Why I Prefer My Carpet Cleaner for Tile Grout (Over a Steam Mop!)

When my father-in-law said we were smart for picking a dark grout to go with our tile, I bit my tongue.

Our grout is actually sand-colored, which isn’t white by any means, but we didn’t intentionally choose this darker hue he was referring to. That was simply years of built-up dirt. Oops.

I’ve spent more hours than I care to count scrubbing that grout. After 18 years in our home, with three boys, grandkids, and lots of family gatherings, you can imagine what the grout looks like.

Keeping up with it is a nightmare! Worse, I easily have 1,000 sq. ft. of tile grout to deal with, maybe more. (I’ve tried not to measure… denial is my favorite coping mechanism.)

My Grout-Cleaning Odyssey

Like any sane person, I’ve tried everything. From grout cleaning chemicals and steam mops to steam cleaners and grout brushes, nothing quite hit the mark.

The steam mops always left me hoping for more oomph, and the brushes? Oh, they worked… but at the cost of my carpal-tunnel-prone wrists.

One time, I spent weeks using the brush attachment on my old carpet cleaner, painstakingly going over every single grout line. Did it work? Sure! But it was back-breaking, wrist-aching work. And don’t even get me started on how long it took to recover.

There have been moments (more than a few) where I considered hiring someone to tackle the grout for me. But then, my husband and I are tight with money, and we have this shared philosophy: if we can clean or fix something ourselves, we do it. (To be honest, it’s mostly because we’re stubborn like that!)

The Lightbulb Moment: My Carpet Cleaner

Then, after trying everything short of waving a magic wand, I found my solution. And guess what? It wasn’t the latest and greatest grout brush or fancy steam mop. Nope, it was my trusty carpet cleaner!

Hold on, I know what you’re thinking. “A carpet cleaner… for tile grout?” Yep! But here’s the trick—I don’t use it the way you think.

Let me explain.

Why My Carpet Cleaner Beats a Steam Mop for Grout

The magic lies in the carpet cleaner’s main feature of putting out clean water and sucking up the dirty water. This is what’s missing when you try to use a steam mop or cleaner for your grout.

Let’s face it, steam mops are amazing for sanitizing and getting a surface-level clean. They’re perfect for quick touch-ups and great for cleaning sealed tiles, but when it comes to grout? The struggle is real. Believe me – I’ve been at it for more than 10 years!

I still use my steam mop for regular cleaning, especially to maintain the cleanliness of my tile floors. But when the grout is crying for help? I’m grabbing the carpet cleaner every time.

My Grout-Cleaning Method:

After years of scrubbing, steaming, and nearly giving up on my grout altogether, I’ve finally landed on a method that works without wrecking my wrists, my knees, or my weekend plans.

Steam isn’t even part of the equation but since I know a lot of people come to my site looking for a steam mop specifically because they want one that will clean their grout, I feel this is the best place to share my method.

Here’s my step-by-step process for deep cleaning tile grout without hours of scrubbing or mopping.

1. Pour a couple of ounces of Aqua Mix Professional Grout Deep Clean into a small container (You can use an empty margarine tub—reduce, reuse, right?).
2. Use an old toothbrush to apply the cleaner directly into the dirty grout lines. Yes, I said toothbrush—I’ll explain why in a minute.
3. Let the cleaner sit for 8-10 minutes. Grab a coffee, check social media, and let it do the hard work for you.
4. After letting it soak in, use a grout brush on a handle (or any scrubbing brush that won’t damage your tile) to brush the grout lines.
5. Here’s where my carpet cleaner comes in: use it to wash the tile and grout lines. Do NOT put any cleaner into the carpet cleaner – just plain water. It’ll suck up all that dirty water and soap in no time!

Note: Make sure to test this method on an inconspicuous spot first. We don’t want any grout disasters!

Using this method, I can clean a 100 sq. ft. section of really tough, dirty grout lines in about 15-20 minutes and 8-10 minutes of that is spent waiting for the Aqua Mix to do its thing. Easy!

You may not see a difference until your grout has had a chance to dry and then remember to apply grout sealer as needed.

Why I Use a Toothbrush Instead of Spraying

Yes, Aqua Mix comes in a spray bottle, but here’s why I don’t use it that way:

• Spraying wastes product. The spray nozzle covers a wide area, meaning you end up getting the cleaner on your tile, which is a waste.
• It’s expensive! Aqua Mix runs about $17-18 at Home Depot for a 32-ounce bottle (you can check Amazon’s price through my link here: Amazon). And according to the label, that bottle only covers 32-100 sq. ft. With over 1,000 sq. ft. of tile in my home, I’d need 10 bottles. That’s around $170-180 just for cleaning solution! No, thanks.
• It gets soapy fast. When you start scrubbing, the solution foams up, and if you’ve sprayed it vs using a toothbrush, it takes forever to get all that soap up. You’ll be mopping over and over. In fact, I once saw a Facebook Reel where a woman sprayed an everyday cleaner into her grout and complained about the hours spent mopping up the excess soap. I knew exactly how she felt because that’s how I was the first few times I used Aqua Mix. My toothbrush method minimizes that mess, saving time and energy.

Why I Use the Toothbrush Instead of the Grout Brushes That Come With Steam Cleaners

I’ve had steam mops and cleaners that come with grout brush attachments, and frankly, they just don’t hold up. The bristles flatten out after a few uses, making them pretty useless.

In contrast, my trusty old toothbrush? It’s been working for years without going flat. I have no idea why grout brush attachments can’t be made as sturdy, but someone should call the toothbrush companies to collaborate!

Can You Use Other Cleaners?

You bet! I’ve experimented with different cleaners over the years. I even tested The Pink Stuff (a miracle worker on other messes) but found Aqua Mix far better for cutting through my built-up grout grime.

Feel free to test what you’ve got at home first, but if it doesn’t do the job, the Aqua Mix is worth investing in. And if you avoid spraying and stick to the toothbrush method, it’ll last much longer than advertised.

Do You Need a Special Grout Brush?

Not at all! I use a grout brush from Home Depot that attaches to a handle so I don’t have to get on my hands and knees. But honestly, I’ve used other soft-bristled brushes in a pinch, and even the toothbrush I use to apply the cleaner does a solid job. So don’t feel like you need to buy something fancy.

Why I Use a Carpet Cleaner Instead of a Steam Mop

Most grout cleaners are super soapy, and while a steam mop can help loosen dirt, it’s not great at sucking it back up. When you use steam, you end up with a soapy, dirty puddle that runs right back into your freshly cleaned grout lines. Not exactly the result you want.

A carpet cleaner, on the other hand, is a game-changer. It not only puts down clean water but also sucks up the dirty water and soap, leaving your grout lines and tile truly clean. It’s much faster than using a mop and doesn’t leave sticky residue behind.

Plus, grout cleaner tends to dry up while you’re waiting for it to penetrate the dirt. The carpet cleaner, with its fresh water spray, reactivates the dried soap, making it easier to suck everything up in one go.

I have a Hoover carpet cleaner that does not have steam but it does have the option to run it on dry mode only so once I’ve finished washing the floors I can put it on dry-only and suck up any excess water but I don’t find there’s much to worry about as it is sucking up water all the time it’s running.

Important note: Don’t pour the grout cleaner into your carpet cleaner’s tank! You’re just using the carpet cleaner to wash and suck up the dirty water, not to apply the cleaning solution. Always check that your carpet cleaner can handle sucking up the kind of cleaner you’re using.

If you don’t want to use a carpet cleaner, you can always use old towels to wipe up the cleaner and then follow with a mop. But for me, the carpet cleaner method is quicker and more efficient.

Benefits of This Method

• Cheaper: I make that expensive grout cleaner last by not spraying it everywhere, and I still get fantastic results.
• Faster: This method is quicker than any other I’ve tested.
• Easier: Less time on your hands and knees and fewer mop sessions to get rid of soapy residue.
• More effective: It tackles years of built-up grime with less elbow grease.

Final Thoughts

Grout cleaning can feel like an endless battle, but finding a method that works for you is the key to keeping your tile floors looking fresh.

While steam mops are great for surface cleaning, when it comes to deep-cleaning grout, a carpet cleaner with strong suction can make all the difference.

My method using Aqua Mix, a trusty toothbrush, and my carpet cleaner has been a game-changer—it’s faster, easier, and more effective than anything else I’ve tried.

So, if you’re tired of scrubbing grout and not getting the results you want, don’t be afraid to think outside the box and give this method a try. You might just save your wrists, your floors, and your sanity!