How To Clean a Greasy Tiled Backsplash and Grout

Do you have subway tiles in your kitchen? Or maybe you went for something a bit bolder? Either way, those tiles need cleaning! How to do it depends on just how long it’s been since you gave them a good once-over — and how often you make a big, greasy mess in your kitchen.

Here, we’ve got step-by-step cleaning instructions for even the greasiest backsplash and grout.

Many, many things in your kitchen can be cleaned with soap, water, and a sponge that has some texture to it. Soap molecules are both hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-hating), which makes them perfectly suited for breaking up the grease, suspending it in water, and washing it away.

That said, sometimes your tiles (and especially the grout) need an extra step to get them back to their original luster. And that’s where our favorite DIY cleaner comes in. It combines three potent cleaning agents you probably have in your kitchen: vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.

Vinegar and lemon juice are acidic in nature, which makes them good at fighting soap scum, hard water, and other yucky buildup; it also makes them good stain removers, as most stains are acidic. Baking soda is slightly alkaline and, when you combine it with the acidic ingredients, it’s pure science-fair magic for that greasy grout.

Many people steer clear of using bleach in the kitchen, but it is a potent cleaner — and safe, too, as long as you dilute it. If you discover that underneath the grease, your backsplash is moldy, mildewy, or extremely discolored, bleach is your friend.

Okay, ready to get cleaning? Here’s how to do it.

• Sponge
• Dish soap
• Dish cloths
• Lemons
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Toothbrush
• Grout sealer

1. Use a soapy sponge to clean the tile and grout: Using circular motions, clean the backsplash and grout with a sponge soaked in warm, soapy water.
2. Wipe the tile and grout clean: Take a damp dish cloth and wipe your tile and grout clean of any soapy residue.
3. Make a paste with lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda: If you still have greasy buildup and stains, make a DIY grease-fighting paste with one part lemon juice, one part vinegar, and two parts baking soda.
4. Scrub the greasy tile and grout with the paste: Use a toothbrush to apply the paste to the greasy tile and grout. Give the tiles and grout a good scrub with the toothbrush or with a sponge if there’s more surface area to cover.
5. Wipe the tile and grout clean: Use a clean, damp dish cloth to wipe your tile and grout clean.
6. Apply a grout sealer to dry grout: Once the grout has fully dried (give it a few hours to be sure), apply one or two coats of a silicone-based grout sealer to protect it in the future.

• If your grout is really gross (i.e., moldy, mildewy, and stained), you may need to use a bleach solution — or call in an expert!
• Rubber gloves are never a bad idea!