Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. Those things makes grout WHITE with minimal scrubbing.

I've also tried those Clorox bleach pens and a toothbrush. More labor-intensive but it works.

My bathtub surround is white subway tiles with white grout. The last tenant had left the areas of the grout stained a nasty orangey-yellow. I made a paste out of baking soda and bleach, turned the fan on, and went at it with a toothbrush. After scrubbing all the grout lines thoroughly, I slapped a layer of the paste on the spots that were still bad and let it sit for several minutes. After that, a good rinse with warm water left all the grout nice and white again.

Remove & regrout

Ditto on the Magic Erasers
Best thing ever for cleaning grout.

Another vote for the Clorox Bleach Pen. Minimizes the bleach smell and you can put it precisely where you want it.

Magic Erasers! You'll go through them but it's the ONLY thing that works. I feel your pain.

peroxide works wonders on dirty grout! and i agree with valleyval. mr. clean magic erasers are magic for sure.

I *think* you mean 'cramping' your style.

magic eraser worked for my 50 year old floor tile grout. Nothing else worked nearly as well and I tried every non-toxic and toxic cleaner under the sun.

I just whitened my rental's kitchen grout and bathroom grout using a grout paint pen (available online and at hardware stores). It was super easy, went on like a white-out pen and all my grout now looks brand new.

I tried to clean the old (but pretty!) tile floor in my bathroom with vinegar and baking soda and that did absolutely nothing. Though I didn't even think about using Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I know what I'm doing when I get home tonight!!!
Oh, my exciting life. :P

You don't need the bleach or the soft scrub...just baking soda, water and a scrub brush! Proof is in the pictures at: http://makinglifeup.blogspot.com/2010/06/battle-of-grungy-grout.html

And the people who lived here before us were smokers, which left our grout seriously nasty! Well, it left EVERYTHING nasty, but the grout wouldn't come clean...until I tried the baking soda!

Tilex mold & mildew works best on the shower grout. When I moved into my condo the grout was pink - but really, it was supposed to be white. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and the Clorox Bleach Pen helped, but required elbow grease, and still left a bit of yellow. Tilex is so easy - spray on liberally and forget it. Pink to white grout in an hour.

"Simple Green" also works beautifully.

I did a massive experiment a few weeks ago on my dingy floor tile - it was very similar to these pics, and the once-white grout was dark gray with dirt. Here's what I tried in different sections of my bathroom floor, using a stiff scrub brush to work it in:
* baking soda and boiling hot water
* vinegar and baking soda
* hydrogen peroxide
* borax
* clorox bleach pen
* soft scrub
* comet
* barkeeper's friend

Some worked better than others, but then I got to good ol' barkeeper's friend, and it was better than the rest. My grout is now a light gray. Also, I don't know how non-toxic it is, but I have asthma and BKF doesn't bother me nearly as much bleach or comet.

I'm curious about the magic eraser...they look like delicate foam. Don't they just shred to pieces? What is actually in them anyhow?

We had yellow/brown/pink grouts...ieks! This works and is basically labor free: Just use an old spay bottle, fill it with Clorox. Spray on the tiles and grout, let it sit for couple of hours and rinse. That's it, so easy!

I haven't read the comments so please forgive if someone already mentioned this, but a friend of mine just redid her grout by (cleaning first!), then painting the grout lines with grout paint available at your big box hardware store. I thought she had re-tiled her kitchen!!! Made it look brand new. Of course, she was on her hands and knees for a few hours painting with a tee-tiny brush but well worth the effort!

Zep Commercial Tile Cleaner

Spray on:
http://www.amazon.com/Zep-Shower-Tub-Tile-Cleaner/dp/B0013AV8FM

Cling:
http://www.labsafety.com/Zep-Clinging-Shower-and-Tile-Cleaner-1-qt_s_164054/Cleaning-Chemicals_27305165/?CID=9PP001

I loved soft scrub, until I realized that over time it scrubbed away the coating of my tub, which would then only get dirty much faster.

I clean as best as I can and then I use grout paint in a close color- available at Lowes - it really made it look like new grout - I re-do it once a year - takes an hour maybe to do - and dries quick plus it adds additional protection so the grout doesn't pick up dirt and stains as quick.

Clorox Bleach Pen. It may take multiple applications, but it's always worked well for me.

Has anybody tried a steamer? I've been curious as to whether that would work.

I know this is not a green choice and it will stink more than bleach, but Tilex Mold & Mildew Remover works wonders. You don't even have to scrub, just repeat applications until it's white. The regular Tilex doesn't work as well, it needs to be the Mold & Mildew remover, unfortunately it's also pricey compared to most other bathroom cleaners.

Another tip is to bite the bullet and buy one of those vibrating tooth brushes. Yes, they're $7 when a regular brush is super cheap or an old free leftover - but they are amazing at cleaning in tiny cracks. Totally worth it if you have a whole floor to do.

Phosphoric acid cleaner - scary, but it gets grout absolutely spotless. Then use some grout sealant to keep it that way.

The liquid version of Bar Keeper's Friend...

http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/products.html

It's non-toxic, and works wonders. We find the liquid version is a bit stronger than the powder, but with the powder you do have that bit of grit to create friction, so experiment with the two.

Those Magic Erasers contain seriously carcinogenic substances (makes me shudder to think how many people don't use gloves when they use them), and so I won't touch them with a 10 foot pole...

Denture cleaner or toothpaste could also work, and according to Martha, baking soda -- she has a specific method though. First, apply the baking soda (perhaps make a little paste in this case), and then pour boiling water on it; wipe off and repeat until completely clean.

I used to always have brown grout stains on our bathroom and laundry tiles from mud brought in on the kids boots. Even chlorine bleach didn't seem to fix this. Then I used a shower, bath and tile cleaner called ORANGE POWER which does not have harsh fumes and smells great - like oranges! I live in Australia, but I believe a lot of companies now make cleaning products using citric acid and orange oil. Also good on mould and water stains on glass shower screens.

Forget chemicals, electric drill with nylon brush does wonders. Yup, I know I`m a hardcore man :)
P.S. Of course you have to be careful and not get excited too much, because you could degrade the grout (and non-glazed tiles, too). However, if all else fails, you might try this one :)

FYI...bleach will eat your grout...that's one reason why you have grout missing.

I pour baking soda on the grout lines and then vinegar...after it stops bubbling, I scrub and that usually works for ANYTHING hard to get out...and clogged drains.

Magic Eraser works wonders.

spray pure undiluted bleach... that's the best (and cheapest) way... and please, please (some people seems to forget the obvious) do it with ventilation and no other chemicals. Wait a couple of minutes and it'll do the work on it's own.

If it's impossibly tough... then get out your rotary tool and degrout the surface with the right tip.

Magic Erasers (and their store-brand counterparts) are simply made of a foam of melamine. They don't 'clean' so much as 'sandpaper' away the surface of what you are cleaning. They are non-toxic and do not contain cleaning agents. The foam wears away because the melamine is wearing off like sandpaper. This is easily washed away with water if you like.

@puttinbuttin- I have read about using a grout paint (after a good scrubbing of course!) and headed to Lowe's where I was told they didn't carry it! Honestly, I couldn't believe it. I would suggest that if you are interested in the grout paint, to call ahead because not only did they not carry it but the employee seemed confused on why I would need that.

Thank you for this post. We moved in to a house where the previous owner loved large white ceramic tile. She tiled the kitchen, the bath and the entryway with this stuff. In the entryway she used sand-colored grout but the kitchen and bath had white grout. We ended up redoing the kitchen, but the bath still has very wide dirty, dingy grout around those white squares. We have tried Soft Scrub, bleach, a toothbrush and all sorts of green options to no avail. May try Magic Eraser, or may just simplify my life and get some grout paint. Love it!

Once you get all the grout clean you should consider sealing it. There's a post over a Young House Love with the hows and whys of grout sealing.

I recently got fed up with the blackened grout between our floor tiles in our bathroom. Sprayed some Lime Away, left it for a while with the fan on, came back and mopped the floor with my swiffer wet-jet, and then used a dry swiffer sheet to rub along the grout to pick up any leftover Lime Away. The grout is actually light gray now rather than black! I think i'll give it another go this weekend just to even out the tone a little bit. I was amazed at how little effort it took!

@Ruthie - I see that magic erasers worked for a lot of people, but that's exactly what happened when I took one to the grout in my bathroom. It started disintegrating in big chunks and I quickly realized that I'd run out of magic eraser before getting the job halfway done. I find magic erasers to be miracles for smooth surfaces (like white rubber/leather on shoes, painted walls, etc.) but not so great for anything rough. They're too delicate.

@pureevil - Whoops, I did not know that. I'll try baking soda with vinegar next time.

Magic Erasers contain formaldehyde as it's main cleaning agent.

I had white tile in my kitchen and it was a never ending battle with the grout. I finally replaced it with some marble slabs (that were prefabricated which kept the cost down) and I couldn't be happier. I still have the white color without all of the grout and I love it.

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers make the job easiest. As others have mentioned, you'll need to buy several. I cut them in to smaller pieces and don't rub too hard, and they don't disintegrate as easily.
If you don't mind using a little elbow grease, BarKeeper's Friend or BonAmie are good too.
Hasn't anyone invented grout that stays cleaner yet?

I tried everything under the sun to get my white grout clean and the only thing that worked was Magic Erasers and Grout Cleaner. Not the most green option but it worked. Note: I did have to use several because they do have a tendency to shred when you use them on grout.
As far as the concerns about the toxicity of the Magic Erasers check out this site:
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/eraser.asp

something as simple as fresh lemon juice, put it between the tiles and leave it for a while and they will be as white as new, no need to scrub or anything.

Just an fyi: There is no formaldehyde in magic erasers so I'm reading:
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/eraser.asp

Not too many votes for regrouting, but that is an option.

Has anyone tried mopping with OxiClean? Our bathroom is enormous and scrubbing between every tile is not a viable option.

I've made my own grout paint with latex paint watered down - maybe 50/50? A little stronger on the paint? Anyway, this works awesome - just clean the grout really well first so it will adhere well. I use a tiny paintbrush and just wipe away any on the tile with a sponge. Latex paint will peel off the tile when dry, too, so just pick it off with your fingernails.

Has anyone tried cleaning grouts with pumice stone? It's a lot of work for sure, but it won't ruined your tiles.

we did our entire kitchen floor with Oxi-Clean and peroxide. The peroxide worked best. We put it onto the grout, let it sit, scrubbed with a toothbrush and followed up with a steam cleaner. Good as new!

I read every comment, and so far, I like the suggestion of using an electric toothbrush the best. But it seems like a lot of work. My bathroom has no ventilation, so I try to minimize using chemicals on a regular basis.

Most of the above suggestion apply to white tiles with white grout. What about beige tiles, with beige grout?

I once cleaned a friends shower stall who had navy tile with navy grout. I had bought some kind of soap scum/mildew remover that I sprayed all over, and then realized with horror that the grout became mottled with white streaks all over.

I'm trying to figure out something nontoxic, easy, for regular clean-ups.

By the way, the sealant for the grout lasts only three months.

honestly this sounds terrible - but i had a drano accident - I spilled a bit while trying to unclog a drain in my old nyc apartment, and when I wiped off the spill, the kitchen tile was about 3 shades lighter and sparkling!!! This works every time.

I use bon ami cleanser normally, but I think that the trick is a bigger brush. I have one with bristles about 4x longer than a toothbrush and if I put a little elbow grease into it, it doesn't matter what I am using to clean it with. The cleaner kind of gets all over the place so I just wipe it up with a clean, damp rag (t-shirt or old towel).

Mrs. Meyer's all purpose cleaner works perfectly on my white grout. I've tried all kinds of chemical cleaners, and this works better than all of them. I also have lots of success with plain diluted white vinegar, it's what I use to clean the grout in my shower.

I give another vote for grout 'paint'. I needed to fix an area that was formerly hidden by a sink and had not been re-grouted. I soon realized that the stuff worked too well, and wiped it off early to keep it looking the same as the more recent grout.

I've been using Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach for almost 3 years already and it's THE BEST solution for dirty tiles and the edges of the tub.

Here's the link to the one you need to buy:

http://www.clorox.com/products/overview.php?prod_id=mtbc

It has to be that one. I've tried the other varieties and they don't work. Just pour some in between your tile and let it sit for 45 minutes then wash out. You won't even need to scrub it out. This thing DEVOURS grime. Unfortunately it does smell bleachy, but the smell will fade quickly and you'll be left with ultra clean tile.

Thank me later.

Magic Erasers did it for my bathroom floor, and I used my foot, so I just kept talking on the phone. It's that easy!

a mix of cream of tartar powder and lemon juice. you do have to scrub though, and you also have to mop afterwards. i'm still not sure whether it mostly bleaches or dyes, or cleans. but either way it worked on the wretchedly stained stuff in my 60s apartment.

Krud Kutter!
(http://www.shop.com/KR32 32Oz TOUGH TASK REMOVER-19593834-p .xhtml)

In true "mothers know best" fashion, I scoffed when my mom gave it to me, then quickly discovered it works better that anything else I've ever used.

I tried all of the methods listed in this post with no luck, but lemon juice mixed with baking soda and a tooth brush worked wonders (then I promptly put a sealant down so I don't have to do it again for a long time.)

Also try the grout cleaner from Restoration hardware.. they also sell.. what I would describe as a "giant toothbrush" to help with the job.
I worked on a portion of my white tile/white grout kitchen floor tiles (what a nightmare..) where the previous owners had the dog dish.. I only worked for 10 min or so and there was a noticeable difference. I don't know what's in it.. but most of their cleaning stuff is biodegradable.

I used a Comet type cleaner on my grout and it worked well but did require scrubbing with a brush.

I own a profesional carpet cleaning company. We do quite a bit of tile and grout cleaning (maybe 25-40 percent depending on the time of year). What we have found over the years is that the absolute best way to clean is with something with a very high PH ie very alkaline. We have also started doing a two step process on really grimy restaurant floors were we spray down an enzyme at first to help digest as much of the dirt and grime as possible and then using a high ph cleaner to get the grout.

Alex
Wine Country Carpet Cleaning
(805) 706-0333
1220 Manzanita Way
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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