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Cleaning Grout
How to Clean Tile Grout
What is grout? Here's what Merriam Webster says: "Grout is a thin mortar used for filling spaces (as the joints in masonry); also, it is any of various other materials (as a mixture of cement and water or chemicals that solidify) used for a similar purpose". In other words, it is that white plaster-like stuff between tiles that always seems to accumulate stains where you can't even reach, let alone clean.
Cleaning Grout in between tiles on shower walls, kitchen backsplashes, and floors can often become dingy and discolored, and can seem impossible to clean. Cleaning this grout is very important. If left dirty and discolored, it could become a breeding ground for bacteria, and if it's in a damp area, it could lead to potentially dangerous conditions such as black mold. Although cleaning grout may seem like a monumental task, there are a few easy tips and tricks that will leave you with clean grout and not an aching back!
Shower floor tiles can seem like an especially complicated problem. Not only is there a lot of traffic in this area but it is also damp, so mold and mildew can quickly build up if not cleaned regularly. A simple way to clean shower floor tile grout is to buy a commercial product designed just for this purpose. There are many products that will kill mold embedded in your shower floor tile grout, and these products will also make dirt and stains easier to clean. To keep your shower floor tile grout looking clean and new all the time, a spray bottle containing a mixture of alcohol and water can be sprayed every time the shower has been used. An alternative to these expensive products can be to simply wipe down your shower after its use and spray the shower floor tiles and grout with alcohol. This will keep that mold at bay!
Cleaning bathroom tile grout found on vanities and backsplashes can be a little trickier. Because these areas are not one large piece of tile but often have awkward corners and crevices to work around, you need to make sure that every piece is cleaned so that dirt and mold don't spread into other areas. Baking soda is a great tool to use when cleaning bathroom tile grout. Simply add just enough water to form a paste and spread it on the grout. Let it sit for a few minutes, if the grout is heavily stained, and then simply rub it over with a toothbrush! This method for cleaning bathroom tile grout can also be used by adding a bit of hydrogen peroxide, but be WARNED, test a small area first, as peroxide can cause discoloration.
For grout cleaning jobs that are bigger than just regular maintenance, you may need to call a professional. There are professional grout cleaning companies that will come in and repair, restore, and clean your grout so that it is looking fresh and new! Not only do these companies have the know-how to clean grout effectively, but they also have professional grout cleaning machines that will be a great asset in cleaning your grout! These professional grout cleaning machines are usually designed to deeply clean the grout pores, leaving you with something that looks entirely new! The company may also use a professional grout cleaning machine that uses high-pressured steam to effectively remove the dirt and bacteria from your grout. 9 times out of 10, When it comes to dirty grout, you save money, time and head aches when you hire a professional.
Cleaning grout in a tiled floor can be a very difficult job due to normal wear and tear that often occurs on most floors. Because the floors see so much traffic during the day, they also see a lot of dirt. Bleach and hydrogen peroxide should not be used without serious dilution on tile floor grout, as they are very dangerous chemicals and could be very harmful to small pets and children, especially those that spend a good portion of their day crawling on the floor. Oxygen bleach is the best product to use when cleaning grout in a tile floor. This product is very safe to use and will do the job effectively for you!
Stains can occur on grout quite frequently due to accidental spills, we all drop something every now and then. Any of the above solutions may work when cleaning stained grout, however stained grout is a bit trickier than grout that is just dirty. Dirt on grout often lies on the surface, making it tough but possible to clean. Cleaning stained grout involves reaching the layers of the grout that the stain has been absorbed into, and making sure to completely remove it. This is a huge job and if you're not careful, you could really damage your grout. For this reason, cleaning stained grout is a job best left to the professionals. They will have the expertise and the tools to clean the stained areas, and perform any tile repairs. Some times they just have to remove a small piece and replace it so that the stain comes entirely off. But then again, that's why they are the professionals.
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