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Best way to whiten grout


How to Clean Tile Grout

No matter how clean your toilet, shower, or sink may be, if the grout between your shower or floor tiles is dingy, your entire bathroom will look — and feel — dirty. Luckily, with some elbow grease and this advice on how to clean grout from Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, you can restore even the grimiest grout back to its natural state.

First, choose which route you want to take — DIY cleaners or failsafe products from tried-and-tested brands — and then follow this guide for a cleaner, brighter space.

How to Clean and Whiten Grout in Tiles

Don't let your grout get past the point of no repair: Clean it every week or as needed to prevent it from yellowing. When you first catch a glimpse of grout haze (or when you just feel like your bathroom needs a refresh), follow this step-by-step guide:

  1. Mix 3/4 cup household chlorine bleach with 1 gallon water. Or for a ready-made option, try CLR Fresh Scent Bath and Kitchen Cleaner.
  2. Wearing rubber gloves, use a stiff brush to apply the formula to one small area at a time. Be careful not to let the liquid splatter onto you or surrounding surfaces.
  3. Let sit for several minutes, then scrub and rinse.

How to Make Homemade Tile Grout Cleaner


Proof that you don't need to rely on bleach and other chemicals to make your bathroom sparkle. Instead, turn to your pantry for all the ingredients you need to make this all-natural cleaner. To note: This mixture isn't quite as powerful as commercial cleaners or bleach, so it may take extra elbow grease and patience to get noticeable results.

  1. Mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide until it forms a paste. Apply it to the grout.
  2. Let sit a few minutes, then scrub and rinse.

How to Prevent Future Grout Haze

General rule of thumb: The drier you keep your space, the less you'll have to clean it. Moisture leads to mildew stains, which is the common cause of yellowing grout. To prevent dingy shower grout, run a squeegee over the tile after you're done showering. Opening a window, turning on the exhaust fan while showering, or leaving the door open will also reduce moisture.

All the Products You Need for Cleaner Grout
Playtex Reuseable Rubber Cleaning Gloves

$18 at Amazon

Credit: Amazon
Clorox Concentrated Bleach

Now 42% Off

$13 at Amazon

Credit: Amazon
Casabella Smart Scrub Heavy Duty Grout Brush

$10 at Amazon

Credit: Amazon
CLR Bath & Kitchen Cleaner

$12 at Amazon

Credit: Amazon

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Amanda Garrity

Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more. 

8 Super Effective Methods for Cleaning Grout

Photo: istockphoto.com

Tile is beautiful, durable, and generally easy to clean, but cleaning grout? That’s a different story. Because it’s typically light-colored and has a porous composition, grout is prone to staining. In a tiled entryway or mudroom, dirt and grime are the usual culprits but in the kitchen, spills are more likely to blame. In the bathroom, homeowners must contend with grout that’s marred by mold and mildew.

The good news is that the best way to clean grout doesn’t come with a big price tag. It’s possible to clean and restore your grout using common household products and of course, a bit of elbow grease.

Before you get started on your grout-cleaning endeavors, understand that it is best to begin with the first cleaning option on this list, which is the mildest, least harmful method. If that doesn’t work, you can work your way up to incrementally more intense, odiferous, and potentially time-consuming options on this list. If you’re in doubt about whether a particular grout cleaner is suitable for your surface, test it in a hidden spot first—under an appliance in the kitchen, say, or behind the toilet in the bathroom. 

Tools & Materials

Before you begin cleaning, it’s important to understand the different types of grout.

There are several types of grout, and most types come in multiple colors. It’s important to take both type and hue into consideration before you start gathering cleaning supplies and making a cleaning plan. The two most common types of grout these days are traditional cement grout and the newer standard, epoxy grout. These grout types can be further broken down as follows:

Some types of grout are precolored and are as a result better able to resist stains and fading. There are also grout formulations that add polymers to provide helpful features such as moisture and mildew resistance. Finally, as you’re figuring out how best to clean your grout, it’s important to know whether the grout has been sealed, or possibly needs resealing. This might affect both how well the grout holds up and what solutions you can use to clean it.

istockphoto.com

1. Scrub dirty grout using warm water and a medium-bristle brush.

If you don’t already have a grout scrubber, most home centers and hardware stores carry a number of products that are specifically designed for the purpose of cleaning tile grout. To avoid damaging the grout, opt for a medium-bristle nylon brush, not a hard steel one. Simply spray warm water on the grout lines and scrub in a circular motion, then let it dry. Don’t use too much water or let it sit on the grout for too long. Remember: Porous cement grouts absorb water, which could lead to mildew.

2. Spray grout with equal parts vinegar and warm water.

If you know your grout has been sealed but it has accumulated heavy dirt or mild stains, turn to vinegar, that trusty old household staple. Fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and warm water. Spray the mixture on the grout, let it stand for 5 minutes, then scrub the surface with a stiff brush. Avoid using vinegar on unsealed grout.

3. Apply a baking soda paste and then spray with vinegar.

Cleaning grout with baking soda will bring even more power to the party. Here’s what to do: Cover grout lines with a paste of baking soda and water, then spray on the vinegar solution listed above (remember, only apply vinegar if the grout has been sealed). Once the mixture stops foaming, scrub with a brush, rinse with plain water, and wipe dry. If the grout is unsealed or needs resealing, apply just the baking soda solution and scrub carefully.

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4. Pour on some hydrogen peroxide.

Moderate stains may require you to use hydrogen peroxide, which is available in most drug stores. You can use the product straight or as part of a homemade grout-cleaning paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. This mixture is typically safe for both sealed and unsealed grout.

5. Apply oxygen bleach and let it stand for up to 15 minutes.

For tougher stains on really grimy white grout, use oxygen bleach as a grout cleaner. You’ll find this cleanser is most often sold in powdered form; bestselling brands include OxiClean and Biokleen Oxygen Bleach Plus.

Before using oxygen bleach to clean grout, make sure the room is well ventilated, and then carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for application. Let the oxygen bleach solution soak in for 10 or 15 minutes before rinsing. Always rinse with clean water and then wipe the area dry so that the dirt doesn’t resettle into the grout lines.

6. Try a commercial grout stain remover.

Applying one of the best grout cleaners on the market could make quick work of removing mold and mildew and restoring bright white grout lines. These products work in one of two ways: (1) spray and wipe, or (2) scour with a brush. Spray-on products claim to work without scrubbing. Though they save time and energy, they may contain harsher acids, solvents, or chlorine bleach.

Scouring with a soft brush and cleaner does require a little work, but this method can be especially effective on floors and heavily soiled grout. Before you begin using one of these products, read the active ingredients carefully, and heed the instructions—particularly the safety precautions.

7. Steam-clean the worst of grout stains.

The best steam mops are effective and environmentally friendly tools for cleaning grout—or, for that matter, many hard surfaces throughout the house. Bissell, Oreck, and Hoover all make steam cleaners for residential use.

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8. Use chlorine bleach sparingly on grout.

Chlorine bleach and commercial cleansers containing chlorine bleach can be used sparingly in extreme cases to clean grout. It’s not a great idea to use them as your go-to grout cleaners because long-term use of caustic cleaners will erode grout. When all else fails, however, a bleach product such as Clorox Clean-Up might be effective.

If you’ve tried any or all of the above methods before you apply chlorine bleach, be sure to rinse the surface completely before proceeding with any chlorine bleach products. This is especially true of vinegar, because traces of vinegar mixed with bleach will emit a highly toxic chlorine gas into the air.

Grout Maintenance

Once you’re finished cleaning your grout, spray it with household vinegar or a mild grout cleaner and wipe it down once a week to keep it stain-free. Wiping grout with rubbing alcohol will also keep mold and mildew at bay. In any case, just a few spritzes and wipes a week can save you a lot of time and effort cleaning and help you preserve the attractive appearance of your tiled surfaces.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning grout begins with good prevention, including resealing the grout as needed, cleaning up kitchen spills right away, and using a mild homemade or commercial grout cleaner regularly. Once grout begins to look stained or dingy, refer to the steps above. An important reminder about how to clean grout is to start with the mildest approach because this will be the least likely to damage or discolor grout. If the grout stain persists, move on to progressively more intense methods. Always ensure adequate ventilation and wear rubber or nylon gloves when cleaning grout.

Finally, be sure to keep grout sealed and maintained according to your tiling professional’s or manufacturer’s recommendation, and avoid harsh cleansers or scrubbers if the tile and grout are prone to damage. Keeping grout clean and sealed beats having to paint, repair, or regrout it.

FAQs About Cleaning Grout

The methods outlined above range from the easiest way to clean grout up to more powerful approaches for more stubborn stains. If you still have questions about maintaining and cleaning tile grout, read on for answers to common concerns.

Q: Does Magic Eraser work on grout?

A Magic Eraser and a little warm water can remove residue from the surface of tiles and could be a simple addition to your regular grout-cleaning routine. In particular, regular wiping with a dampened Magic Eraser sponge can remove some of the gray surface on white grout. For heavier stains, you may want to choose it as your first scrubbing option instead of a brush or soft cloth, then progress to something tougher if needed.

Q: Can I use OxiClean to clean grout?

Although OxiClean is called “oxygen bleach,” it is actually made of a combination of dry hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate, which is similar to baking soda. It is less toxic to the environment and more color-safe than bleach.

Powdered OxiClean is safe for use on grout when mixed with water to form a liquid or paste and applied with a cloth, sponge, or grout scrubber. Give the solution from 5 to 30 minutes to sit on the grout before scrubbing away and rinsing.

Q: Can you use steel wool on grout?

Do not use steel wool on grout. While the abrasive pad might scrub away the stain, it could also take some of the grout along with it. Plus, steel wool can scratch the tile surrounding the grout joint. Opt instead for a soft sponge or nylon bristle brush, maybe even one mounted on a power scrubber, always starting with the least abrasive material first.

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How to clean the seams between the tiles in the bathroom and in the kitchen from grease, mold, grout

Laying tiles is the best solution for processing wall and floor surfaces. Such material is distinguished by aesthetic appeal, hydrophobicity, and the ability to withstand significant mechanical loads. In the process of long-term operation, the inter-tile space becomes contaminated.

In addition to the difficulties of cleaning the seams after repair, a favorable environment is created for the accumulation and reproduction of harmful microorganisms and fungi, mold. Previously, we have already told you how to get rid of mold in the bathroom, but today we will tell you how to eliminate other pollution of tile joints.

Remember, this is quite a long and delicate process. If you do not have enough time for such work, or do not want to do it yourself, Comfort House professionals will be happy to help you.

How to clean grout between tiles

Darkened grout between tiles on walls or floors can be done mechanically. To do this, use:

Cutting tools must be used very carefully as there is a risk of damage to the facing material.

Which chemicals to use

A more effective cleaning technology is the use of household chemicals. The following types of products are best used for processing joints between tile elements:

Folk methods for cleaning tile joints

Many housewives prefer to use folk remedies when cleaning between tiles, which are considered absolutely safe for human health and the environment. There are many household products that do the best job of removing stains, from grout residue on grout and tiles to mold and grease:

Baking soda is widely used in the preparation of various whitening preparations. In combination with vinegar, lemon juice, whiteness or mustard, it quickly removes various types of dirt. This method is considered the simplest:

  1. sprinkle the problem area with ordinary table soda;
  2. is poured with vinegar to cause a chemical reaction;
  3. After the characteristic effervescence and foaming have ceased, the product residues are removed with water.

Ammonia is the best method for mold control . To do this, 20 ml of ammonia is added to 2 liters of water. The resulting solution is recommended to be poured into a spray bottle, with which the processing of darkened seams is greatly facilitated. After about 30 minutes, the tiles should be thoroughly washed with warm water. A mixture made from toothpaste, soda, mustard and lemon juice is considered quite effective.

Some housewives use sweet sparkling water when cleaning tiles, such as Coca-Cola, Fanta or Sprite . The drinks contain active substances that contribute to the rapid elimination of contaminants. If the fungus has penetrated too deeply into the tile joints, then their cleansing does not bring a positive result. It is recommended to completely remove the destroyed material and apply a new grout.

8 ways to whiten tile joints

Most owners tile the bathroom and kitchen with ceramic tiles. But over time, the coating loses its original appearance. Tile joints darken, sometimes even covered with mold, fungus.

The problem can be overcome with a variety of methods to help whiten grout.

Causes of darkening of joints between tiles

Ceramic tiles are strong, reliable, durable material. But the seams between the tile elements are less resistant to the external environment.

The reasons why tile joints darken may be the following:

  1. Untimely cleaning of tiles.
  2. No or poor ventilation. As a result, excess moisture accumulates in the bathroom, mold appears between the tiles.
  3. Absence or malfunction of the hood in the kitchen. Grease, oil splashes accumulate on the seams, leaving yellow spots.
  4. Poor quality grout used when laying tiles.
  5. Non-compliance with the technology of processing joints when installing tiles.

It is possible to restore an attractive appearance to tiles. To do this, you can do without replacing the tiles. You just need to update the grout mastic.

Methods for repairing tile joints

Measures for the reconstruction of joints between cladding elements depend on the degree of damage to the grout. If the grout just darkened or turned yellow, then it will be enough to clean it, bleach it, and treat it with an antiseptic. If the damage is more significant, then a complete replacement of the grouting material will be required.

You can whiten the paste in various ways, using both ready-made compositions and prepared with your own hands.

Folk recipes

You can clean the joints with the usual means available in any kitchen: salt, soda, vinegar, citric acid, mustard.

There are some easy and inexpensive recipes:

  1. Cleaning with baking soda. The seams are abundantly moistened with water, soda is applied. After soaking the powder with a toothbrush, clean the surface. At the end of the work, wipe the surface of the tile with a damp sponge.
  2. A mixture of baking soda and a bite. The solution is sprayed onto the seams with a spray gun, after 5 minutes it is cleaned with a stiff brush.
  3. Soda (0.5 cup), lemon juice (70 ml), toothpaste (1 tsp), mustard (1 tbsp) are mixed, poured with water (1 l). The resulting mixture is applied with a sponge to the grout. After 30 minutes, the composition is removed with warm water.
  4. Half a glass of soda is mixed with 25 g of citric acid and 50 ml of vinegar (9%). The resulting mixture is diluted with boiled water (1.5 l). Wetting the toothbrush in the solution, the joints are treated, leaving for 20 minutes to absorb. Then the solution is washed off with warm water. The procedure is carried out with rubber gloves.

If the mastic is damaged by mold or fungus, use hydrogen peroxide. To do this, prepare a mixture of water and peroxide in a ratio of 1: 2, process the seams with the resulting solution. The mixture can not be washed off.

You can give the tile a dazzling shine with ammonia: 1 tbsp. substances are diluted with 2 liters. water is poured into a spray bottle. The solution is sprayed onto the surface of the tile. After 15-20 minutes, the mixture is washed off with a damp sponge. Ammonia also helps well in the fight against fungus and mold.

Chemicals

Any detergents and cleaners containing chlorine can be used to restore tile paste. These include: Domestos, Sanita or Whiteness. A brush or sponge is moistened with a liquid, the agent is applied to the joints. After 5-8 minutes, rinse with water, wipe with a dry cloth. But since these products are bleaching, only white seams can be cleaned. Colored grout can change the shade. You can also use dishwashing liquid.

If the pollution is quite significant, then there are strong compounds that clean the joints between the tiles. With the help of tools such as Silit Bang, Vexa, Sano Mildew Remover, you can get rid of fungal plaque, mold and other contaminants. The cleaning procedure is the same as when using bleaching agents.

When using chemicals, follow the safety rules: wear rubber gloves, mask, goggles.

Joint painting

If the dirt is so absorbed into the surface of the grout that no means help, you can simply paint the joints with water-based paint. The water emulsion is not afraid of moisture, so it is also suitable for the bathroom.

Before applying paint, the joint surface must be prepared:

After the primer has dried, paint is applied. For painting, a thin brush is used. You need to paint carefully so as not to stain the tile. Leaks should be removed immediately. The disadvantage of this method is that it does not last long. After 6-7 months, the grout is again covered with a dark coating.

Magic Pencil

A special builder's marker will help restore the white look of the grout. The design of the pencil is quite simple. It is enough just to fill the pencil with paint and paint over the desired area with it. The dye has a number of advantages:

Markers are available in all colors. Therefore, choosing the right tone for the interior of the bathroom or kitchen is not difficult.

To whiten the mastic, you just need to wipe the dust from the joints, draw a marker along the seam, drawing a line of the desired width. Dried grout looks like varnished.

Sanding

Sometimes the fungus takes root so deeply that even thorough bleaching does not help. In these cases, updating the top layer of the grout will help.

Sandpaper is required for this. With its help, the layer of putty affected by the fungus is removed. Then the seams are treated with an antiseptic composition, primed, a new layer of grout is applied.

Cardinal measures

Sometimes the grout not only darkens, but also crumbles and crumbles. A lot of grease and dirt accumulates in the joints between the tiles. This suggests that the grout needs to be changed.

To remove old grout, you will need a grinder or a construction knife. Using a construction knife or grinder, cut off the damaged grout. Then, with sandpaper or a grinding machine, polish the edges of the seams.

Care must be taken not to damage the tiles. If the tile is weak, it may fall off. During the procedure, you need to use a protective mask to protect your eyes from dust and small particles of grouting material.

After cleaning the joints from the old mastic, treat the cracks with a disinfectant solution, prime and apply a new layer of paste.

Hot steam

Whiten seams quickly with a steam generator. Hot steam jets under the influence of high pressure soften mud deposits, mold and fungus. As a result, by spending a minimum of time and effort, you can achieve an effective result.

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