Prep first
Before you start
- Work out the color first: orange to reddish-brown is usually iron, while slimy pink-red marks are usually bacteria.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot before you use it on the stain.
- Don't use chlorine bleach on an orange or reddish-brown stain until you know it isn't iron, since bleach sets rust.
Iron from water or a rusting metal object is behind most orange stains on shower grout. Whether the grout is cement or epoxy decides how far you can push. Cement grout takes the stain into its own material, so an old mark may only lighten, while epoxy grout can be restored to its original shade.
Test any cleaner on a hidden corner of the grout first, since cement grout soaks up whatever you put on it. A pink stain on grout is slime rather than rust, so a grout cleaner and a stiff brush do the job better than a rust product. If an orange stain in shower grout won't lighten after a few tries, that's the point to call a tile pro.
Before you start
What grout can take
Safe to use4
- Water
- Hot water
- Enzyme cleaners
- Heat, once the stain is out
Use with care5
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
5 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- White nylon padThe recommended scrubbing tool for grout. (opens Amazon)
- Soft nylon brushWorks the cleaner into the grout line. (opens Amazon)
- Mild cleaner made for tile and groutLifts the stain gently and suits cement grout. (opens Amazon)
- Alkaline cleaner made for tile and groutBreaks down greasy soil on the grout. (opens Amazon)
- Mop or wet vacuumPicks up the dirty solution before it dries. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Check the stain and test first
Look at the color and texture before you pick a cleaner. Orange to reddish-brown usually means iron from water or rusting metal, while slimy pink-red marks are usually bacteria. Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first and let it dry to see the result.
Careful. Wear rubber gloves for any rust remover or oxalic acid, since oxalic acid is poisonous.
Step 2 of 560 seconds
Scrub with warm water
Wet the stained grout with warm water and scrub it with a white nylon pad for at least 60 seconds. Work along the grout line so the pad stays in the joint. Then look at the result before you move on.
Careful. Use the white nylon pad, not a metal or abrasive scrubber.
Step 3 of 5A few minutes
Apply a mild tile and grout cleaner
If the stain is still there, apply a mild cleaner made for tile and grout and let it sit for a few minutes. Agitate it with a soft nylon brush or the nylon pad to loosen the stain.
Tip. Work in small sections so the cleaner doesn't dry before you scrub it.
Step 4 of 53 to 4 minutes
Use an alkaline cleaner for greasy soil
Only use this step if the grout is also greasy. Dampen the grout, apply an alkaline cleaner made for tile and grout, and let it dwell 3 to 4 minutes before scrubbing it with a white nylon pad for at least 60 seconds. Rinse, and repeat if needed.
Step 5 of 5
Lift the solution and let it dry
Pick up the dirty solution with a mop or wet vacuum before it dries. Rinse the grout with clean water, then let the area dry completely.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for orange on grout
Look for a cleaner labeled for tile and grout and a white nylon pad, and skip bleach-based or acidic products for this stain.
Zep Grout Cleaner & Brightener
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on grout, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The stain is lifting when the pad comes away clean and the grout line looks lighter. A faint shadow that stays after several passes is usually the stain soaked into the grout, which the set-in options cover.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your grout
Orange on grout in the shower
In a shower, the orange usually comes from iron in the water or from rusting metal, such as a razor or a fixture left in the wet area. Move any rusting metal out of the wet area before you clean, so the grout isn't exposed to more rust.
The steps above work the same way here, so start with the warm-water scrub and only move to the grout cleaner if the stain stays.
Pink or red slime on grout
Pink-red slime is usually the bacterium Serratia marcescens rather than iron, so it can look like rust but is a different stain. The scrubbing steps above are still your starting point, since the slime has to be physically lifted off the grout.
It comes back where the grout stays damp, so keep the shower area as dry as you can between uses.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
An old orange stain on cement grout has usually soaked into the grout itself, so it is harder to lift than a fresh one. Epoxy grout behaves differently, and it can usually be cleaned back to its original color.
For a stubborn spot, repeat the alkaline pass described above on that spot only, and rinse thoroughly each time. Check the color once the area is dry before you go again.
If the stain still won't budge, pressurized steam can clean stains that resist conventional cleaners. On cement grout, don't count on a full return to the original color, so judge the result after each pass.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on orange on grout?
Most household remedies don't belong on grout, and a few can damage it. For this stain, warm water and a mild tile and grout cleaner are usually all you need.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't skip the rinse
Even a good alkaline cleaner leaves a sticky soap film if it isn't rinsed off, and that film attracts dirt. Rinse until no cleaner or suds are left on the grout before it dries.
Don't use oil- or wax-based cleaners
They leave a film in the grout that holds dirt. Stick to cleaners made for tile and grout, as the steps above do.
Don't use strong acid on the grout
Strong acid solutions can take the color out of grout, leave it powdery or sandy, and dull glazed tile. Keep acid out of routine cleaning altogether.
Don't mix bleach with ammonia or acids
Bleach mixed with ammonia forms a toxic gas, and bleach mixed with vinegar, lemon juice or acidic rust and toilet cleaners releases chlorine gas. Keep bleach separate from every other cleaner in the shower.
When to call a professional
Contact the grout maker's technical support when a stain stays after the steps above, since they advise on deeply set and especially stubborn grout stains. Acid cleaning is best left to a professional, because it needs extreme care.
Questions
What causes orange stains on shower grout?
Orange to reddish-brown stains are most often iron from water or rusting metal. Check the wet area for rusting metal items, since they are a likely source.
Will bleach remove orange stains from grout?
No, bleach won't lift this stain. Start with the warm-water scrub and a cleaner made for tile and grout instead.
How long does it take to clean orange grout?
The steps above take about 20 minutes, plus drying time. Stubborn stains may need the alkaline pass repeated before you move on.
Is pink slime on grout the same as rust?
No. Pink-red slime is usually a bacterium, while orange to reddish-brown is usually iron. Slimy marks point to bacteria, and hard stains point to iron.
Will the color come back on cement grout?
Not always. Stains on cement grout become part of the grout, so it may not return to its original color. Epoxy grout can usually be cleaned back to its original color.
When should I call a professional for grout stains?
Call once the steps above and the set-in options have failed. The grout maker's technical support can advise on deeply set stains.
Orange on other materials
Other stains on grout
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.