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Clean every crevice with these handy helpers.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Many grout cleaners use acid or ammonia, which can damage natural stone or unsealed surfaces.
To learn more about how we tested grout cleaners, check outour testing processbelow.
The cleaner is more expensive per ounce than other options.
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Cleaning grout is a chore, so its important to have effective tools in hand.
The Black Diamond wiped clean with amicrofiber clothand didnt leave any residue behind on our paper towel test.
The cleaner is safe to use on both colored and white grout, as well as natural stone flooring.
We appreciated that the Black Diamond Ultimate Grout Cleaner is thin and left behind no residue.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson
Plus, you’re able to bring the cost down by buying agallon refill bottle.
The spray nozzle only has one setting, which is a concentrated stream.
The grout looked much brighter aftering using this cleaner and it left no residue behind.
Plus, it has a lavender scent that was pleasant but didnt overstay its welcome, either.
Overall, we liked how fast and effective this option was.
Plus, you canclean other bathroom surfaceswith it like showers, countertops, and even porcelain surfaces.
There arent multiple spray tweaks to choose from.
The spray nozzle can be either opened or closed, so there are no spray parameters to choose from.
We noticed a slight residue left behind by this cleaner.
This softened up the mud and allowed us to wipe the mess away easily.
Overall, we felt the cleaner is easy to usesimply spray to coat tile with a mist.
The mist covers generously sized areas quickly, so its great for tackling large surfaces liketile flooring.
The spray initially made a slightly larger mess when sprayed on muddy tile.
It was calming and even lingered after we were done, which was an added bonus.
But dont let its pleasing, delicate scent fool you.
Its got brawn as well as beautyit removed all traces of mud on the tile.
This cleaner is made of plant-based ingredients, without any alcohol or dye.
Its also a great option for cleaning other grimey bathroom surfaces likesoap scumand hard water stains in the tub.
The handle may feel slippery, requiring a mindful grip.
Theres no rule saying you have to use a cleaning solution or detergent to get sparkling-clean grout.
In fact, this brush fromFull Circleis evidence of that.
Its design meant we could hold the brush in different ways to prevent sore hands, too.
Even after applying strong pressure while scrubbing, the bristles remained strong and intactno splayed bristles.
Once done, the bristles came clean without any visible stains.
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We compared the sections cleaned with the product versus those cleaned with our DIY mixture.
We inspected the brushes for damage and washed them clean.
Ingredients
According to Sardone, Grout cleaners must be strong products to do the work we expect.
The Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Tub and Tile Cleaner has a thick, foamy consistency.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson
As a result, many contain bleach, ammonia, or acid to get results.
Some have a strong chemical smell.
When it comes to whitening, Sardone says certain grout cleaners do contain whitening ingredients.
For example, you do not want to use a grout cleaner that contains acid on natural stone!
And be sure to test a new cleaner in an inconspicuous area to confirm it doesnt impact surface areas.
We also thought it was easy to apply.
Though it removed stains, we had to scrub rather forcefully, especially along the grout lines.
However, it didnt get a top spot in our list because it left residue behind after cleaning.
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.
How often should you use grout cleaner?
Do you need a specific brush for cleaning grout?
Ideally, youll want to stick with a grout brush to get grout sparkling-clean.
Plus, grout brushes tend to have an ergonomic shape to lessen the impact of scrubbing.
Will bleach ruin dark grout?
In a word: yes.
Sardone tells us that bleach will make colored grout fade.
She adds, Only use grout cleaner identified as safe on colored grout to clean colored grout.
Her expertise is focused on shopping, cleaning and organizing, and home improvement.
What is BHG Recommends?
In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
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Scrubbing Bubbles Disinfectant Bathroom Grime Fighter easily cleaned the mud mask during testing.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson
Credit: Amazon
The Home Armor Instant Mold and Mildew Stain Remover made our tile look good as new during testing.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson
Credit: Amazon
The Better Life Natural Tub and Tile Cleaner instantly penetrated the mud mask during testing.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson
Credit: Amazon
The Full Circle Grunge Buster Grout & Tile Scrub Brush received top marks in all tested categories.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
We used a mud mask to stand in for dirt and grime during our grout cleaner test.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
