DIY Grout Cleaner Recipe

If your grout lines are looking dull and grimy, make them look new with this easy DIY Grout Cleaner Recipe. This is an wonderful homemade cleaning solution for how to make dirty grout look new. Forget about harsh chemicals and expensive store-bought productsโthis DIY Grout Cleaner offers a natural, DIY Cleaning product to clean dirty grout in your kitchen or shower tiles. .
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Using simple, safe ingredients, this homemade cleaner is tough on dirt but gentle enough for your home and family.
What makes this recipe stand out is its ability to cut through grime while being eco-friendly. Itโs quick to make, easy to use, and perfect for brightening grout lines, leaving your tiled surfaces looking as good as new.
Letโs explore how this cleaner works and how you can make it at home to restore the shine to your tiled surfaces!
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Why This DIY Grout Cleaner Will Be Your Go-To Solution
This homemade grout cleaner is more than just a natural alternativeโitโs an all-around game-changer for keeping your tiles clean. Hereโs why it stands out:
Powerful Yet Gentle Cleaning
The combination of baking soda and lemon juice creates an effective cleaning paste that easily lifts dirt, grime, and stains from grout lines. While tough on buildup, this cleaner is gentle on your tiles and safe for the environment.
Safe for Your Family
Made with non-toxic, natural ingredients, this cleaner is safe to use around kids and pets. You can clean with peace of mind, knowing youโre not exposing your family to harmful chemicals often found in commercial products.
Affordable and Accessible
This grout cleaner uses simple, everyday ingredients that are likely already in your pantry. Itโs a cost-effective option that delivers results without the hefty price tag of store-bought alternatives.
Customizable to Your Needs
Adding essential oils allows you to personalize the scent and adds some extra natural cleaning power. Tea tree oil can bring antibacterial benefits, while lemon helps cut through grime. Eucalyptus oils and Siberian Fir also have natural cleaning properties.
You can also skip the oils for a completely neutral cleaner.
Easy and Quick to Make
This recipe comes together in minutes, making it a convenient option for busy households. Thereโs no need to spend hours hunting for specialty products when you can whip up this grout cleaner with what you already have at home.
Eco-Friendly and Sustainable
Unlike commercial cleaners, this homemade version is free from synthetic additives and packaged waste, making it a greener choice for your home. Youโll feel good about using a product thatโs kind to both your family and the planet.
With all these benefits, this DIY Grout Cleaner is the perfect addition to your cleaning routine. Itโs effective, safe, and easy to make, giving you a powerful tool for tackling even the toughest grout stains.
Ingredients Youโll Need for Your Grout Cleaner

This recipe makes around 4 to 6 ounces of cleaner. Youโll need:
- 6 tablespoons baking soda
- 4 tablespoons castile soap
- 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 20 drops essential oils (optional)
Now letโs find out the secret behind each powerful ingredient!
Castile Soap
Castile soap is the cleanser that cuts through grease and grime, complementing the abrasive action of baking soda. Its liquid texture helps create a smooth, spreadable consistency, ensuring the cleaner coats grout lines evenly. I love how its gentle, natural formula makes it safe to use on porous grout while still being tough on dirt. When mixed with baking soda, it forms a cohesive paste thatโs easy to apply and rinse off.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a key ingredient that brightens and cleans with its natural acidity. It works to dissolve tough stains and break down grime, restoring grout to its original brightness.
Be sure to use fresh squeezed lemon juice and not bottled. Bottled may have other additives or even be synthetic, and will have lost some of it’s cleaning power over time.
Essential Oils (Optional)
Essential oils are an optional but powerful addition that elevate this cleanerโs cleaning power.
Tea tree oil brings antibacterial benefits,
Lemon is my usual go to for this as it’s helps cut through built on grime. I also love it’s fresh smell, especially in the kitchen.
Siberian Fir is another great choice for it’s cleaning power..
Adding essential oils doesnโt just improve the scent; the oil you choose will add some powerful cleaning power and make this diy grout cleaner even more effective.
If you prefer a completely neutral cleaner, you can skip the essential oils and still achieve fantastic results.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Grout Cleaner
Step 1: Mix Baking Soda and Castile Soap
Start by adding the castile soap to the baking soda in a mixing bowl. Stir the ingredients together until you get a smooth, fully combined paste.



Step 2: Add Lemon Juice Slowly
Gradually pour the lemon juice into the mixture.
It will bubble as it reacts with the baking soda, so it’s important to go slowly or you’ll end up with a mini volcano science experiment.
Once you stir it in, the bubbling will subside.


Step 3: Add Essential Oils
If youโre using essential oils, add 20 drops to the mixture. Stir thoroughly to distribute the fragrance evenly throughout the cleaner.

To store your mixture, scoop the mixture into a small jar. A small mason jar works well.

How to Use Your DIY Grout Cleaner
- Apply to Grout: Scoop a small amount of the cleaner and rub it directly onto the grout lines using a brush, sponge, or cloth.
- Let It Sit: Allow the cleaner to sit for a few minutes to give it time to break down dirt and grime.
- Scrub Away Dirt: Use a scrub brush or old toothbrush to gently scrub the grout lines, working in circular motions for deeper cleaning.
- Rinse Clean: Wipe away the cleaner with a damp cloth or rinse with water to reveal bright, refreshed grout.
Thatโs it! This DIY Grout Cleaner is the perfect solution for keeping your tiles looking fresh and clean.
Try it out and see how easily it brings new life to your grout and make your dirty grout look like newโyour tiles will thank you! Thatโs all it takes for a cleaner, healthier home.
This is a great Natural Cleaning Recipe DIY Cleaning product to add to your collection of homemade cleaning solutions.

Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons baking soda
- 4 tablespoons castile soap
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 20 drops essential oils optional – Lemon, Siberian Fir, Tea Tree
Instructions
- Add the castile soap to the baking soda. Stir until fully mixed.
- Next slowly add in the lemon juice. It will bubble up, but once you mix it will settle down.
- Then add in your drops of essential oils.
- Store in a small lidded container such as a small mason jar.
- To Use: Rub on to the grout. Let sit for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse away.
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Dawn Goehring
Hi! I’m Dawn, the founder of Desert Naturals. My family , including my 2 teen boys, husband and myself, live in the southern California desert, I’m passionate about natural living and a life free of synthetics, dye’s, artificial fragrances, and other harmful ingredients. I love to use essential oils and natural ingredients for pretty much everything from natural remedies for my family, to non toxic cleaning for my home, to making my own DIY Beauty products, self care products, and more.





Absolutely adore this! A DIY cleaner that sings to my eco-loving heart. Bravo, Dawn Goehring!
good to see simple solutions that save money. gonna try it on my bathroom tiles.
does it work on old grout too?
Just what I needed! Very useful and worked great!
if this cleaner doesn’t work out, at least my house will smell fresh lol
Love the emphasis on eco-friendly ingredients! It’s great finding solutions that are safe for both my kids and the planet. Can’t wait to try this out.