Time for a gross grout intervention? Skip the drama- all you need is a whole lotta elbow grease and two basic household cleaners.

If elbow grease isn’t your thing, rent a steam cleaner. The power of steam is astounding- handheld cleaners are super powerful and allow you to avoid making a mess out of pastes or using bleach. If you live in a home where tile covers more than just your entryway, you might want to consider investing in a residential steam cleaner. Bonus: some steam cleaners come with attachments to clean your carpets as well. Score.

If you’re ready to attack gross grout with elbow grease, make a paste out of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. It will require quite a bit of scrubbing and rinsing, but you’ll see results in hardly any time at all.

1. Start by pouring a small amount of hydrogen peroxide along your grout lines.
2. Work the peroxide along the lines with a grout brush. (I used a toothbrush and it worked just as well!) You don’t want large puddles, but you do want a bit of excess so you can make a paste once you add the baking soda.
3. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda along the grout lines.
4. As you work the soda into the lines with your brush, it will start to form a thick paste.
5. Once you’ve covered the entire line in paste, let it dry completely. This should take 10-15 minutes.
6. Remove the dry paste by wiping with a rag, then follow up with a clean, wet rag to remove any leftover residue.