How to Clean Grout
Grout is a funny name for an important product. It is the sealing agent that fills the gaps between tiles, on a tiled floor, backsplash, shower, and countertops. If the grout gets dirty and dingy, the whole room looks like it’s not clean.
Many people have moved into their new homes thinking that their grout was brown or dark beige, only to find out after a good cleaning that it’s actually white! That’s what a big difference having clean grout can make. So, getting it clean and keeping it clean are the key to having a clean room.
Cleaning Grout on Floor Tiles:
The grout on your kitchen tile floor might get stained and dirty from people walking on it and food spills. The best way to clean the gunk that gets stuck in grout is with a mild abrasive and some elbow grease.
This is probably not the time for using a mop, although a long handled brush can be used if you can’t physically get down on your hands and knees to do the job. A mop on a tile floor just skims over the grout, so your normal mopping probably won’t do the job.
Choosing A Cleaner:
Many people use a mixture of household ingredients, like a vinegar water solution or baking soda mixed with a little water for abrasion.
If you are just doing maintenance cleaning this is fine but for deep cleaning or stubborn stains, opt for an oxygen based cleaner or one specifically made for cleaning grout.
Use a Scrub Brush:
For a deep down clean, you’ve got to put in some real work. The grout sits just below the level of the tiles, so a brush of some kind is your best bet for getting it really clean.
Rinse Often:
With abrasive cleaners, it’s important to rinse thoroughly and often with plain water so that you are getting rid of all the residue from the dirt you are removing as well as from the cleanser. Rinse the area your working on, then wipe up excess water. Continue scrubbing.
Wet Mop:
Even though you are rinsing often, it's a good idea to do one final mopping. After you have finished scrubbing the grout, go over the surface one more time with a wet mop. Dry the floor of any excess water.
Bathroom Cleaning:
Getting Rid of Mold and Mildew:
In the bathroom, your problem isn’t dirt so much as it is mold and mildew. With a moist environment, mold and mildew have the opportunity to grow and flourish and the grout lines provide the perfect surface for them to cling to.
Many people rely on bleach alone to clean bathroom grout and remove mold, but there’s more to it than just putting bleach on the grout lines and leaving it. To really get rid of the mold and mildew, you need to scrub the grout the same way you do with the floor.
- Here you need the power of bleach or peroxide to scrub the grout because you have to kill the mold and mildew and make sure it doesn’t come back anytime soon.
- For those tough areas mix peroxide with a little baking soda to make a paste, use an old toothbrush to scrub the area; you can even let it sit on the grout stain a few minutes, scrub again and rinse.
- Rinsing is generally easier in the shower area because the water is there already and you can use the shower head to rinse the tile and grout.
- To prevent mold and mildew from coming back, be sure that you have adequate ventilation in your bathroom. Opening a window or running an exhaust fan can help keep the bathroom from getting too moist.
Tough Stain Removal:
In some cases, elbow grease just doesn’t cut it. In the event that your grout hasn’t been cleaned in a very long time or you just can’t get the stains out, it may be time to call in the big guns.
You can rent a steam cleaner from a local equipment rental place or hire someone to do the job for you. The combination of hot steam and then a vacuum will lift and remove the stains that you can’t get out with just scrubbing.
Keeping Your Grout Clean:
Once you’ve gotten your grout cleaned, you want to protect it. There are many products available for sealing grout at your local home improvement store. Adding a layer of sealant will keep your grout looking good for a long time and cut your cleaning time in the future.
Keeping your grout looking good will keep the whole room looking its best, whether it’s the bathroom, the kitchen, or somewhere else in your home.
