We researched a variety of cleaning products and their ingredients to come up with this list of the best grout cleaners for floors, showers, mold problems, and more. We considered the type of cleaner, its recommended use, whether it’s a spray, paste, or liquid concentrate, and consulted Debbie Sardone, Founder of Cleaning for a Reason and owner of Speed Cleaning, for her expertise on shopping for the best grout cleaners. Sardone recommends looking around your home before getting started with your cleaning project to ensure you don’t miss anything. “Even a living room might have a tiled surface and that grout will need to be cleaned…to retain its structure, cleanliness, and beauty,” Sardone says. Overall, the best grout cleaner is the Black Diamond Ultimate Grout Cleaner, which is easy to spray and use in bathrooms, kitchens, and on floors. Plus, it has an acid-free formula, meaning it won’t damage your grout as it cleans. Here are the best grout cleaners. Keep in Mind: The manufacturer recommends using a brush to help remove dirt. It’s acid-free, meaning it won’t damage your grout as you scrub like other cleaners on the market will. This spray will lift away dirt, soap scum, grease, and even stains from food, making it a versatile way to deep-clean the bathroom as well as the kitchen. You can even use it on your floors to help lift pet stains from tile or pair it with a steam cleaner for extra cleaning power. According to the manufacturer instructions, you’ll just need to spray the Black Diamond cleaner directly onto the grout and let it soak in for up to three minutes. Scrub thoroughly along the grout to dislodge gunk, then use a brush to sweep away any remaining dirt. While this is a powerful cleaner, there’s still a bit of elbow grease involved, so be prepared to put in a little effort. After that though, you can simply rinse the grout for tile that looks like new. Price at time of publish: $20 Form: Spray | Volume: 32 ounces | Recommended Surfaces: Tile and grout Keep in Mind: It’s mildly abrasive, so you’ll want to test a small area to be sure it doesn’t impact the color of your grout. It’s not formulated specifically for cleaning grout, so you may want to test out a small, inconspicuous area before using it to clean an entire surface with it. It is a product you can use in a variety of places, making it highly versatile. It’s recommended for glass, ceramic, and stone surfaces in particular. Price at time of purchase: $14 Form: Paste | Volume: 17.6 ounces | Recommended Surfaces: Glass, ceramic, stone Keep in Mind: This should only be used on tile floors, and you’ll want to avoid using it on the specific materials listed on the label. This ready-to-use spray offers a deep-cleaning solution for cleaning grout since it has a bleach-free acidic formula. That means you won’t have to scrub as hard to get your grout looking new, even if it’s covered in stains that have been around a while. You’ll want to apply the cleaner and leave it for about two or three minutes to give it time to soak in. Use a brush to loosen up dirt or stains, and rinse it all clean when you’re done. You’ll need to be sure you rinse the floor well, or the grout may look dull otherwise. Depending on how dirty the grout is, you may also need to repeat these steps to get a really clean, bright finish. The Zep grout cleaner is meant specifically for tile floors, so it’s not meant to be an all purpose cleaner. It’s also important to note that it should not be used to clean marble, terrazzo, travertine, natural stone, stainless steel, brass, chrome, or Corian because it could damage these types of materials. However, it gets the job done well for homes with tile floors. Price at time of publish: $27 Form: Liquid | Volume: 32 ounces | Recommended Surfaces: Tile Keep in Mind: This cleaner shouldn’t be used on colored grout. Use it to remove multiple types of stains, such as those from hard water, soap scum, dirt, and even stains from rust. It also removes lime and mineral scale, plus tarnish and oxidation. We like the cleaner’s thick liquid consistency that allows it to cling to vertical surfaces and soak into the grout rather than dripping down the wall. This makes it easier to deep-clean grout in your shower or kitchen backsplash. It’s designed to work well for cleaning tile walls and even shower doors. Plus, its versatile formula means you can use it for cleaning your shower tile grout as well as grout in the kitchen, like a backsplash. There’s no bleach in the cleaner, so it’s a gentler option than other all-purpose cleaners on the market, and it’s safe to use on porcelain, copper, brass, ceramic, aluminum, and more. To clean your grout with The Bar Keeper’s Friend Soft Cleanser, simply shake the bottle first, then squeeze the cream cleanser directly onto the tile and grout. Let it sit on the surface for up to one minute, then rinse it well and dry it thoroughly. Because this cleaner is not meant for colored grout, we recommend trying it out on a smaller area first to make sure it won’t discolor your grout. Price at time of publish: $8 Form: Cream | Volume: 13 ounces | Recommended Surfaces: Steel, bronze, copper alloys, aluminum, and ceramic Keep in Mind: It contains bleach, which is a bit of a harsher chemical. You’ll be able to use the cleaner for many types of surfaces, including glazed and unglazed ceramic tile. It’s also meant to clean vinyl, fiberglass, and plastic. The formula is specifically created so it doesn’t leave any residue that contributes to a dull, lackluster look, so your tile floor, backsplash, and shower will truly sparkle by the time you’re done scrubbing. The Clorox Plus Tilex Mold and Mildew remover contains bleach, which helps lift away stains and kill as much as 99.9% of bacteria commonly found in most homes. However, you’ll want to be extra careful when using this cleaner, since it will irritate your skin if you come in contact with the solution. It’s a great choice when you’re looking for a powerful clean that takes care of not only surface stains, but also the mold and mildew lurking beneath. To remove mold from your grout, spray it on the surface and let it sit for about five minutes, then scrub thoroughly and rinse it off. Be sure to read the label’s instructions for other types of surfaces to prevent possible damage. Price at time of publish: $21 Form: Spray | Volume: 32 ounces | Recommended Surfaces: glazed ceramic tile, grout, fiberglass, vinyl shower curtains, and no-wax floors Keep in Mind: You won’t be able to use the spray on unsealed stone surfaces or limestone. We like that it’s made with non-corrosive ingredients and is free of harsh odors, so it won’t deteriorate the surface of your tile or leave an unpleasant smell as you scrub. You can use it on ceramic, porcelain, and even granite surfaces. However, you won’t want to use this spray on limestone or unsealed stone materials as it could cause them to become damaged. To use the Goo Gone Grout and Tile Cleaner, you can either spray the grout directly or spritz it onto a sponge or cloth first for light cleaning. Let the spray sit on the grout or shower for about two minutes, then wipe the grime away and rinse off the surface. If your grout is particularly stained, we recommend using a cleaning brush to help scrub away the gunk, and you can even repeat the process a few times until it’s squeaky clean. Price at time of publish: $6 Form: Spray | Volume: 28 ounces | Recommended Surfaces: Granite, ceramic, porcelain, and tile Keep in Mind: It’s not designed to remove black mold from your grout. Use the Tech Grout Cleaner to clean grease, dirt, and stains from grout in bathrooms. Be sure to vacuum your floors first to lift off any loose dirt, then spray this cleaner onto the floor and let it sit for several minutes. You’ll want a brush to help you scrub the grout lines, then go back over the floor with a mop to clean away the spray and loosened dirt. You can even use this on colored grout, making it an excellent choice for nearly all types of grout in your home. However, it’s not as versatile as other sprays on our list of the best grout cleaners, since this one’s primary purpose is tile cleaner and shouldn’t be used as an all-purpose spray. Also, the manufacturer warns not to use this cleaner to remove black mold from your home. Price at time of publish: $17 Form: Spray | Volume: 24 ounces | Recommended Surfaces: Tile floors and grout Keep in Mind: You’ll need to fill the water reservoir and wait a few minutes for the machine to reach the appropriate temperature. You can use the steam cleaner for as long as 45 minutes, making it a great choice if you have multiple rooms with grout, such as flooring in the bathroom and kitchen that you plan to clean all at once. The 15-foot-long cord gives you plenty of room to clean, and the machine weighs just under 10 pounds so it won’t be overly cumbersome to lug around. It comes with 18 accessories, including a squeegee, two microfiber mop pads, attachment brushes, and more to help you deep-clean multiple areas in your house with this device. You can even use the steam jet nozzle to directly target your grout for more direct results. Keep in mind that this is a large machine at 13.5" inches tall, 10.4 inches wide, and 17.2 inches deep, so it’ll take up considerably more room in your cleaning closet than a small spray bottle. However, this is a great alternative for shoppers who want to avoid using chemical cleaners in their home. Price at time of publish: $130 Form: Steam | Volume: N/A | Recommended Use: Sealed flooring surfaces including wood, laminate, and tile

What to Know About Grout Cleaner Before Shopping

Cleaner Type

The best grout cleaners come in a variety of forms, including cleaning spray, paste, and liquid concentrate. However, depending on what type of grout you have and what other surfaces you’d like to clean, one of these options may be better for your needs. If you’re planning to clean a vertical surface like a shower or backsplash, Sardone says you’ll have more control with pastes or grout pens, since sprays tend to spread or run. Pastes are excellent if you want a deep cleaning formula with abrasives that whisk away stains and mold. Sardone adds that sprays are great for maintenance as well as preventive cleaning to help ensure your tile stays sparkling. She also recommends buying a grout brush or even using a clean toothbrush; these smaller brushes will be better at scrubbing dirt out of the grout than a sponge or cloth.

The best grout cleaners will work anywhere that tile grout exists in your home, but some may be suited for other types of surfaces, too. Sardone also says to consider what surface surrounds the grout, such as granite, natural stone, or porcelain tiles to avoid damaging those surfaces in the cleaning process. “Certainly we think of grout cleaner as being a go-to product in the kitchen and bathroom and that’s why most of us have it in our cleaning supplies for those rooms,” Sardone says. “Be sure what you purchase is safe for what surface you are cleaning around, not just for the grout.”

Your Questions, Answered

Can grout cleaner be used on any surface?

Not every cleaner is the best grout cleaner for your particular surface. For example, grout cleaners with acid or ammonia could damage natural stone. Plus, many cleaning solutions contain mildly abrasive ingredients that may remove color from your grout if it’s not white. “Most grout cleaners contain acid or ammonia, so they are typically not safe for all surfaces,” Sardone says. She advises that you read the label’s “safe for use” section and pay attention to the surfaces it says it will safely clean.

Can you make your own grout cleaner?

You can certainly make your own grout cleaner if you choose. Sardone says that baking soda is a good abrasive, while hydrogen peroxide provides whitening and brightening power. “Mix together 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide,” Sardone says. “Then add [one teaspoon] of dish soap. Apply your grout cleaner mixture to the grout. Let it sit for 5 to10 minutes, scrub with a brush or scour pad, and rinse.” She also advises slipping into a pair of rubber gloves and wearing safety glasses for added protection if you choose to make your own grout cleaner.

How often should you use grout cleaner?

Deep-cleaning the grout in your home probably doesn’t need to be a weekly chore on your to-do list, but Sardone advises reading the label on your grout cleaner to determine how often to use it. “Some grout cleaners are meant to be used regularly as part of your routine cleaning to prevent build-up of dirt and grime,” Sardone says. “Others are more heavy duty and should be used for deep cleanings periodically or on heavy traffic areas where build-up occurs faster.”

Who We Are

This article was written by Brittany VanDerBill, a freelance lifestyle and travel writer whose work has been published with several Dotdash Meredith brands. To create this list, she researched important features of the best grout cleaners and contacted Debbie Sardone, founder of Cleaning for a Reason and Owner of Speed Cleaning, for her expertise on this subject.