Tiles are a mainstay in many American homes nowadays, and are no longer reserved for bathrooms and kitchens alone. Easy to clean and stylish, they are a great choice for homes from both a functionality and cleanliness perspective. However, since kitchens and bathrooms are the most likely to have moisture present, tiles and their grouting are more likely to become affected by mold and bacteria growth in these spaces.
While grouting is essential for holding tiles in place, it does stain easily and is very porous. Fortunately, if your grouting is beginning to look tired and dirty, there are some simple ways to restore it to its former glory:
Go down the elbow grease route and scrub at it!
In many instances, a nylon scrubbing brush dipped in warm water coupled with some hearty elbow grease, is enough to get rid of a lot of stains from grouting. Don’t use too much water and move the scrubbing brush in a circular motion before allowing it to dry. Remember that grouting is porous, so keeping it moist for too long is one of the things that will easily lead to a build-up of black mold.
Use dish soap
While water may be enough to get your grout sparkling clean, it may be necessary to use a little dish soap for more stubborn stains. Simply add a few drops to some warm water and dip a cloth or sponge into the solution to wipe away stains and dirt, or use a microfiber mop for floors.
Vinegar is another safe bet
With so many uses around the home, white vinegar really is a wonder substance, and it’s just as effective at cleaning up grout. Fill a spray bottle with a combination of warm water and vinegar, 50/50, and spray the mixture all over the effected areas of tiles and/or grouting. Leave it to soak in and work its magic for a few minutes, before scrubbing it off with a brush and rinsing it off with water. It’s important to note, however, that this mixture is best used on sealed grout, and if you’re not sure whether your grout is sealed, simply place a couple of drops of water onto the grout and wait to see of the water beads on the surface. If it does, your grout is sealed.
Vinegar and baking soda – a classic combo
By making a paste out of baking soda and water, you can spread it onto the affected areas of grout before spraying a combination of water and vinegar onto it. You should get that wonderful foaming, fizzing effect, and as soon as that stops, you can scrub at the grout until its spotlessly clean. Again, this is most effective for sealed grout.
Let things get a bit steamy!
As you may already know, a lot of professional cleaning companies use steam to clean grout, and with some highly effective steam mops available on the market today, it might be worth in investing one, especially if you have a lot of tiled areas in your home.
Dirty, dull, and moldy grouting can quickly look unsightly and really bring down the beauty of a tiled space, no matter where it is in the home. But, with the tips above and a willingness to do a little scrubbing, you can rejuvenate your grouting and bring your tiled surfaces back to life. If this all sounds like too much effort, however, you can simply hire a local cleaning company and ask them to add it to their list of cleaning duties in your home.