How To Clean Grout Between Tiles
Grout is defined as a thin mortar, that is, a mixture of lime, cement, sand, and water, used to fill the gap between tiles. Though tile floors are quite easy to clean, it is way harder to clean grout between tiles. Dirty grout makes the tile floors look unattractive, and even after cleaning, dirty grout still makes the tile floors look untidy.
There are various ways of cleaning the grout between tile floors. Some of them include using;
7 Ways to Clean Grout Between Tiles
Warm Water
Sometimes, a little bit of water is enough to make the grout clean. To apply the warm water method, just spray some warm water on the grout and scrub gently with a hard brush.
If a brush made specifically to clean grout is not available, then an old toothbrush or a manicure brush can be used for scrubbing. A wire brush should not be used because it can destroy the grout.
After a good scrubbing, light surface dirt should be gotten rid of, and the white grout underneath will be revealed.
Soap and Water Solution
To apply this method, a little bit of soap, probably a dishwasher will be mixed with warm water, and the solution will be sprayed on the grout which will be scrubbed with the hard brush.
This method is suitable for removing light stains that could not be removed using the warm water method.
Vinegar Solution
The vinegar solution method should not be used on marble tiles or any other tile floors made out of natural stones. This is because vinegar can damage that kind of tiles.
To apply this method, a little bit of vinegar and warm water will be mixed in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the grout and wait for five minutes before scrubbing off with the hard brush.
After the process, the grout may be rinsed with warm water if needed.
Baking soda solution
For this method, mix the baking soda with water to form a thick paste. The paste should be spread on the grout before scrubbing with the hard brush, and the grout should be rinsed with warm water.
It should be noted that the baking soda and vinegar methods can be used together for a cleaning process. After using the baking soda paste on the grout, spray the area with the vinegar solution. The vinegar will make the baking soda bubble and will start to clean the grout. The brush should be used to get into the grout lines to remove the dirt. After the cleaning process, rinse the grout with warm water.
Oxygen Bleach
Before applying the oxygenated bleach, there should be proper ventilation in the room. Fans should be turned on if there is any if not, the windows should be opened. It is advisable to put on a pair of rubber gloves to avoid burns or reactions that can come from the oxygen bleach.
To apply this method, dissolve at least two tablespoons of oxygenated bleach into two cups of water. The solution should be mixed thoroughly to give it a full activation.
It is possible that oxygen bleach can cause discoloration on some tiles or grouts, so a small amount of oxygen bleach solution should be applied on a comer of the tile floor or grout to test it for any reactions.
The oxygen bleach solution should be poured on the grout little by little to avoid wet floors, and it should be allowed to stay on it for several minutes before scrubbing with the hard brush to get the best results.
Where there is a tough stain on the grout, a stronger solution of oxygen bleach can be made by dipping the brush directly into the oxygen bleach powder, and it should be used to scrub the stains.
Steam Cleaners
Steam cleaners are effective in the cleaning and sanitizing of all types of tiles and grouts because of the absence of chemicals in it.
It must, however, be noted that steam cleaning can only be used if the grout is unsealed or if the sealant is old and ready to be removed because the steam cleaner removes all grout sealant.
To use the steam cleaner, fill the reservoir with clean water according to the manual’s instructions, but no chemicals or soap should be added to the steam cleaner’s water reservoir.
The steam cleaner should be turned on to allow it to heat up then the cleaning brush should be moved over grout so that the steam will remove the dirt and stains from the grout and also make the floors germ free.
After the cleaning process, a towel should be used to wipe up the excess moisture from the floor.
It should be noted that this process should be done carefully because the floor may become slippery because of the steam which may have dissolved into water.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide works great on really tough grout stains including blood stains on surfaces. Where there are visible stains, mold or mildewed grout, hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean the grout.
To use this method of cleaning, spray the hydrogen peroxide on the stained area and let it stay for few minutes before scrubbing with the hard brush. Where there is a tough stain on the grout, it may be necessary to repeat the process again.
If the stains are too tough to be removed by just hydrogen peroxide, a paste can be made from the mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Apply the paste on the grout, allow it to sit, scrub with a hard brush and rinse with warm water.
To make the grout to keep looking good, the tile floors most especially the shower walls can be sprayed with a little bit of vinegar and water mix two to three times a week. The mixture should be kept in a spray bottle and kept away from the reach of children if necessary.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to note that safety should come first during the cleaning process. Therefore, safety items such as rubber gloves should be used to protect the hands, goggles to protect the eyes, windows should be opened for ventilation or ventilator should be worn to protect the nose and lungs, and finally, old clothes should be worn during cleaning especially while using bleach in order to avoid spoiling the new clothes.
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