In almost every home, you’ll find ceramic tiles in the bathroom and kitchen, both on the walls and floors. The tiles themselves can last for many years, are easy to maintain, and hardly deteriorate over time. With proper care, they can look as good as new. However, the grout lines tend to get dirty quite quickly, especially if they are light-colored.

The most problematic areas are near the sink, bathtub, stove, and on the floor.

There are many ways to clean grout lines. The most convenient tools for this are a toothbrush, a clothing brush, or a melamine sponge.

Here are the most effective methods for cleaning tile grout:

1. **Baking Soda Solution**: Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda into 500 ml of water. Wet the grout lines with the solution, then scrub with a toothbrush.

2. **Lemon**: Cut a piece of lemon and rub it on the grout lines. Leave it for 15-20 minutes to let the lemon juice soften the dirt and grease. Then, wipe it off with a sponge or brush.

3. **Baking Soda and Vinegar Paste**: Apply a baking soda paste to the greasy areas. Then spray vinegar over the top. A reaction will occur, after which you can wipe the area clean with a sponge or cloth. This method can also be used to make your tiles shine.

4. **Bleach**: Soak a sponge in bleach and wipe the grout lines. Bleach will whiten them in a few minutes and also kill any fungus.

5. **Fine Sandpaper**: Fold a small piece of fine sandpaper and gently rub the grout lines, being careful not to scratch the tiles.

Of course, you can also use store-bought cleaning products.

After you’ve cleaned the grout, let it dry completely, and then reinforce your efforts. I recently learned a life hack from a friend that helps keep the grout clean for a long time. You can rub clean grout with a paraffin candle. The wax will seal and polish all the problem areas, and this trick also helps prevent mold.

If you want to refresh the color of the grout, you can use a nitro-based paint marker before applying the wax. These markers are available in various colors and can be purchased at any stationery store.

If the grout is in really bad shape, carefully use a special grout removal tool, which you can buy at a hardware store. Try to remove the old grout and then apply a fresh layer.