How to Clean Mildew From Shower Grout

Mildew poses health risks to people and pets.

Few places make a better home for mildew than the grout inside your warm, damp shower. Without proper cleaning and maintenance, mildew will cover your shower's grout in no time. However, cleaning grout is a fairly easy task and can make all the difference in the way your bathroom looks.

Things You'll Need

• Toothbrush, scrub brush or non-scratch scouring pad
• Rubbing alcohol
• Spray bottles
• Oxygen-based bleach cleaner
• Tile cleaner
• Cloth
• Cup
• Vinegar
• Bleach

Instructions

1. Loosen as much mildew as you can with a dry brush. Eliminating excess mildew will make the next several steps easier.

2. Spray the affected area with tile cleaner such as Mr. Clean, Lysol or Comet. If you prefer homemade cleaning products, use an equal combination of vinegar and water or a solution of 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water, recommends "Good Housekeeping."

3. Wait several minutes for the solution to penetrate the mildew. For more severe stains, allow the cleaning solution to soak a few minutes longer.

4. Scrub one grout line at a time with an old toothbrush or non-scratch scouring pad. Move the brush in a circular motion, scrubbing the mildew away from the center and onto the surface of the tile.

5. Turn on the shower and maneuver the head so water rinses away the loosened mildew. Use a cup to splash water over any places the shower stream won't reach.

6. Wipe excess residue off the tile with a damp cloth. As you're wiping, check to see if any stains remain in the grout.

7. Apply OxiClean or a similar oxygen-based bleach to any areas that still have mildew stains. While Oxiclean is gentler on grout than most other cleaning chemicals, test it first in a small area to ensure it does not damage your shower's grout.

8. Allow the solution to soak into the grout for at least 15 minutes. The ionized oxygen molecules will continue to work for up to six hours, so leave it on longer for more stubborn mildew stains, says "The Washington Post."

9. Scrub the areas with a toothbrush and rinse as before.

10. Spray your shower with rubbing alcohol after each use to ensure the tile grout remains clean. The oxygen in the alcohol solution works to remove mildew as it forms.

11. Clean any future mildew stains promptly. Mildew becomes more difficult to clean over time, so timely attention makes stain removal as easy as possible.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: How to Remove Mold and Mildew
• "Good Housekeeping": How to Quickly Clean a Dirty Shower
• "The Washington Post": The Secret to Cleaning Grout in Tile Floors
• GroutCleaningPro.com: Grout Cleaning
• Mrs. Clean: How to Clean Grout