Without proper maintenance, tile grout can become discolored, filled with mold and mildew, and downright dirty. Grout is a porous surface, which means that if the grout is not compacted properly, dirt and water can easily get trapped in the small holes in the surface of the grout. This leads to discoloration and staining problems.
Even if the grout has been sealed at one point, the sealer can wear out over time. The grout should be cleaned and trimmed every other year, or so that it looks great.
The best way to clean-grout depends on how bad the stains, discoloration and rust problems are. In severe cases, the condition of the grout is so bad that it is only good to remove the grout from the tiles again remove and grout But before such a drastic method, here are some options that you can try to clean the grout. Caution: always test any cleaning method on a small, inconspicuous area, first making sure it doesn’t discolor the tile or grout.
Mild cleaning
Rough cleaning with a mild cleaner and a small LIQUET brush is the basic way to clean grout and works for grout that is slightly dirty. Mix with mild detergent water and use scrubs on grouted areas. Work on one small area at a time and heat the water inside before moving on to the next.
Oxygenated Cleaners
Try an oxygenated cleaner such as Oxyclean. These types of cleaners produce less fumes than bleach or detergents and can often remove medium stains. Mix according to the directions, rinse and rub with a small brush LIQUET brush or toothbrush. Ignite the inside of the bath with warm water.
Chlorine Bleach and Water
Be careful when using bleach because it can discolor tile and grout. Mix 1 part chlorine bleach with 4 parts water. Wipe or spray it on the floor and let it sit for a while. Ignite the inside of the bath with warm water.
Baking Soda & White vinegar
Mix a small amount of baking soda and white vinegar, and then line the grout lines using a toothbrush or small brush. Work in small sections and rinse each area with warm water before moving on to the next section.
Hydrogen Peroxide & Water
Only use this method on white grout as it can discolor colored grout and be sure to test a small, hidden area first. Mix water and hydrogen peroxide in a 1:1 ratio. Apply grout lines and let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with hot water.
The easiest way to clean the grout is to use a shaving cream. Apply shaving cream to the grout lines and leave it for a while. Then I shave with a small brush and wash the inside.
Professional steam cleaning for Grout
If none of the above options work, consider getting your grout steam cleaned by a professional. . This is a good option if none of the other methods listed here work for removing stains from grout or from your if you have a large area grout to clean. Most professional grout cleaners will be able to tell you upfront if steam cleaning will remove grout stains or not and should give you a free quote.
Goodbye Grout and Grout It Again
This is the last option because it is labor intensive. A Dremel, a rotary tool, has a grout removal attachment that can be used as a tool to direct grout lines and grind away existing grout. Once the existing grout is finished, be sure to give it all the time to dry completely, and then grout the tile again using new grout. After your grout has been applied and dried, seal it with a quality grout sealer.
When stains, discoloration and dirt are removed from the grout using any of the above methods, you must seal it so that it does not get re-sprayed. Good grout sealers can be expensive, but it’s worth a little more to get your grout sealer that will really protect your grout. Tile-grout should be thoroughly cleaned and pruned every other year, or so to keep its best appearance.
