How To Clean Unsealed Grout (Learn Zero Cost Method)

No matter which tiles you install on your floor, they must have grouts. The tiles bring a pleasant and lucrative outlook to your home, even easy to clean. Usually, grout is a celebration place of stains and more prone to getting dirty. Moreover, cleaning unsealed grout is more challenging than cleaning sealed grouts. 

So most homeowners want to know how to clean unsealed grouts. Home stuff like white vinegar, baking soda, and dish detergent efficiently removes dirt from grouts. That means you can clean grout at no cost. Amazing!  

But what is the process? Read this post till the end. Here you’ll learn multiple methods of unsealed grout cleaning, grout maintenance tips, a few grout FAQs, and many more. Let’s get to the point.

How To Clean Unsealed Grout (With Home Products And No Cost)

In the introduction, we were told that you don’t have to spend any bucks to clean the grout. Yes, we don’t say this only to hook you in our post. Instead, it’s true. So before sharing homemade grout cleaner recipe and the process, we’ll like to show you what you want for this job. But, one thing to remember, this process will work for light dirty grouts.

The Things You’ll Need

• 1 cup white vinegar 
• ½ cup baking soda
• 2 teaspoon dishwashing detergent
• A large plastic cup 
• Lukewarm water 
• An old toothbrush (which bristles are strong enough to scrub)
• A microfiber cloth

Project overview 

• Estimated cost- $0 
• Required time- 30 minutes 
• Skill Level- Beginner 

Step 1: Make the homemade grout cleaner

Fill half the cup with lukewarm water and add ½ cup of baking soda. Now stir them for proper mixing. After that, add dishwashing detergent to maximize the solution’s strength. Again mix the cleaner to give the mixture a grit. 

Step 2: Apply vinegar on the grout

Pour white vinegar on the dark grout stains and edges. But don’t pour a large amount at once because the floor will be too wet and that makes the space difficult to work in. 

Step 3: Apply the grout cleaner

The solution you have made in step 1, apply it to the grout over white vinegar. As soon as you use the solution, scrub the surface with the toothbrush.

Step 4: Wait to loosen the stains

After scrubbing once, let the vinegar and solution sit for 5 minutes on the grout to loosen the dirt and grimes. 

Step 5: Scrub the grout stains

After 5 minutes, again scrub the grouts with the toothbrush. The specks of dirt are loosened due to the chemical reaction of white vinegar and baking soda. When you scrub the space for the second time, you’ll find they will automatically come up with the toothbrush. 

Step 6: Clean the grout

Rinse the grout and wipe with a microfiber cloth to remove the loosened stains, vinegar, and solution residue. Again wipe the space to make it clean like before.

How To Clean Unsealed Grout Tile Floor (With Home Products, But With A Bit Of Investment )

Tiles are used in different parts of your home, such as the shower, kitchen, bedroom, hall room, etc. So, obviously, the bathroom and kitchen grout will accumulate more grime, dirt, and stains than the bedroom and hall rooms. So it’s not wise to want to clean those grouts with only home stuff. So, let’s see how to clean unsealed shower grout. 

The Things You’ll Need

• 1 cup white vinegar 
• ½ cup baking soda
• 2 teaspoon dishwashing detergent
• A large plastic cup 
• Lukewarm water 
• A stiff brush
• A sponge

Project overview 

• Estimated cost- Approximately $15-$20
• Required time- 30 minutes 
• Skill Level- Beginner 

Step 1: Clear the shower floor

As you want to clean your shower grout, clear the space by removing the bucket, shower mug, and any other things you keep in the shower room. 

Step 2: Apply the grout cleaner and scrub

Make a grout cleaning solution with baking soda, water, and dish soap. Then, apply vinegar and solution to the grout and scrub the space with a stiff brush. You can use the QEP Grout & Tile Brush, as the brush is made with solid bristles and designed for tile cleaning. So you can effortlessly clean the grout with no hand fatigue. 

Step 3: Scrub for twice after waiting 5 minutes

If the grouts’ stains are too old and stubborn. Allow the solution to sit on the grout and loosen the stains. You have to scrub the grout again. But if the grouts are cleaned after the first scrubbing, there is no need for second scrubbing. 

Step 4: Wipe the grout to clean

Wipe the grout with a sponge. We recommend QEP 70005Q-6D sponges because it comes in 6 pieces in the package and is economical. In addition, they are designed for professional use and hydrophilized to provide excellent water holding capacity. As a result, you can complete wiping fast, which saves you time. 

How To Clean Unsealed Colored Grout (With Commercial Grout Cleaner)

Do you have back pain? Or does your doctor suggest you not bend your waist? But you have to clean your unsealed color grout. In this situation, most homeowners think of hiring professionals that cost them a lot of bucks. 

Wait, my friend. Forget this frustration of your back pain, and hiring professionals. Because now, we’ll let you know with a commercial colored grout cleaner by which you can easily complete the task. 

Of course, we’ll also share the guideline of how to clean stained unsealed grout with the cleaner. 

The Things You Need

• Grout-EEZ grout Cleaner 
• Lukewarm water 
• A long-handled mop pole
• A sponge

Project overview 

• Estimated cost- $60-$70
• Required time- 20 minutes 
• Skill Level- Beginner 

Step 1: Apply the cleaner on the grout

Open the Grout-EEZ grout Cleaner cap and apply the cleaner to the grout. Let the cleaner sit and work for 5-10 minutes. 

Step 2: Scrub the grout

Since you’ll get a firmly nylon bristle brush with the cleaner, attach it with a mop pole. Agitate the grout and tiles with it. 

But if you don’t have a mop pole, you have to buy one. In that case, why do you purchase only a mop pole, when you get an adjustable mop pole and bristle brush at the same price of a mop pole. Here, you can choose the YONILL grout cleaning brush. As you can adjust its handle from 16″ to 48″, and comfortably use it depending on your height and needs.

Step 3: Clean the grout

Finally, rinse the grout with lukewarm water and wipe the space with a sponge. For better results, allow the grout and tile approximately 12-24 hours to dry properly. 

Note

• Though the Grout-EEZ is good to use in both porcelain and ceramic white and color grout. First, you have to apply it to an inconspicuous area as a test. So it’ll help you to determine its effectiveness on your tile. 

• The cleaner has a very low odor, but for safety purposes, keep your kids and pets far away when you use it. 

• Store it in a cold and dry space where the kids can’t get it. 

How To Clean Mold From Unsealed Grout (With Simple Steps)

Because of the porous nature of tiles and grouts, they are incredibly susceptible to growing microscopic. That’s why besides dirt and stains, mold and mildew are grown on the grouts. However, if the grouts are unsealed, the mold growth rate will be higher than sealed grouts. 

The Things You Need

• 1 cup white vinegar 
• A spray bottle 
• A stiff brush
• A sponge

Project overview 

• Estimated cost- $0
• Required time- 20 minutes 
• Skill Level- Beginner 

Step 1: Mositen the grout with vinegar

Pour the distilled white vinegar into the spray bottle and saturate the moldy grout with the liquid. 

Step 2: Scrub the grout

Let the vinegar sit on the grout for half an hour to loosen the mold. Then gently scrub the dirty grout with a bristle brush. 

Step 3: Clean the grout

Rinse the grout with clean water and check whether the grout is entirely mold-free or not. If you notice some mold left either and thither, repeat the process by focusing on those spaces. Because this time, you won’t need to apply the vinegar to all the grouts. 

Step 4: Make the grout dry

When you find no mold on the grouts, wipe them with a sponge to make them dry. 

How To Clean Dirty Unsealed Grout (With Most Compelling Method)

Ceramics, porcelain, marble, granite, and terracotta are some familiar tiles. But every tile grout will accumulate dirt irrespective of its material. So you have to clean them frequently. So knowing the most effortless way will be beneficial for you. Though the method requires a vacuum cleaner, it’s great. 

The Things You’ll Need

• Bissell steam cleaner 
• Mild soap
• Water
• A sponge

Project overview 

• Estimated cost- $40
• Required time- 20 minutes 
• Skill Level- Beginner 

Step 1: Swipe the grout

First, swipe the space with a broom to remove all the solid dirt and grimes. Otherwise, when you use the steamer, its on-demand trigger may block due to those solid particles.

Step 2: Prepare the steamer

Open the Bissell SteamShot steam cleaner cap by rounding it anticlockwise and fill its tank with water. Don’t overfill the tank. You can add a few drops of mild soap with the water to make the steaming powerful. It’s optional, if you don’t want to, you can skip it. Then, reattach the cap by rounding it clockwise and ensuring it is fixed tightly. 

Step 3: Attach the grout tool with the steamer

In the package, the steam cleaner comes with multiple brushes and tools to clean various surfaces. Find out the grout tool and adjust it with the trigger. 

Step 4: Heat the steamer

Plug in its cord with a power source, and you’ll see a red light turn on. Wait a few minutes to reach the water temperature to the steaming level. It takes around 5 minutes. Now, disconnect the plug from the power socket.  

Step 5: Scrub the grout with the steamer

Your steam cleaner is ready to clean the unsealed and untidy grout. First, scrub the grout back and forth with the steam cleaner’s grout bristles brush. Don’t scrub the same space for a longer time, as it may damage the grout. 

Step 6: Clean the grout

By following the process, clean all the grouts and wipe the floor with a sponge. Allow the grouts a few hours to dry. 

Grout Maintenance Tips And Tricks

It’s a simple understanding that the more you maintain and take care of your things; the more time they will serve you. So you have to maintain your grouts to avoid this horrible grout cleaning hassle. Here are some grout maintenance tips 

• You have to make the solution depending on the space you want to clean as it helps to reduce the home product wastage. 

• Divide the space into equal sections if you need to clean a large space at a time. It can be 8-10 feet in a section. So you can go section by section that is good to cover all the grouts. 

• If you follow the zero-cost grout cleaning method and there are stubborn stains on them. You can apply some lemon juice to the grout to make the solution more robust. But don’t use more than vinegar and baking soda. 

• If you use commercial grout cleaner, it’s better to wear hand gloves to avoid directly getting in touch with the chemical cleaner. 

• If possible, open the windows and doors of the room to get enough air circulation. 

• As the grouts are unsealed, you have to seal them as soon as possible after cleaning and drying. 

But don’t know how to seal grout? Never mind, let’s learn the process with simple steps.

How To Seal Grout?

To seal your grout, you have to choose a professional-grade sealer that protects your grouts for a long time. Keeping this criteria in our mind, we recommend the Miracle Sealants as it is water and oil resistant. You can even seal up to 1000 square feet of grouts with one quart of sealer. 

Since we have already discussed the unsealed grout cleaning methods, we won’t describe them again. Clean your grouts following any procedures that you find easy. Then follow the below step for sealing the grouts. 

The Things You Need

• Miracle Sealants
• Grout sealer bottle
• Lint-free cloths 

Project overview 

• Estimated cost-  $40-$50
• Required time- 20 minutes 
• Skill Level- Beginner 

Step 1: Fill up the grout sealer bottle

Pour the seller into the QEP grout applicator bottle till its neck and draw a sealer application map in your mind.

Step 2: Apply the sealer

Hold the bottle in your right hand and apply the sealer on the grout following a sequence. You’ll see the sealer will soak and penetrate the grout. Keep a lint-free microfiber cloth on your left hand and wipe the excess sealer that will cover the grouts’ tile floor.

Step 3: Complete sealer application on all grouts

Continue sealing until all the grout lines are sealed. If you want to double coat the grouts, wait approximately one hour to dry out the first coated sealer. 

Step 4: Apply a second coat of sealer (If needed)

Repeat the process for the second coat sealer application. Again, you have to allow the grouts for 24-48 hours to cure the sealer and use the floor completely.

FAQs

Is it possible to clean unsealed grout?

Yes, it’s possible to clean unsealed grouts with some home products. You just need some supplies and a little elbow grease to clean the grout. But for more stubborn stains on grout, you have to use commercial grout cleaner instead of homemade cleaner.

How do you get unsealed grout white?

You should make a cleaning solution by adding 4 tbsp of powdered oxygen bleach with a bucket of lukewarm water. Apply the solution to the grouts and wait 15 minutes. Then, scrub the grouts with a bristle brush, rinse with clean water, and get the white grouts like new. 

Does Magic Eraser work on grout?

The answer lies between yes and no. Some reviewers said that Magic Eraser cleans grouts and painted walls. But, some reviewers noted that the eraser is too soft to clean grouts. So if your grout has a little bit of grise, grime, dirt, and stains, you can use the magic eraser to clean them. But we won’t recommend using it for grouts with stubborn stains. 

Conclusion

Hopefully, now you won’t find cleaning unsealed grouts a laborious job. You just need to prepare yourself and the things you need to clean the grout. 

However, as there are multiple methods that incredibly work depending on your tiles, grout condition, and space. So you have to keep in mind all those things before selecting a method to follow. Otherwise, you may won’t get the result that you expect. 

Wish you are enjoying a safe and pretty-looking environment in every space in your home!