- Grout holds tile in place and fills in the gaps between tiles. The crisp lines of clean grout form a pleasing geometric design on floors, walls and counter tops in kitchens and bathrooms. But keeping grout clean and white can be a challenge. Unsealed grout harbors dirt and mildew and cleaning grout is a task most homeowners dread. No one method of cleaning works every time, so you may need to experiment with different methods to find the one that works best for you.
- Combine ½ cup ammonia, 1/4 cup white vinegar and ½ cup baking soda with 7 cups of water. Put this solution into a spray bottle and saturate the grout. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe clean with a damp cloth. Never use this solution in conjunction with any bleach solution.
- To kill the mildew and whiten stained grout, mix ½ cup chlorine bleach with 2 ½ cups water in a bucket. Wet the grout generously with this solution and use and old toothbrush or a stiff-bristled grout brush to scrub the grout. Let sit 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Be careful using chlorine bleach in an enclosed space like a bathroom. Open a window or run the ventilation fan and try not to breathe in the bleach.
- Oxygen bleach is a less-toxic bleach that will also whiten stained grout. Follow the directions on the oxygen bleach package and dissolve the powdered bleach in hot water. You can pour this solution directly onto floors or counters, or spray it onto tile walls. Allow the solution to sit for from 5 to 15 minutes, then scrub the group with your grout brush or toothbrush. Rinse and repeat if necessary.
- Steam cleaning forces steam down into the grout and helps lift out dirt that has worked its way into the holes in porous grout. Home steam cleaners can be effective on minor grime, but seriously dirty grout may require professional steam cleaning.
Baking Soda, Ammonia and Vinegar
Chlorine Bleach
Oxygen Bleach
Steam
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