My bathroom tile grout turned a weird green after I cleaned it with vinegar.

I mixed it too strong and left it on for 20 minutes, which apparently can react with some grout sealers. What's the best way to fix this without having to redo the whole line?

3 comments

3 Comments

scott.miles8d ago

That green stain is a classic vinegar mistake, happens to the best of us. Try making a thick paste with baking soda and a little water, scrub it into the grout line, and let it sit for a bit before rinsing. Sometimes the baking soda can help lift that color change out. If that fails, a little diluted hydrogen peroxide on a toothbrush might do the trick, but test a small spot first.

susan_bell8d ago

Actually, the green stain from vinegar is a chemical reaction with copper in the water or the grout itself, not just a stain you can lift out. Baking soda paste might clean the surface, but it won't reverse that color change if the grout is already etched. The peroxide idea is better for organic stains, not this type of mineral reaction. Once that green shows up, the damage is usually done and cleaning might not fix it.

the_oscar6h ago

Yeah, that "damage is usually done" part from @susan_bell is the real kicker. Once the vinegar eats into the grout and pulls that copper out, you're pretty much just looking at a recolor job.