Steam cleaning shower grout makes for a seriously sanitized space without any harsh chemicals

Steam cleaning shower grout makes for a gleaming finish without having to combine vigorous scrubbing, mold removal and brightening separately.

After trying several ways of cleaning grout, we've found all you need is water and a steam cleaner for minimal effort, maximum results.

Here, professional cleaners and our resident expert in non-toxic cleaning share their top tips to perfecting the process of using steam to clean your shower grout.

Cleaning shower grout with a steam cleaner

After buying the best steam cleaner to deep clean her carpets, Chiana Dickson, content editor on Solved, was impressed with the results and decided to give the grout brush a go.

Chiana explains, 'The results I had when I cleaned my shower grout with a steam cleaner were undeniable, and I only needed one ingredient – water.'

She uses the BLACK+DECKER 7-in-1 Steam Mop and Steam Glove Handheld Steamer available at Amazon, which has a removable reservoir and a grout brush to scrub nooks and crannies.

Here's how Chiana got the best results when cleaning her shower grout with a steam cleaner.

Step 1: Clear the area

It's much easier to complete the job if you take the time to remove all the shower bottles and shower storage ideas from the space first, according to Will Cotter, cleaning expert and COO of HappyCleans.

'If you want to make cleaning day a little easier, try decluttering the space the night before. It cuts down on the time you'll spend picking up stuff, and you'll be grateful not to be stuck in a hot, humid bathroom,' he says.

Then, ventilate your bathroom well. Cleaning expert Karina Toner advises, 'Turn on the bathroom fan or crack a window. Steam cleaning shower grout creates moisture, and the last thing you want is mold forming from trapped humidity.'

Karina also recommends brushing or vacuuming the grout at this point with a soft-bristled brush that won't cause any damage, such as the Hand Broom Cleaning Brush available at Amazon.

'If there's loose dust, hair, or soap scum, take 30 seconds to brush it away,' she says. 'Otherwise, the steam may push debris around as you work.'

Solved content editor Chiana also used the steam mop function of her cleaner to steam the shower basin to disinfect and pick up any lingering hairs, allowing it to cool and dry before stepping in to do the tiles and grout.

'Steamers are also praised for being able to clean glass shower doors, but I give this a miss as I prefer to use The Pink Stuff, available at Target, for getting rid of built-up soap scum,' she adds.

Step 2: Prepare the steam cleaner

Next, prepare your steam cleaner before cleaning the shower grout. 'Charge it if it’s handheld,' advises Will. 'You don't want interruptions when you’re in the zone, cleaning. Having everything ready to go means you’re good to start without delays.'

The water you use in your steam cleaner is also an important consideration for the best grout results. If you have soft water in your home, use tap water. But if yours is a hard water area, opt for distilled water, available at Walmart. 'This prevents mineral buildup in your machine and on your grout,' explains Karina.

'Not all steam cleaners are created equal,' adds Karina Toner, professional cleaner and operations manager at Spekless. 'Some come with grout-specific attachments, which makes all the difference.'

If yours doesn't, the Joseph Joseph CleanTech 3-in-1 Detail Cleaning Brush, also available at Amazon, is perfect for this, too. When picking a cleaner, try to opt for a softer-bristled attachment, as brass or stiff bristles may wear away the grout.

Step 3: Clean from the top

The order in which you stream clean your grout matters, as water will drip down the wall, often carrying dirt with it.

'A good cleaning tip is to use a step with rubber feet to prevent slipping. Start at the top of the shower wall, and work downwards to prevent dirty water from muddying any pre-cleaned areas,' says Chiana.

'Using the steam grout cleaning method requires very little harsh scrubbing, but I did have to work the brush back and forth a little over the grout lines to help loosen any stubborn marks. '

Will adds that you should also always work in small sections so that the steam doesn't have time to cool down too much. 'Keep moving to avoid leaving too much moisture sitting on the grout,' he advises, or use a microfiber cloth, such as the MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, available at Walmart, to absorb lifted grime before it settles back into the grout.

Chiana adds, 'I also regularly use the brush on my shower tiles, as they are sturdy enough to remove grime without marking them, but you may want to test this on an inconspicuous area first to make sure you don't damage them.'

If you are concerned about steam cleaning damaging your grout or tiles, consider using a standard shower cleaner, such as the Method Daily Shower Spray Cleaner available at Walmart with a microfiber cloth, or using a microfiber cloth on the end of your steamer.

Whether you're cleaning mold in the shower, tiles, or grout, Karina recommends holding the steam nozzle close to the surface. 'About half an inch is best,' she says. 'This lets the steam fully penetrate the surface.'

Step 4: Repeat as needed and let dry

Once you've have made your way down to the bottom, allow the area to dry naturally before checking to see if there is any remaining discoloration. 'If there is, I go back over the areas as needed,' says Chiana.

Finally, Will advises, 'Don't forget to seal the grout, so dirt won't stick as easily.' We recommend the Clean-eez Grout Sealer & Stand-Up Brush Combo available at Amazon for this.

What to shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet our experts

Chiana Dickson

Chiana spends her time reviewing countless cleaning and decluttering tips and hacks – so much so that she was named one of Fixr's top home improvement journalists in 2024.

Karina Toner

Karina has extensive knowledge of cleaning commercial and private residences, with significant expertise in non-toxic ways to clean so you can avoid harsh chemicals, but still get gleaming results.

Will Cotter

HappyCleans offers 100% customer satisfaction for all their clients across Oklahoma City, using tools such as steam cleaners for a sparkling space.

FAQs

Is bleach bad for cleaning shower grout?

There are a number of items to never clean with bleach, and grout is one of them, as it can wear down tile grout and lead to discoloration. If you need to deep clean your grout and don't have a steam cleaner, you can change out bleach for white vinegar and baking soda for a similar whitening effect without the damaging effects of bleach. It may just need reapplication or leaving on for a bit longer to work than more astringent cleaners such as bleach.

What is the easiest way to whiten grout?

If you want to refresh your white grout, a steam cleaner can help lift stubborn stains and renew its color. If you do not have a steam cleaner, then you can try cleaning with hydrogen peroxide mixed with baking soda as a good alternative. Simply mix them into a thick paste and apply with a clean toothbrush and leave to sit before scrubbing and rinsing away.

'For daily maintenance, after a bath or shower, squeegee the space,' recommends Will, with a squeegee such as the Hiware All-Purpose Shower Squeegee available at Amazon. 'Water tends to cling to the tiles, and if you don’t wipe it off, it can leave behind water spots or soap scum. The more soap scum you leave, the harder it is to keep grout clean. Also, don’t forget to keep things airy so moisture dries faster.'

Next learn how you can use oxygen bleach to clean grout, and why our contributing editor swears by an electric scrubber when cleaning grout.