How to Clean Floor Tile Grout Without Scrubbing? (13 Ways)

Are you okay with a bacterial boogie party happening in your grout lines? If not, you’re probably wondering how to clean floor tile grout without scrubbing.  And let’s be honest, who has time for that kind of arm workout anyway?

But don’t worry, guys! Thankfully, this blog unlocks over 13 secrets on how to clean floor tile grout without scrubbing. Think magic potions (not borax!), minimal effort, and a sparkling bathroom (without the years of physical therapy).  Let’s spend more time celebrating your win and less time cleaning, shall we? ✨

Psst! This blog may contain affiliate links (https://amzn.to/3UceSgZ). It’s a win-win! You get amazing decor, and Archwhispers gets a little closer to their next writing project!

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Why Should You Clean Floor Tile Grout at Least Once a Year?

Do you know that around 30% of the mold, bacteria, and fungi in your homes hang out in the floor tile grout? Yep, it’s true!

In fact, a 2013 study by Dr. Wioletta A. Żukiewicz-Sobczak confirmed that most of the allergens – Mucor, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Alternaria and Cladosporium grew in wet, neglected floor tile grout lines.

Even we at Archwhispers decided to do a little experiment to show this with our in-house biologist, Shubham. We checked out a spot of some wet floor tiles for the grout bacteria. Guess what? It was E.coli! (Yes, the same one found in loos, latrines & uncleaned pipes. The same one that gives you diarrhea, UTIs & abdominal pain!)

And it’s not just that, dirty floor grouts can mess up your floor sealants, causing water leaks and cracks over time. Also, they look super gross and could make your guests cringe.

But hey! The good news is that floor tile grout lines don’t need cleaning often. You see, they are completely sunken and only get dirty when completely full, which is like once a year. So, no need to stress! Just a quick clean on a Sunday will do!

How to Clean Floor Tile Grout Without Scrubbing Too Much?

Cleaning grout lines is such a hassle, isn’t it? So, if you are wondering on how to clean floor tile grout without scrubbing, take a look at these 13 tips mentioned below!

1. The Magic Trio – Vinegar, Lemon Juice & Baking Soda 

Video Credit Link: https://archwhispers.com/

Time Required: Over 45 mins for one Room

Let’s talk about white vinegar! We all have it at home, don’t we? It’s natural, safe, and perfect for mixing pasta and noodle sauces. But today, let’s find out how to turn it into a natural grout cleaner to kick that dust to the curb!

Things You’ll Need: White or Apple Cider Vinegar, Half a lemon, Baking Soda, Salt Spray Bottle, Hot Water, a Mixing Container, Spoon & a Microfiber Cloth.

• Get a small mixing bowl and mix 3.5 cups of hot water, 3tbsp lemon juice & 3tbsp white vinegar & 3tbsp baking soda properly. Once it starts bubbling, add a pinch of salt for better cleansing. (PSST! This one’s an Insider hack from Archwhispers.)
• Now, transfer this solution to a spray bottle or use a spoon to pour it along the tile grout lines directly.
• Now, just let it soak in. Wait for over 15–20 minutes, and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. I’m sure your tile grout lines will look as good as new! 
• Alternatively, you can also curate a thick 1:1 paste of baking soda & vinegar to scrub the extra mud & dust from your floor tile grout lines.

Caution: Always test this baking soda and vinegar mix on a small area of tile grout first to make sure it won’t damage your floor tiles.

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2. How to Clean Floor Tile Grout Without Scrubbing by Using Hydrogen Peroxide? 

Time Required: Roughly half an hour for a room.

Hydrogen peroxide is really cheap & easy-to-get and does a great job, just like vinegar! But since it’s a mild skin irritant, I suggest you wear gloves, glasses and keep all your windows open while preparing it for grout cleaning. Below are a few more tips! 

Things You’ll Need: 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, Spray Bottle, Water, White Vinegar, Lavender or any other essential oil of choice, a Floor Mop & a Bucket.

• Mix about a cup of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar each with half a bucket of water. Now, add over 12–15 drops of your favorite essential oil or perfume in it.
• Mix it all together and leave it for like 4–5 minutes. Then just spread it on your floor using a mop or cloth. Be sure to get into all those grout lines really well.
• Now, just leave it for about 10–15 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water and soap. If there are tough stains, just give those spots another go for a perfect clean.

Insider Tip: Sprinkle some baking soda in your hydrogen peroxide solution to make it clean even better!

3. Goo Gone Grout & Tile Cleaner for Mold, Mildew & Hardwater Stains 

Time Required: Hardly 4-5 minutes for one room

Clean up those stubborn molds, mildew, hard water, and soap scum stains in just 2–3 minutes with this amazing professional-grade chemical cleaner I found on Amazon! It’s super effective, easy to use, and incredibly affordable. 

Just a heads-up, it has a strong scent and emission, so wear a mask and glasses to stay safe. Also avoid using it on softer rocks like marble, travertine, or limestone to prevent fading. 

• Open the sealer and spray the cleaner directly on the grout lines. Alternatively, you can also dip a cleaning sponge in the cleaner and dabb it onto your grout lines.
• Now wait and let it soak in nicely for 2–3 minutes.
• Finally, wipe off the grout lines with lukewarm water thoroughly. And if there are any sticky grime areas still left, do scrub them or repeat the process once again. 

4. Bleach It! Part I – Oxygen Bleach! 

Time Required: Over 45 minutes for one room

As you all know, oxygen bleach is a literal lifesaver to remove those harsh tea, coffee & wine stains from your clothes, upholstery and what not! But did you know that this whitening agent fills in all those tiny pores of your grout, making it impossible for dirt to seep in?

Just be careful not to scrub too hard, or you might end up with faded, discolored or weakened floor tiles.

Things You’ll Need: Powdered Oxygen Bleach, Water, Bucket, Mixing Spoon, A sponge or Microfiber cloth, A spray bottle & Rubber or Protection Gloves

• Mix about 1.5 spoons of powdered oxygen bleach in over 1 gallon of lukewarm water. You can also check the manufacturer’s bleach dilution instructions to be sure!
• Next, wear your rubber gloves and pour the solution over your grout lines carefully
• Let it sit for over 20–30 minutes before you wipe it off with a clean microfiber cloth.

Insider Tip: Rinse your bleached floors with lukewarm water and mild soap to avoid any sensitive skin irritation or rashes.

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5. Bleach It! Part II – Chlorine Bleach! 

Time Required: Just 8–10 minutes for one room

Chlorine bleach is almost the same as oxygen bleach, just a bit more harsh, toxic and abrasive. So, we at Archwhispers suggest using it only for those sticky and grimy stains that don’t go with any other method we discussed above. 

Also don’t forget to wear your gloves, eyeglasses, leg pads, everything! Plus, keep the windows open and the fan ON!

Things You’ll Need: Diluted Chlorine Bleach, Water, Mixing Bucket, Stiff-Bristled Brush, Rubber Gloves & Eyeglasses / Other Protection.

• Mix 1 part of chlorine bleach in about 10 parts water, mix it with a stiff-bristled brush and let it sit for about 4-5 minutes.
• Then, wear your gloves & glasses and apply the bleach on the grimy or oily spots carefully. Ensure that you don’t spill it over the entire grout line or on the tile surface, as it may erode it beyond repair.
• Let it sit for 1–2 minutes and then wipe it immediately with warm water and a microfiber cloth.

Caution: Never EVER mix chlorine bleach with any other cleaner, baking soda or vinegar as it may cause dangerous fumes and suffocation.

6. Grout-eez Super Heavy-Duty Grout Cleaner for Tough Stains

Time Required: Over 15–20 minutes for one room.

If you are wondering on how to clean floor tile grout without scrubbing, then this unscented heavy-duty cleaner by Grout-eez is a total savior. Like, it’ll go in all those tiny cracks on your grout lines and whiten them instantly.

However, many users complained that this cleaner doesn’t work well for stains that are over 2–3 weeks old. So, if you have any of them, I suggest you use the hydrogen peroxide or chlorine bleach method we discussed above. 

• First, clean all the dirt and dust from your floor tile grout lines using a vacuum cleaner. Now, just apply the Grout-eez cleaner on a V-shaped grout brush and apply it over the grout lines carefully.
• Let it cure for over 10–12 minutes, wash it off with water, and you are done! 
• You can also repeat this process on any leftover oiled or grimy spots for a spick & span home! 

7. How to Clean Floor Tile Grout Without Scrubbing by Using Lemon Juice 

Video Credit Link: https://archwhispers.com/

Time Required: Around half an hour for one room

When life throws lemons at you, just squeeze them on your grout lines and scrub away the dirt! No need for hard scrubbing or polishing. Plus, it’s all-natural and non-toxic, leaving your feet feeling soft like a baby’s, no slippers needed!

Things You’ll Need: Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Spray Bottle, Water, Microfiber Cloth & A Mixing Jar.

• Dip a small brush in freshly prepared lemon juice and apply it carefully on the grout lines. You can also dissolve in a pinch of baking soda for a double-cleaning action.
• Further, allow the lemon juice to sit for 15–20 minutes to loosen the dirt and grime buildup.
• Finally, wipe it off with a microfiber cloth and enjoy a 4x whitened floor tile grout line right away! 

8. Black Diamond Ultimate Grout Cleaner for Ceramic Tiles

Time Required: Approximately 15 mins for each room

One of the easiest ways to clean floor tile grout without scrubbing is to use this affordable, chemical-free and highly effective commercial floor cleaner from Amazon. It works well on greasy food, oil, cat & dog urine stains like magic and prevents yellowing of both the tile and the grout line.

However, most users observed that it didn’t work great with mold. Hence, if you have a moldy tile, I suggest you go with vinegar or bleach instead! 

• Break open the bottle’s sealer and spray the cleaning solution over your tiles and grout lines. You can also use a V-shaped grout brush to direct the solution onto the grout lines properly.
• Now, let it rest for 10–12 minutes and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth.
• Finally, apply a solution of vinegar and baking soda over any leftover grease or mold stains to scrub them off easily.

9. Get Yourself an Electric Floor Tile Grout Cleaner

Time Required: 10–12 minutes for one room.

Well, there are tons of electric grout cleaners available in the market, but my personal favorite is this Voweek Electric Scrubber I found on Amazon. It’s small, lightweight, cordless and lasts for over 120 mins after fast charging. 

Also, this one comes with four brushes – large, corner, small and pointed; so, you won’t have any problem reaching all the corners on your grout lines. 

However, some customers complained that the cleaner doesn’t withstand any head pressure and sags a bit in the long-run. So, use this one gently, just like all your other electronics!  

• Prepare the cleaning solution using the lemon juice + baking soda + vinegar method we mentioned above. 
• Next, put in a spray bottle and sprinkle it over your grout lines carefully. Then just grab your electric grout cleaner brush, turn on the switch and let it do all the grime scrubbing for you!
• Let it sit for 3–5 minutes and then wipe it off with a clean microfiber cloth.

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10. How to Clean Floor Tile Grout Without Scrubbing by Using a Steam Cleaner? 

Time Required: Over 10 minutes for each room.

If you have a really large floor tile grout area to restore and don’t want to use any chemicals, then a steam cleaner is literally the best option for you! It saves you from all the back bending, scrubbing and kills about 99.9% of disease-causing grout bacteria.

However, do watch out for the burns and boils; this one gets super hot and might raise your home’s temperature for a few minutes.

• Move your furniture and sweep out all the loose dirt and debris that might clog your steam cleaner. If possible, mop the floor with clean water (optional).
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and fill the steam cleaner with water. Now, fit in the grout cleaning attachments and target all the steam towards the floor tile grout lines.
• Next, just clean up all the dirt and grime, then you’re good to go! You can even switch on the ceiling fans or AC to cool the room quicker.

Caution: Avoid keeping the nozzle in one spot for too long to prevent overheating the grout lines.

11. Go All Natural With Bio Enzymes!  

Video Credit Link: https://archwhispers.com/

Time Required: Over 3–4 months to prepare the solution and 10–12 minutes for cleaning

Now, this is almost an in-house DIY floor tile grout cleaning solution we developed at Archwhispers. This one’s all natural; it won’t give you rashes, blisters, irritation, nothing; But it will still be the best mold & bacteria repelling solution of all! 

The only thing? A bio-enzyme mix needs 3–4 months to ferment, especially in cold weather. And it gets pretty fizzy. So, you gotta release the pressure every day without FAIL!

Things You’ll Need: 3 parts citrus peels (lemon, sweet lime, orange, grapefruit, etc.), 1 part jaggery or brown sugar, 10 parts water, 4-5 soap nuts, and a plastic or glass bottle.

How to Prepare the Bioenzyme Cleaning Solution?

• Wash the citrus peels and them into tiny 1 inch pieces. Moisten them up a bit and transfer them to your bottle.
• Next, grate your jaggery block and put over 1 part in the bottle. You can also replace it with brown sugar if you want.
• Now, fill the bottle with water. Ideally, you should leave about 2-3 fingers space at the top. Now, label the container with its date and do ‘burp’ it every day or two.
• Strain this solution after 3–4 months and add 4-5 Reetha or soap nuts to it. Cover it with a muslin cloth and keep in a cool, dark place.
• After a week, squeeze and remove the soap nuts, give it a good stir, and your solution is ready!

How to Clean Floor Tile Grout Without Scrubbing by Using Bio Enzyme? 

• Add a bottle cap full of bioenzyme solution to half a bowl of water and stir it properly.
• Now, use a spoon & pour the solution over your floor tile grout lines. Take care not to spill it over the tiles, as those may fade or discolor instantly.
• Then just wait for 5–10 minutes and wipe off with a microfiber cloth.

12. Rejuvenate Grout Deep Cleaner Cleaning Formula

Time Required: 5–10 minutes for each room

If you are still confused on how to clean floor tile grout without scrubbing extensively, then Rejuvenate’s Grout Deep Cleaning Formula is a must-try! This one works with all ceramic, porcelain & marble tiles and restores your original grout color in one go!

However, some users mentioned it didn’t work great on mold and mildew. So, just stick to using it for grime, dust, and soap scum stains for the best results.

• Break open the bottle seal and pour the cleaning solution directly onto your grout lines with a sponge.
• Now, let it seep for 5–10 minutes nicely. You can also agitate it a bit with a scrubbing brush, but that’s purely optional.
• Finally, dab out the loose residue and clean the tiles with lukewarm water to prevent any accidental fading.

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13. Buy Yourself an Acid Brightener

Time Required: Just 10–12 minutes for each room

All my childhood, I heard my teacher saying ‘Fake it, till You Make It.’ And well, an acid brightener works the same way. It’s like a mix of hydrochloric & phosphoric acid. So, it dissolves all those nasty stains and whitens your grout with literally ZERO scrubbing! 

Things You’ll Need: An Acid Brightener, Water for Dilution, Mixing Spoon, Spray Bottle, Rubber Gloves, Eyeglasses & Other Safety Equipment.

• Prepare the acid brightener as per the dilution instructions on the manufacturer’s label. Mix and give it a good stir.
• Now use a sponge, brush or spray bottle and apply the solution to all your grout lines. Let it sit for 1–2 minutes and then rinse the floor with clean water.

Quick Tip: Use baking soda to neutralize any leftover acid stains and protect your skin from any allergic reactions.

FAQs

Conclusion

So now that you know how to clean floor tile grout without scrubbing by using different natural and chemical solutions, you’re basically a certified “Tile Terminator” (patent pending)! Just pick the one that suits you the best, and don’t forget to share the Before & After pics for a free feature on our site! 

And if you want more similar tutorials on ‘how to paint a room for beginners,’ or ‘how to select the best balcony tiles for your garden,’ hit that SUBSCRIBE button now! 

External Resources

• Learn the role of fungi in allergic diseases from Wioletta A. Żukiewicz-Sobczak
• Know how to use Chlorine Bleach safely from North Dakota State University
• Explore the pros and cons of various commercial cleaner ingredients with Prof. Eric Beckman