How to Remove Mildew Stains from Grout

Humid and dark areas like basements often provide the perfect habitat for mould and mildew. Removing mildew from tile is quite simple. However, mildew on grout is difficult to clean. A scrubbing brush, household detergent and persistence are necessary. Other eco-friendly cleaners include baking soda, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. As a final solution, the grout should be replaced entirely.

Tips on how to remove mildew from grout:

• The mildew should come off using a scrubbing brush (or toothbrush), a basic cleaning product and a bit of effort. A natural mould-killing product, such as borax, ammonia and baking soda, or a commercial grout cleaner can also eliminate the mildew.
• If baking soda is used, a paste made of half water, half baking soda should be applied to the grout. After leaving it on for at least 10 minutes (or about 2 hours for very dirty grout), the grout should be sprayed with water. Finally, the paste should be scrubbed, rinsed and the surface allowed to dry.
• If there are still mildew stains on the grout, oxygen bleach, chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide can be used to eliminate the remaining stains. If this doesn’t work, the solution should be reapplied. For more efficiency, paper towels soaked in bleach can be stuck to the grout. The next day, the stains should disappear.
• If nothing works, replacing the grout may be necessary. Before applying the new grout, a tool like a flat screwdriver can be used to scrape out the dirty grout.
• To prevent future mildew and mould growth, the humidity in the bathroom must be lowered. Opening a window, using a dehumidifier or turning on a fan after taking a shower also helps. As an additional step, a mixture of equal parts of vinegar and water can be sprayed onto the grout after showering.

Other efficient mould cleaning tips, as well as the 10 best mould prevention tips found on our blog. The PuroClean experts are ready to provide professional grout cleaning and restoration services to any property that has experienced mould, flood, fire or biohazard damage.

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