A budget-friendly item from Tesco, costing only 50p, is all you need to tackle discoloured grout in your bathroom. Angela Patrone, Senior Lifestyle Reporter, shares her experience of whitening stained grout in just five minutes using this everyday product.
The Problem with Grout
Grout is porous, meaning it contains tiny holes that easily accumulate dirt, leading to mould and mildew. While regular cleaning of sinks, bathtubs, and showers is common, grout cleaning is often postponed. When the stained grout began spoiling the bathroom's appearance, it was time to take action.
The Surprising Solution: Toothpaste
Instead of harsh cleaning products, the writer opted for toothpaste, a method recommended by TV and social media cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie, known as the Queen of Clean. Despite initial doubts, this technique proved effective. The dense texture of white toothpaste, containing baking soda and peroxide, makes it ideal for removing stubborn stains from grout.
How to Use Toothpaste on Grout
- Use only white toothpaste, as gel varieties contain dyes that can transfer. Avoid coloured toothpastes.
- Squeeze a small amount onto an old toothbrush, run it under warm water, and scrub the grout as you would your teeth.
- The toothpaste lathers quickly, and stains begin to fade within a few strokes.
In under five minutes, a considerable stretch of grout was noticeably brighter. A comparison test with plain water showed that while some grime came off, it was not as effective as the toothpaste.
Results and Recommendations
The writer was genuinely impressed, and the bathroom was left with a refreshing minty scent. For more stubborn stains, additional scrubbing in back-and-forth and circular motions was required. While some traces lingered, the stains eventually lifted. This hack is highly recommended for minor grout discolouration, but for deep-rooted mould, a more heavy-duty solution may be necessary.
