Tile is beautiful, durable, and usually easy to clean; however, grout, not so much. Grout gets gunky over time and makes your tiles look dirty and unappealing, so it’s a good idea to clean it up occasionally. Discover how, with just a bit of elbow grease and these tips below, you can get your tile and the lines between them looking white and bright again.
Tips to Cleaning Your Grout
Before you start cleaning your grout, It’s best to use a mild cleaning solution and test it in a hidden spot, such as under a kitchen appliance or behind the toilet. With that said, here are some cleaning suggestions to get your grout looking like new again.
Scrub with plain water
If your tile isn’t that dirty, you may just need to scrub it with plain water and a stiff-bristled brush of which you can get at a hardware store. Just look for one with the express purpose of cleaning grout. Spray warm water on the grout lines and scrub in a circular motion, then let dry.
Spray with vinegar
For heavier dirt and small stains, vinegar works great as a standby. Just fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of warm water and vinegar. Spray on the grout and let sit for five minutes. Then, scrub with a stiff brush.
Apply baking soda
Baking soda is a traditional remedy for cleaning, with grout no exception. Cover grout lines with a paste of water and baking soda and apply the vinegar solution from above. When the mixture stops foaming, scrub your grout with a brush, and then rinse with warm water.
Pour on hydrogen peroxide
If you have moderate stains, hydrogen peroxide is a powerful solution. Use a full-strengthened solution or apply a paste out of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Scrub the grout and let dry.
Use oxygen bleach
For tough stains and grimy grout, apply oxygen bleach. It’s sold most often in powdered form, with best-selling brands, such as OxiClean or Clorox OxiMagic. Before you use this solution, ensure you have proper ventilation. Carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for application. Let the oxygen bleach solution work for about 10 or 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with clean water.
Try chlorine beach
You can try chlorine bleach sparingly in extreme cases to clean grout. However, before you apply it, try everything else above. Note, if you have tried the above at the same time, you want to use the chlorine bleach, ensure you rinse away all the other solutions. Even traces of vinegar mixed with bleach will emit a highly toxic chlorine gas in the surrounding air. Also, it’s essential to consider that using caustic cleaners long-term will erode the grout, so use them sparingly.
Steam clean
Using steam cleaners can be an effective and environmentally-friendly method of cleaning grout. Hoover, Bissel, and Oreck, among others, make steam cleaners for use in homes.
Maintaining your grout will help keep it clean and stain-free, Spray down the grout weekly with vinegar or use alcohol to help prevent mold and mildew.
Time to Upgrade? Contact Us
Once your tile is clean and looking new, consider whether it’s time to upgrade your bathroom or kitchen. Fill out our form and tell us about your desires for modern-looking styles that fit your home’s decor. Or, call us today to learn more about our satisfied customers and how we can help you.
