Home » Misc » Cleaning floor grout between tiles

Cleaning floor grout between tiles


How To Clean Tile And Grout

How To Clean Tile And Grout

;

Multiple Locations provide service near you.

Please make a selection

Multiple Locations

Please select a location.

Changing locations will reset your order. Continue?

Forgot your password?

Enter your email address to get instructions on how to retrieve your password.

Email Address

Forgot Email Oops! You must complete the highlighted email field above with a valid email address.

Invalid email address or password. If you have forgotten your password, please use the "Forgot your password?" option

Forgot password

Thank You. An email has been sent to the address you entered with instructions for resetting your password. If you don’t receive this email shortly, please check your junk or spam folder.

Find Your Stanley Steemer

Address Enter a valid address.

City City Enter a valid city.

State

State StateAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Enter a valid state.

Use My Current Location

Multiple Locations provide service near you.

Please make a selection

Location

Location

Please select a location.

Find Your Stanley Steemer

City City Enter a valid city.

State

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Enter a valid state.

Address Enter a valid address.

Use My Current Location

How To Clean Tile And Grout

backBACK

Tile and grout in your home collects dirt fast because grout is porous and easily discolors. You may not even know the original color of your grout due to how quickly dirt can get into your grout. Tile and grout cleaning can be done with just some cleaning agents you have at home!

The best way to clean tile floors is by using a neutral tile floor cleaner; however, if you have dish soap and water, you can make your own tile floor cleaner. Cleaning tile floors requires just six steps:

How to Clean Tile

  1. Sweep to remove all lose dirt.
  2. Use a manufactured cleaner of choice or create a natural tile cleaning solution by using hot, soapy water with dish soap.
  3. Use a sponge mop or towel to apply cleaning solution.
  4. Allow it to set for 1-3 minutes.
  5. Remove dirt with a damp sponge mop or towel.
  6. Allow floor to dry.

An easy way to clean grout is by creating a mixture of cleaning agents that you probably already have in your home. We recommend avoiding bleach and other harsh chemical cleaners that might break down the grout and sealants. The best way to clean grout is to use a neutral tile cleaner, that’s what we use to professionally clean tile and grout floors. However, grout cleaning can be done with cleaning agents you have at home:

What to Use to Clean Grout

  1. Baking soda
  2. Hydrogen peroxide
  3. Dish soap
  4. Spoon
  5. Scrubbing tool
  6. Towel
  7. Hot water

How to Clean Grout

Here's how to clean tile grout with the instructions below:

  1. Remove surface dirt with hot water and a towel.
  2. Mix together ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 tsp dish soap.
  3. Spoon cleaning agents onto grout and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
  4. Scrub the grout lines with a brush. Grout cleaning tip: Make sure to scrub hard to agitate the grout and cleaning solution and break up any really stuck dirt.
  5. Wipe clean.

Cleaning tile and grout floors yourself is mandatory in order to maintain a clean home; however, Stanley Steemer can deep clean and remove so much more by using our state-of-the-art cleaning equipment. We use a three-step tile and grout cleaning process to examine, scrub and clean your floors, removing 96.5% of common household allergens. We start by examining your floor, making sure we use the appropriate cleaning method. It’s important to find any places where tile or grout is damaged. Then, we use a pH-balanced cleaning solution to scrub grout lines and remove stubborn dirt or stains.

Next, we use a state-of-the-art, hot-water extracting machine to clean your tile floors. Stanley Steemer specializes in a restorative grout sealing and coloring process to revitalize the grout in your home. Our color seal cleaning solution protects and recolors your grout to make it like new. Color and clear sealing creates a protective barrier that helps keep stains out of porous grout.

Get a free tile and grout cleaning quote for your home.

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:

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

istockphoto.com

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.

Advertisement

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.

istockphoto.com

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Find trusted local pros for any home project

Find Pros Now

+

How to clean the seams between tiles on the floor - the best ways

Facing bases with decorative ceramics has long ceased to be something exotic, but at the same time, due to the many advantages of tiles, it has not lost popularity. Modern technologies cause the emergence of new types of ceramic tiles with improved characteristics, however, the method of constructing a decorative coating from them remains unchanged - the orderly laying of sheets on the adhesive composition, followed by the arrangement of the joints of adjacent elements.

Tile joints, arranged with a fixed width or with a system variation of this parameter, are rubbed after installation of the tiles - they are filled to the full depth with special hardening compounds, and the overall impression of the decoration of the room depends, among other things, on the aesthetics of such joint design.

Contents

outer surface. This difference is most relevant for floor cladding exposed to aggressive factors - moisture, dirt, abrasion especially strongly. Since it is absurd to change a ceramic floor due to contamination or worn grout, let's look at how to effectively clean tile joints using available products, depending on the type of problem.

Cleaning of floor ceramic joints

Reactive resin mixtures with zero permeability are rarely used for tile joints. In most cases, cement-based compounds are used, which, after curing, form a less smooth surface and have a certain porosity, which contributes to surface contamination with subsequent penetration of dirt inside. Therefore, we will consider methods for cleaning joints filled with cement adhesive mixtures.

Floors in public buildings with high traffic are subject to high abrasive load, so they are faced with tiles made of hard types of natural stone (granite, marble), often dark in color with joints of a minimum width. As a rule, such joints are filled with grout mixtures of also dark tones, so that the natural stone cladding looks monolithic. The seams of such a finish, even covered with street dirt, do not stand out against the general background and do not require thorough cleaning. But in some cases, for example, after painting work indoors or accidentally spilled paint, even these interfaces need to be thoroughly cleaned.

As for the floor cladding of cultural buildings, offices, housing, especially sanitary and hygienic rooms (bathrooms, showers, baths), in order to increase aesthetics and make it easier to control their cleanliness, tiles for decoration are chosen from materials of bright, light colors . The seams of such ceramics are rubbed with white or bright colored compounds that stand out against the general background and are additional design elements. Such joints especially need periodic thorough cleaning of dirt and grease.

Seam Steam Cleaning

This technology is recent and is suitable for removing fresh surface dirt, including fungus. With the help of a special device - a steamer, which looks like a floor polisher, ceramics are exposed to steam without an accentuated effect on the seams with simultaneous mechanized removal of softened layers of dirt. For domestic use, it is hardly advisable to buy this unit, but in firms specializing in consumer services to the population, the use of such equipment is cost-effective.

Cleaning of tile joints with special compounds

If the contamination of the grout is not caused by some specific effect such as spilled paint, then the joints can be cleaned with certain products specially designed for this purpose with the certainty of achieving a positive result.

Of the special products for cleaning tiles on walls and floors, M ellerud F ugen 9 stands out with its effectiveness0054 R einiger is a domestic formulation made in Germany.

The instruction on the package contains all the necessary information on the use of the product and compliance with safety precautions, so the consumer only has to follow it to achieve the result.

VALO Clean is an equally effective product from a Russian manufacturer for cleaning tile joints with a smooth and rough surface, successfully coping even with persistent old dirt. Recommended for indoor use, regardless of their purpose - residential, catering, medical facilities, etc.

Do not confuse VALO Clean for cleaning joints with similarly named products for other purposes (removing grout, washing sanitary ware, etc.) - the bottle clearly indicates the area of ​​application.

G rout from the Canadian company EcoMist is an absolutely non-toxic compound based on plant ingredients (grain, potato and tree sap) for surface cleaning of tile joints with restoration of the original color without bleaching, removes old mold and dirt stains .

The use of Grout does not require the use of personal protective equipment (gloves, mask, goggles).

Cleaning floor grout with household chemicals

In many cases, it is possible to successfully clean ceramic joints without the use of special products, using household cleaners and detergents.

If the grout is white, the task is simplified - to restore its whiteness, the bleach in the composition of the detergent is not only not terrible, but even desirable. But to refresh the colored grout, you can use only household chemicals without chlorine-containing components.

Do not use detergents with a high concentration of alkali or acids (Sanfor, Sanoks, Sarma, Dosia) to clean the grout of glass mosaic floors - such compounds can dull the glass or distort its color.

The method of application of each type of household composition is described on its packaging, and from an improvised tool for applying, cleaning and flushing solutions are used, regardless of the chosen agent, are used:

  • Old toothbrush or hard clothes brush.
  • Patch of penofol or wool cloth.
  • Foam rubber or clean rags.
  • Clean water bucket.

Refreshing floor joints using homemade methods

Without special or universal cleaners/detergents on hand, tile joints can be successfully cleaned with compounds prepared from food and household ingredients.

To restore the whiteness of the joints between tiles on the bathroom or kitchen floor, you need to use baking soda, lemon juice and 9-percentage vinegar in a volume ratio of 0. 5: 0.33: 0.25 - a mixture of juice and vinegar is slowly poured into soda while stirring. The resulting composition is diluted with one and a half liters of water, after which the solution is ready for use - it is applied to the grout and rubbed into it with a toothbrush. After half an hour, the bleached joints are washed with clean water.

Successfully removes most contaminants with a 1:15 aqueous solution of ammonia. The finished product is applied to the seams, and after 15-20 minutes the dirt is washed off with warm water using dense foam rubber.

A good effect when bleaching floor joints is the use of a solution of hydrogen peroxide, which is applied to the joints with a brush or a piece of foam rubber, and washed off with clean water after a quarter of an hour. But this method, as well as using lemon juice or soda, is unsuitable for the restoration of colored seams.

To get a better idea of ​​traditional methods for restoring the color of floor ceramic grout, watch this video:

Mechanical methods of refreshing floor tile joints

Without resorting to any chemicals, the joints of ceramic cladding can be renewed using sandpaper. To do this, you need to take a sheet of this abrasive material and fold it in half or three times - with the abrasive facing out. Depending on the width of the finishing seams, sandpaper can be wrapped around any plate of suitable thickness that has one straight side. With the resulting edge from sandpaper, it is necessary to clean the joints with longitudinal wiring along their surface, removing the contaminated layer of the solution from the grout, but without deepening by more than 1 mm.

After the end of the procedure, a special protective layer with antifungal additives is applied to the surface of the seams, cleaned of dust.

If the floor tiles are made of dark natural stone (granite, marble), then unwanted deposits at the joints that stand out in color can be removed with a metal brush - the hardness of such tiles guarantees no scratches after the procedure.

Conclusion

When planning to restore the color of the ceramic floor tile grout, the following rules must be observed:

  • Thoroughly wash the entire area of ​​the veneer prior to restoring the grout.
  • After finishing the refreshment of the joints, it is necessary to cover their surface with a protective composition, taking into account the factors that led to the restoration.

Failure to follow these recommendations will result in the need to clean the grout again in the next 2-3 months.

-->

floor tile grout cleaners

Floor tiles are widely used due to their excellent performance. Most often, such lining is carried out in rooms with difficult microclimatic conditions.

It is highly susceptible to dirt and mold and mildew. Regardless of the methods of care, over time, the grout darkens or even blackens. Then the problem arises, how to clean the seams between the tiles on the floor, and what methods are most used, depending on the complexity of the contamination.

Contents

  1. Causes of soiling and discoloration of tile joints
  2. How to clean various types of pollution?
  3. Fungus and mold
  4. Nicotine
  5. Rust
  6. Old dirt
  7. Bleach joints
  8. How to clean floor joints?
  9. In the bathroom
  10. in the toilet
  11. in the kitchen
  12. Methods of cleaning
  13. Hand mechanical cleaning
  14. Household chemicals
  15. Steam
  16. Lemon juice, soda, osusus
  17. refine mustard, lemon, soda, tooth powder
  18. Ammonia solution, ammonia
  19. Radical methods
  20. Useful information
  21. Protecting joints from dirt
  22. Overview of methods

Causes of dirt and discoloration of tile joints these qualities are lost.

The fact that facing is often carried out in rooms with high humidity (bathroom and toilet, kitchen) or high traffic (hallway, corridor) is also detrimental.

The most common causes of discoloration are:

  1. Sedimentation and compaction of dust and fine dirt particles. They penetrate deep into the structure of the grout and give light materials a dark color.
  2. Buildup of detergent residues, cooking fumes, cigarette soot.
  3. In a room with a high level of humidity, there is a high risk of developing various fungi, including molds.
  4. Contaminants generated during repair work can quickly spoil the appearance of even a new grout.

Before cleaning or lightening, the seams should be carefully inspected, the cause of the discoloration determined, and only then a plan of action should be developed.


Recommended reading: How to clean bathroom tiles

How to clean various dirt?

There are many ways to whiten grout between tiles. Which one to use depends on the nature of the contamination.

If the browning is due to dirt and environmental conditions, the process will be easier. In the case when the grout is affected by fungus and mold, more complex, sometimes even radical steps will be required.

Fungus and mold

A brush and detergents will not help, since cleaning the joints between the tiles on the floor only from above will not be enough in this case.

First you need to understand that the damage to the material has penetrated deeply. You will need to remove the grout layer. To do this, use any suitable tool, such as a spatula, scraper or a sharp and durable knife.

After that, the resulting gaps must be cleaned of dust and remnants of the old material, treated liberally with any antiseptic agent. When the prepared surface is completely dry, the joints are filled with new grout.

Such partial or complete replacement is carried out from time to time not only to get rid of bacterial infections, but also to update the material, since during operation the protective and moisture-resistant characteristics of the fugue are lost, which can lead to water penetration under the tile and destruction of the adhesive. As a result, the tile will peel off or burst.

Recommended reading: How to clean bathroom grout

Nicotine

Cigarette smoke soot deposits cause grouts to turn yellow or brown. Solving such a problem is easy.

The main thing is to choose the most suitable bleaching agent or wash the putty with high quality, armed with a stiff brush and special chemicals.

Folk cleaning methods have proven themselves well in this case.

Rust

Where metal plumbing pipes run, there is a high chance of rust, which runs brown to the floor and contaminates the grout.

If the tiles have been laid recently and they have not yet lost their integrity, it will be sufficient to thoroughly wash the floor and grout from dirt using special products designed for this purpose.

Old dirt

It is difficult, sometimes even impossible, to clean tile joints that have darkened over time and absorbed various contaminants. The best option may be to completely renew the grout or clean it and paint it.

In the first case, it will take a lot of time and effort, but the result will remain for a long time. After painting, a beautiful appearance will last no more than a year. But all the work will be implemented quickly and without much capital investment.

Seam bleaching

It is often not possible to restore the bright whiteness of the seams between tiles by cleaning. In such cases, a special bleach, made with liquid soap, soda and hydrogen peroxide, or purchased at a hardware store, will help.

The mixture is applied in the form of a paste to problem areas or the entire surface, lightly rubbed into the grout. Leave for several hours and then wash off with clean water.

It is recommended to carry out this procedure several times a year.

Manipulation helps not only to bleach the seams, but also to kill fungus and mold.

How to clean floor joints?

Cleaning of tile joints largely depends on the room in which the cladding is located, since various impurities are observed. It is important to accurately determine the nature of the settled dirt and to select the most appropriate means of treatment.

In the bathroom

The bathroom is a room with high humidity, which leads to the development of fungus and mold, the spread of lime deposits. In the case of old iron pipes, rust is observed on the fugue.

Here it is recommended to use products containing chlorine or solutions with other antiseptic and antimicrobial ingredients. Powders or creams with high abrasive properties can be used to remove white lime layers.


In the toilet

The bathroom is small and has high humidity which leads to mould. To avoid this problem, it is necessary to equip high-quality ventilation.

Underfloor heating can be installed.

In the kitchen

The kitchen is considered the most difficult room in terms of the degree of contamination of tile joints. They constantly get water, detergents, grease, food, etc.

For this reason, when cleaning the grout, an integrated approach will be required, including the removal of grease, limescale. Sometimes it is necessary to replace those parts of the material that, due to high humidity, have become an environment for the development of mold.

See also: Mold remover in the bathroom on the seams.

Cleaning methods

Several methods are used to clean the grout between tiles:

  • chemicals of various types;
  • time-tested folk recipes and methods;
  • removal of dirt and fungus by steam cleaning.

The most suitable option is selected after the type of contamination has been clarified.

Dust and a thin layer of dirt can be easily removed with soap solutions. Fat must be washed with splitting liquids. Fungal formations are treated with antiseptics. To remove limescale, you will need an abrasive powder.

Manual mechanical cleaning

You can restore the novelty of the seams between the tiles without the use of household chemicals, but this requires a lot of effort.

First, you will need to intensively scrub the top dirty layer of grout with a stiff brush. Some housewives even use a metal brush. Then you need to wash the floor thoroughly, first with soapy water, then with clean water.

Household chemicals

The modern market of household chemicals offers a large number of products with different properties that can easily and quickly clean even the most difficult dirt.

To clean the joints between tiles on the floor, abrasive powders are most often used, which are applied to wet surfaces and intensively rub the grout with a brush or a hard sponge.

Sprays and emulsions are gaining popularity, which include acids, antiseptics, fat dissolvers and other components that can quickly remove any type of dirt and prevent its imminent appearance.

Due to the aggressiveness of these compounds, their use implies protective equipment (gloves, respirators, long sleeves).

In addition, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions for use, which must be printed on the package.

Steam Cleaner

Effectively removes dirt of any complexity with the help of steam generated by an iron or steam cleaner. In this case, the second device is better suited, since the hot air jet is more concentrated and has a precise direction.

This cleaning method is completely safe. It does not include the use of harmful chemicals, and the result is excellent. Under the action of high temperatures, all harmful microorganisms die.

Folk methods

Housewives often use methods for cleaning the joints between tiles with the help of improvised means that are sure to be found in any kitchen.

Lemon Juice, Baking Soda, Vinegar

A versatile household cleaner is baking soda, which is highly abrasive and excellent at disinfecting surfaces. It will help remove dirt of any complexity and type from the seams on the floor, restore the whiteness of the grout and completely get rid of mold.

It is enough to pour a small amount of powder on the wetted surface and rub it thoroughly with a toothbrush or the hard side of a dishwashing sponge, and the floor will shine with cleanliness.

In areas with lime deposits, table vinegar can help. Its use involves the preparation of a 1:1 solution with water, which is applied to the floor surface and left for 15-20 minutes, then washed off.

Actively uses a combination of baking soda, citric acid and vinegar, resulting in an all-purpose cleaner that can easily remove dirt, rot, lime and rust. To prepare the composition, pour 1.5 liters of warm water into a suitable container, squeeze the juice from half a lemon, add 1/2 cup of soda, 50 ml 9% vinegar.

The mixture is applied to dirty joints and rubbed thoroughly with a stiff brush, leaving the composition for about 20 minutes. After the specified time, the surface is washed with clean water. If necessary, the procedure should be repeated.

There is another recipe for homemade cleaning paste, for which you need to take 3 parts of water, 2 each of vinegar and soda and 1 of citric acid. After joining and the foaming reaction has subsided, the paste is applied to the dirty grout. Let it sit for a while, then wash it off.

Some housewives separate these ingredients and use them like this:

  1. Soda is mixed with water until a slurry is formed. Then they distribute it at the seams.
  2. A 1:1 solution of vinegar and water is poured over soda paste. Wait until the active foam dissolves the dirt.
  3. After the reaction subsides, wash the floor with clean water.

Bleach, soda

There is a great tool that can easily restore the whiteness of dirty grout on the floor. The main ingredients of the mixture are "Whiteness" and baking soda.

To prepare the product, first pour bleach into a container and add enough soda to make a thick paste.

The finished mixture is thickly applied with a spatula to the seams and left to dry.

After this period, the paste is washed off with a brush or kitchen sponge. Then the entire floor is washed with clean water.

The advantage of home bleach is that it perfectly removes not only all types of dirt, but also mold.

Baking soda, mustard, lemon, baking soda, tooth powder

To remove even the toughest stains, you can prepare a cleaning paste from the following ingredients:

  • water - 1 liter;
  • mustard powder - 1 tbsp. l.;
  • tooth powder - 1 tsp;
  • juice from 1/3 lemon;
  • 0.5 cup baking soda.

All components are mixed and applied to the tile joints, for which a kitchen sponge is used. After the product has been lying down for half an hour, it is washed off with clean water.

You may be interested: How to clean grout from tiles

Ammonia solution, ammonia

To completely remove mold from grout, use a solution of 2 liters of water and 1 tbsp. l. ammonia. The resulting liquid is poured into a spray bottle and applied to the affected surface. Let it act for about 25 minutes and rinse thoroughly.

Due to the presence of a pungent odor, it is recommended to wear a fabric respirator when working with such a product.

Radical methods

It may happen that no cleaning methods have been successful. This indicates that the grout has lost its integrity and strength, and dirt and fungus have penetrated into all its layers.

It will not be possible to save the situation and radical methods will have to be applied - to completely remove the old fugue and apply a new one.

You might be interested: How to remove old grout from tile joints

The process is implemented according to the following scheme:

  1. The affected material is completely scraped out mechanically using a spatula or scraper.
  2. The joints are thoroughly cleaned of grout residues and dust. It is best to vacuum the floor.
  3. The formed cracks are treated abundantly with antiseptics. Let them dry.
  4. Seal joints with suitable grout. After drying, the floor is washed with soapy water.

If, after releasing the joints, it turns out that the mold has penetrated deep under the tiles, it may be necessary to replace the cladding, as after a while it will come to the surface again, causing irreversible damage to the health of people living in the room.

In order for the activities carried out to give the maximum positive result, experts advise:

  1. When using any chemicals, be sure to follow the instructions clearly written on the package.
  2. Before proceeding with the treatment of the entire floor, it is recommended to test the purchased product on a small area in order to avoid adverse consequences in the form of destruction of grout and tiles.
  3. To remove various types of dirt, it is better not to use a universal agent, but to remove grease first, then soot and limescale in turn.

    Learn more