dispose of it in the bin. Saturate a sponge with water and use it to wipe down the paste. You may have to scrub a little bit if the paste has dried on.
5. Dry the grout with a towel or microfiber cloth. Completely dry down the grout and bathroom area with a dry cotton or microfiber cloth. The drier your shower is after you clean it, the less likely mold with grow in the future.
   • Remember to rinse out the brush and sponge you used to clean the grout.

Preventing Mold in the Future

1. Stop the cause of the mold. Mold is typically created when there is a leak in your showerhead which can cause continual moisture in your tub. Locate where the mold is growing and fix the source of the moisture to prevent it from happening in the future.
2. Wipe and dry the grout after using your shower or tub. Wiping down your shower after you use it will soak up the moisture that encourages mold growth. The more diligent you are keeping the area dry, the less chance mold will form.
3. Reseal your grout. If you have cement based grout, resealing it every 3-5 years can help close up the pores in the grout and prevent mold growth in the future. Apply the sealer to clean grout and wipe up any excess that spills onto your tiles. Allow the grout to dry for at least 3 hours before using your shower or bath again.
   • Do not seal epoxy, urethane and other types of synthetic grout.
4. Keep your bathroom well-ventilated. Whenever you take a shower or bath, make sure to turn on the bathroom fan and open up a window to reduce the amount of humidity in your bathroom. Having a steamy bathroom accelerates bacterial growth and will result in more mold.

Things You'll Need

• N-95 respirator
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Fan
• Cotton or microfiber cloth
• Sponge
• Vinegar
• Water
• Bleach
• Baking soda
• Bowl
• Paintbrush
• Toothbrush

Sources and Citations

See also

• Sanitize Kitchen Surfaces
• Clean Burners on a Stove
• Clean Greasy Kitchen Cabinets
• Clean Bathroom Tile
• Clean Le Creuset
• Clean Your Kitchen Floor
• Clean Quartz Countertops
• Clean a Coffee Grinder
• Organize a Kitchen
• Clean a Toilet With Coke

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