All-Natural Grout Cleaner

I'm always on the lookout for effective all-natural cleaners, so when I read about a baking soda-based scrub, I figured I'd give it a try.

The scrub is quite basic... About 1/2 cup (ish) baking soda mixed with 1 tablespoon (ish) dish soap. Then you can add as much water as you'd like, to create a paste. Martha Stewart also adds a little essential oil (like lavender or peppermint) to hers, which would be a great addition.

I first used it last weekend to scrub the shower and part of the tile floor in the bathroom (Only part, because Jett woke up while I was in the middle of it, and I never had a chance to finish. Oops!).

While I thought it did a fine job, it was no miracle worker, and didn't leave the shower sparkling clean.

However, Ryan decided to give it a whirl on Monday and got to work on the tile floor. The main difference is that instead of the sponge I used, he used old toothbrushes to really get down and dirty with the grout. And OMG did he do a good job. The light-colored grout was back to its original state, amazingly enough. I was seriously impressed.

So, the bottom line on this natural cleaner is that it works, but be prepared to use some major elbow grease, and make sure you have the right tools (like an old toothbrush) on hand.