How to Know If You Need Grout Cleaning or Grout Replacement

Grout sits between the tiles on your kitchen floor, splashback, bathroom and shower. It comes in different types and colours, and over time it can start to look tired. So how do you tell whether to clean or replace grout? We’ve outlined the key signs to look for below.

Here’s the short answer. If your grout is stained, discoloured or mouldy but still solid, it needs cleaning. If it’s cracked, crumbling or missing, it needs replacing.

Clean or Replace Grout? A Quick Check

• Dark, stained or discoloured, but solid: clean it.
• Mould or mildew on the surface: clean it, and improve the airflow in the room.
• Cracked, crumbling, loose or missing: replace it.
• Colour or mould that won’t shift with a home clean: call a professional before you decide to replace.

When Your Grout Should Be Replaced

If your grout is falling off or is crumbling, it’s definitely time to replace it. Even small cracks in the grout could lead to it falling apart later. Once grout starts coming out of place, dirt and debris can get under the tiles. Holes in the grout can also let water in under the tiles, which could later lead to a much bigger problem: water damage beneath the tiles.

Replacing grout is time-consuming. The old grout has to be scraped out first, because new grout spread thinly over old grout doesn’t bond well and tends to crack and flake. Then new grout (often epoxy) goes in. It’s best to avoid this by maintaining and cleaning your grout properly.

When It’s Time for Grout Cleaning

When mould or mildew starts building in between your tiles, it’s definitely time to clean them. Don’t let it stay too long, as it can cause long-term damage to the grout. It’s most common in showers and bathrooms, the places that get wet over and over. When your grout starts changing colour, that’s another sign it’s time for grout cleaning.

A simple, gentle soap and water should be all you need, with a soft brush. A lot of online forums suggest a hard brush and abrasive scrubbers, but these can damage the grout, making it less effective and more likely to hold dirt in the future. Test any cleaner on a small, hidden patch first. For step-by-step methods, see our guide on how to clean grout in the shower.

When to Call the Professionals

If the colour doesn’t lighten after cleaning or the mould doesn’t come off with your soapy wash, it’s time to call the professional tile and grout cleaners. They know how to treat and properly clean grout without causing damage. Grout that stays dark after a good clean usually has grime deep in its pores, and that doesn’t always mean it needs replacing: a professional clean can often bring it back. Mould that has grown deep into the grout is different: it can’t be cleaned out, and the grout will need replacing.

How Often Should Grout Be Professionally Cleaned?

Regular care is the best way to avoid replacement. Air out wet areas after use and give grout a gentle clean every week or two. For a professional tile and grout clean, about once a year suits bathrooms, showers and kitchens, and every 18 to 24 months suits low-traffic tiled floors. Making it part of your routine helps you avoid the more costly and time-consuming process of grout replacement.

If you’re after a tile and grout clean, the Wizard Cleaning® team can bring your kitchens and bathrooms back to life. To book, call us on 0400 634 609 or request a free, no-obligation quote.