5 Ways to remove mold from grout

The only time you should see black between your shower tiles is when you specifically install black grout. Unfortunately, a wet bathroom is a breeding ground for mold. You should be resealing your grout every year, but black mold can grow even in the best of bathrooms. Today, we’ll talk about a few ways you can remove mold from grout and keep your bathroom fresh.

1. Warm water and a scrub brush

You can use warm water and a scrub brush to get rid of mold if the area is small. Make sure to use a brush that is stiff and fits the grout lines, like a tile brush or thin scrub brush. Go along the grout in small sections, douse the area in water, and scrub hard.

You’ll see that scrubbing the area is a common thread between all of these cleaning techniques. No matter what type of solution or chemical you use, you need to physically remove the mold. According to the EPA, even dead mold can cause allergic reactions in some people.

2. Use baking soda or borax

Baking soda and borax are both alkaline substances. Mold doesn’t like that. Mold prefers to grow in slightly acidic environments instead. Because of this, you can use baking soda or borax to kill mold and then scrub it off.

There are three ways to do it:

• Make a borax or baking soda paste with a bit of water and apply it to the moldy grout. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then scrub the area with a brush and rinse it with water.
• Apply some borax or baking soda powder directly to a damp cloth and use that for cleaning the grout.
• Mix 1/2 cup of borax or baking soda with a gallon of water. Use a spray bottle to apply the solution over the mold and mildew. Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes. Then, use the scrub brush and rinse it with water.

Remember, baking soda is abrasive. You should avoid scrubbing your tiles directly with a baking soda mixture. If you’re going to use this cleaning agent, use a thin brush or toothbrush.

3. Use hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is also a good way to kill mold. You can apply it directly to moldy tile grout and let it sit, then scrub and rinse. If you’re in the mood for a science experiment, first apply the baking soda paste described above to the black mold.

Then, pour hydrogen peroxide on the paste. Watch as it bubbles and fizzes. This will loosen more mold spores in the grout and allow you to remove the mold easier.

4. Use vinegar

Distilled white vinegar makes a great cleaning agent, and you can use it to remove mold from grout in the bathroom. However, vinegar isn’t the strongest cleaning agent, so it’s best for mild cases of black mold.

To prepare your mixture, combine equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the area down, let it sit for half an hour, scrub, then rinse. You might have to do this multiple times for the best effect.

5. Use bleach

Bleach is a popular disinfectant and cleaner. We listed it last because you should only resort to chlorine bleach if you’re dealing with tough mold. It’s a dangerous chemical, so you need to use gloves along with face and eye protection.

Open a window and be careful not to breathe in the fumes. Under no circumstances should you mix bleach with any other type of cleaner. Bleach can also lighten your tiles, so you have to use it carefully or dilute it.

If your grout is white and your tiles are white, you can clean grouting directly with bleach and a toothbrush. Take things slow and scrub the grout as you go. Let it sit for about half an hour (in a well ventilated bathroom) and then rinse it off with warm water.

For a diluted bleach grouting cleaner, mix one part bleach and four parts water in a spray bottle. Let it sit for half an hour, then scrub and rinse.

Take steps to prevent mold in the future

As long as mold can find a porous and damp place in your bathroom, it can grow and come back. The best way to enjoy clean grout in your bathroom is to prevent mold from growing in the first place. Here are some tips to keep mold from growing in your grout:

• Thoroughly clean your bathroom every week (or every other week at least)
• Open a window and turn the fan on to let out steam
• Run the fan for half an hour after showering
• Seal grout once per year
• Wipe down the shower after using it
• Spray an anti-fungal solution monthly (like one part vinegar and one part water)
• Spray a tea-tree oil solution after you shower (ten drops of oil in a spray bottle of water)
• Fix leaky bathroom faucets

Cleaning grouting takes some elbow grease, so it’s a good idea to do everything you can to prevent mold growth.