Picture this - you have just spent the whole morning cleaning your bathroom, everything looks perfect…except one thing. Grout. Grout is one of those things that looks great, until it doesn’t, and then it really doesn’t! It’s also one of those things that seems impossible to clean (Spoiler: it’s not impossible). 

So why does grout go black?

What is grout?

Grout is the material used to fill in gaps between tiles, it helps to seal the joints. However, because grout is porous and has a textured surface it holds moisture, dirt and grime, especially in bathrooms. 

🦠Why it goes black

• Moisture – bathrooms and showers are constantly exposed to water.
• Mould and mildew – damp, warm environments can encourage growth.
• Dirt and grime – dust, body oils, soap residue and general bathroom grime can build up. 
• Poor ventilation – if moisture hangs around instead of drying out, the problem can become worse.
  

But just because it is black does not mean that it is mould, sometimes grout can become stained or discoloured from accumulated dirt and moisture over time. 

How to clean your grout lines

It’s actually not as treacherous as you might think. 4 simple steps can make a huge difference! 

1. Apply your cleaning solution
Start by applying a suitable grout/bathroom cleaner to the affected area. Give it some time to work rather than immediately attacking the grout with a brush.

2. Scrub the grout lines
This is where you want the physical agitation. Use a grout brush, like our 4-in-1 grout and tile spray cleaning kit, and work along the grout lines, paying particular attention to areas where black staining and build up have collected.

3. Rinse and wipe away the dirt
Once you've worked the cleaner into the grout, wipe or rinse away the loosened dirt and cleaning residue. You should be able to see much more clearly whether the blackness was surface build up or something more stubborn.

4. Give it a final wipe
Once the grout is clean, wipe down the surrounding tiles and surfaces and allow the area to dry properly.

And you can rinse & repeat (no pun intended) this process until you see the improvements you want! 

How do you stop grout going black again?

• Keep the room ventilated - especially after showers and baths. Get that moisture out.
• Don't leave the grout soaking wet - wipe down excess water where practical.
• Clean it regularly - don't wait until the grout has turned black before giving it attention.
• Deal with mould early - the longer moisture, dirt and mould are left to build up, the harder the grout can be to clean.

Black grout isn't exactly the look we're going for in a nice clean bathroom! Keeping moisture under control and giving your grout a regular clean can go a long way towards keeping it looking fresh. And when it does start looking a little worse for wear, don't reach for the old toothbrush just yet... get yourself a proper grout brush!