You’ve installed your beautiful tile floor and then it happens, the moment you’ve been dreading from the first well-placed tile. Your grout is getting dirty. Don’t panic, The Tile Plus Team is here to help. We’ve put together a handy list of ways to scrub that grout fresh again.
First things first, know thy enemy. If it’s your bathroom grout that’s getting grimy, it’s usually on account of mold or mildew. If it’s the kitchen, then it’s a combination of food particles, mildew and the foot traffic going through there.
Second, always start with the simplest cleaning solution first and then work your way to harsher chemicals if you’re unsuccessful. An easy cleaner can be made out of vinegar or baking soda. Use vinegar that has been diluted with an equal amount of water. For example, if you’ve used half a cup of vinegar, dump half a cup of water in there and spray the cleaner on a small length of grout to test it. If you’re using baking powder, then make a paste by mixing in a bit of water and dab the cleaner onto a sample section of grout. Scrub with a stiff brush, scrubbing in small circles, rather than sweeping motions will clean the grout more effectively. Rinse well with water and mop up the remaining moisture with a sponge or paper towels. Mr. Clean, Lysol or powder-based generic household cleaners can also work. Use them as directed for the vinegar or baking soda cleaners above and rinse the grout well after cleaning.
If your grout stains are still being persistent, like a large blemish on the face of your tile floor, up the ante by trying commercial tile and grout cleaner. You can purchase these wherever home cleaning products are sold. Try to find a product that is pH balanced so that the chemicals in the cleaners don’t erode or ruin your grout with continued use. When using these cleaners, spray it on and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing, unless the directions on the label say otherwise. Additionally, if you own or can get to a steam cleaner, try using it on your grout work. The pressure of the steam cleaner can dissolve stains that cleaners can't.
After all of this, if your grout still looks like decayed teeth, make like a dentist and bleach it. This is only for heavy duty stains, use products such as chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach powder or hydrogen peroxide. All of these cleaners must be well diluted before use! You may also find strong cleaners at hardware stores or janitorial supply outlets. When using ANY of these products, read the labels very carefully and follow the directions on them exactly. It’s only fun until someone loses an eyeball right? And you don’t want that person to be you.
Once you’ve got your grout clean, keep it looking fresh all year long by applying a coat or two of grout sealer. There are various types of sealers, available for different uses so make sure you buy the appropriate type for the grout you’re applying it to. Reapply the sealer annually or more often if needed.
Now that you’ve got your list of ways to get your grout fresh like a baby’s bottom, here are some general tips when cleaning up your grout. Safety for you and your grout.
- Never use bleach on colored grout, as it will discolor it.
- Use a stiff brush for scrubbing. Old toothbrushes are too soft, and any brush with metal bristles is to be avoided, they will wear the grout away and may scratch your tile.
- When working with chemicals, make sure the room is well-ventilated and use gloves and wear protective eyewear.
- Test your grout cleaner in a small area first to make sure it won’t damage the grout. This is especially important if your grout is old or damaged. Your test area should be in an inconspicuous area!
- Lastly, and very importantly. Never mix cleaners together as the resulting combination can cause toxic fumes or burn upon skin contact.
Now that you’ve been properly orientated to Grout Cleaning 101, get started! Throw yourself a nice party to celebrate when it’s sparkling and invite us!
-The Tile Plus Team
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Despite these challenging times, what is now being referred to as "the new normal", Tile Plus is still a busy place to be. Our estimators are constantly placing bids and our staff is happy. Lunch was on David the other day! Business is thriving and we're trying out some new marketing techniques. So far we've only received good remarks from them and we'll see where that takes us.
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The Tile Plus Team
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