Can You Get Rid of Grout Mould With Vinegar?
- Best Home Services
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Vinegar is an excellent tool for many household needs from laundry and more, but does it work for mould removal?
How vinegar works to remove mould from grout
Vinegar has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, making it a cheap go-to for small household mould removal needs such as that of grout mould build-up. Vinegar’s acetic acid content allows it to disrupt the growth of many mould species by lowering pH and therefore disrupting mould cell walls and enzymes. While it is not effective on all mould, it is generally great for common household moulds.
Generally, even the most advanced mould removal methods will not remove mould from porous elements such as wood or old grout. So, while vinegar removes mould from and sanitises the surface, deep rooted mould that seems to be returning quickly or cant be removed with a scrub may require re-grouting, or investigation into what other issues may be causing mould, such as a lack of ventilation and heating in the bathroom.
How to remove mould from grout
Ventilation: open a window if possible and ensure good air flow. When you disturb mould, the spores will distribute through the air so it’s very important to ensure you don’t breathe them in as they are dangerous to health.
Protect yourself: Gloves and a mask are must haves to protect your skin and respiratory system from the vinegar and mould spores respectively. In a pinch, if you have leftover masks from the pandemic, such as an N95 rated mask, they will also protect you from mould particles.
Spray undiluted white vinegar onto the grout: use a spray bottle filled with plain white distilled vinegar and liberally spray onto the mouldy grout. Let it sit for at least 10-30 minutes so that the vinegar can disrupt the mould.
Spray and scrub: After letting it sit, once again spray more vinegar and thoroughly scrub the grout with a toothbrush, grout brush, or stiff nylon brush.
Repeat if needed: depending on the mould stubbornness, more spraying and scrubbing may be required.
Rinse: rinse the tiles and grout with clean water, and wipe with a clean cloth.
Consider grout health: there are many reasons the mould may have occurred, from old grout to a lack of insulation. To prevent future scrubbing, it is worth seeing if you can stop the cause rather than working on the symptom. Some preventative actions include wiping shower walls with a squeegee after use, re-grouting broken and porous grout, checking windows are not leaking, ventilating the area, ensuring the bathroom is well-heated in winter, and checking that the extractor fan is functional. I always advocate that prevention is key, especially in the bathroom where humidity levels are high
