Does your kitchen or bathroom have grout? Do you want to clean the grout in your house but have no idea how to do it? Are you wondering how to remove stains from your grout? Then read on.
Grout is used to fill gaps between tiles in many homes. It is a mixture of water, cement, and sand that starts as a dense fluid and then hardens to fill voids and sea joints such as between tiles. In most homes, you can find grout filling in tiles in the bathroom and kitchen.
Regular cleaning of your grout is necessary, just like any other part of your house. As time passes, your grout will become dirty from dust, stains, or exposure. You will need to clean it to ensure that your interior looks clean and presentable, as well as to prevent any unnecessary damaging deterioration.
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Grout cleaning process
Tiles are easy to clean because of their smooth surface that can easily be wiped with a cloth. However, cleaning grout can be a challenge because of its porous nature and light coloring. Over time, dirt and food particles can accumulate between the tiles, or mold can start to form, causing the white grout to discolor.
To clean your grout, you will need:
- Warm water
- Baking soda
- A brush
- Grout sealer
- A wet cloth
- A spray bottle
To clean your grout, follow the steps below:
- Start by cleaning the tiles surrounding the grout. Sweep the tiles with a broom or vacuum them with a vacuum cleaner. After sweeping, mop the tiles with a mop and soapy water. Let them dry before you continue cleaning.
- After the tiles dry, it is time to clean the grout. Start by first removing any particles and dirt that are stuck on the grout. You can use a thin stick to remove them.
- After you remove the dirt and particles, create a cleaning solution by mixing baking soda with water. Mix three tablespoons of baking soda with a liter of water. Stir the mixture until all the baking soda dissolves in water. Put this mixture in a spray bottle.
- With the spray bottle in one hand and a brush in the other, start to clean your grout by spraying the grout with the cleaning solution and scrubbing it with the brush. Scrub in a linear motion by following the outline of the tiles around the grout. Continue to spray and scrub until you cover the whole area that has grout. If you are doing it the proper way, then the grout should turn to its white color.
- If the stains are too stubborn and require a lot of effort, you can spray the baking soda solution and let it sit for a few minutes.
- After you clean the surface with grout, the next step is to rinse away the baking soda solution. The baking soda solution is a base solution. Therefore, it will react with the grout and wear it away if it’s left behind. With clean water and a mop, start by dipping the mop in the water and wiping the floor with it. Make sure to concentrate on the areas with grout for best results.
- After you finish rinsing the grout to remove the baking soda solution, let the grout sit for 24 hours to allow it to dry completely. After it is dry, use a sealant to preserve the work you have done. A sealant also prevents the grout from becoming dirty by forming a protective layer over the grout.
Alternative ways to clean grout
Apart from baking soda, there are other alternative cleaning agents that you can use to clean your grout. You can use bleach, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide.
How to clean grout with vinegar
To clean your grout with vinegar, you will need:
- Water
- Vinegar
- A spray bottle
- A brush
- Sealant
To clean with vinegar, follow the steps below:
- Start by cleaning the tiles around the grout. Sweep the tiles and mop them with a mop.
- After the tiles are clean, create a cleaning solution by mixing vinegar and water at a ratio of one-part vinegar to four-parts water. Put this solution into a spray bottle.
- Start to clean the grout with the brush after spraying the vinegar solution on the areas with grout. Scrub along the outline of the grout until the area becomes white again. Repeat the process until all the parts with grout are clean.
- Mop the floor again with clean water to remove the vinegar solution from the grout.
- Let the grout sit for 24 hours before you apply a sealant to protect your grout.
How to clean grout with bleach
To clean with bleach, you will need:
- Water
- Bleach
- A spray bottle
- A brush
- Sealant
To clean your grout with bleach, follow the steps below:
- Start by cleaning the tiles with water and a mop. This helps prevent any dirt from the tiles from entering the grout after cleaning.
- After you finish mopping, mix bleach with water to dilute the bleach and create a cleaning solution. Fill a spray bottle with the bleach solution.
- Spray the grout with the bleach solution and scrub using a brush. Spray and scrub the whole area with grout until it becomes white, its natural color.
- After you finish scrubbing the grout, mop the area again with clean water to remove any bleach on the grout.
- Apply a sealant on your grout after it dries up to protect the grout.
Frequently asked questions
Why should I clean my grout?
You clean grout to prevent it from being damaged. As dirt and debris accumulate on your grout, they degrade the grout’s quality. Cleaning prevents this accumulation.
How often should I clean my grout?
It is best to clean your grout every four months. This is because grout is reactive to the agents that you use in cleaning. It starts to degrade when exposed to the cleaning agents. By cleaning less often, you ensure that your grout is clean, but not damaged.
How do I protect my grout from discoloration?
The most common cause of discoloration of grout is dirt and debris that accumulates over time. By cleaning your grout regularly, you can prevent this discoloration. To ensure that your grout stays in top condition, you have to clean it. This will save you time and money in the long run.
