The Toilet Paper Hack That Cleans Moldy Grout Without Scrubbing

The warm and wet conditions of kitchens and bathrooms unfortunately make them ideal spots for mold to grow. This can be especially annoying in tiled spaces like showers, floors, and backsplashes because cleaning moldy grout requires a lot of elbow grease. Luckily, the internet is full of useful cleaning hacks you should be using, including one that can significantly cut down scrubbing time on moldy grout. YouTuber Clean Freak & Germaphobe shares that soaking toilet paper in bleach and sticking it on grout helps break down stains and mold. Soaked toilet paper becomes malleable and stays on grout, keeping the area wet with bleach for longer. When the toilet paper dries or is removed after enough time, any mold should be able to be rinsed away, saving you from sore arms.

All you need for this hack is bleach, toilet paper, and some safety equipment. When using bleach and cleaning up mold, you should also wear proper safety equipment, such as rubber gloves, protective eyewear, and a mask. Also, be careful not to mix bleach with any cleaning solutions containing ammonia. If the area of mold is larger than about 10 square feet, you may need to contact a professional to remove the mold. To use this hack, soak strips of toilet paper in bleach and stick them to the grout wherever there is mold. You can remove the toilet paper after one hour or wait a few hours to further reduce scrubbing time. Remember to wipe or rinse off the tile after removing the toilet paper.

Bleach is a good option for this hack, but you can also use vinegar or a mold and mildew removal spray. Although bleach works faster and disinfects surfaces, vinegar is better at getting into porous materials, including grout. Vinegar also does not expose you to the toxic fumes of bleach. If you are concerned about fumes or damage to your grout from bleach, then it may be worth using vinegar instead of bleach. Mold and mildew sprays can also be effective options, but you should check the directions on these products before using them for this hack. If you are running low on toilet paper, you can use paper towels, napkins, or tissues, but it may not be as cost-effective. Avoid using fabrics for this hack because soaking them in any of these cleaning solutions, especially bleach, may lead to damage.

When there is mold in one area of a humid room, like a bathroom, you may want to check other spots in that room. Mold can hide in many places, and you might find yourself having to clean black mold in your toilet. If you are treating any mold in your home, you should also take steps to prevent mold from returning. Usually, this means increasing ventilation in rooms to reduce humidity and make the conditions less favorable for mold using fans or dehumidifiers. With this hack and the right preventative measures, hopefully you never need to scrub at moldy grout again.