(Updated Feb. 17, 2020)
It’s crazy how fast your clean tile grout in your bathroom can get dirty. It’s even crazier to see the transformation after you give it a good scrub; it feels like an entirely different room! (And may even inspire you to clean the soap scum off the shower door or even give the toilet a good scrubbing.)
Some people think dirty grout is just “the norm.” Perhaps they think that space in between bathroom floor tiles is supposed to be brown and gray. Not true – your grout is supposed to be white. If it isn’t, or the grout is intentionally a different color, that’s dirt and mildew just accumulating on the floor.
Here’s a simple process (with non-harmful chemicals) to clean the grout in your bathroom.
Fortunately, most of the cleaning materials are probably already in your cupboard. Using these cleaning tips once a month, you’ll keep grout lines white and the bathroom looking consistently clean.
Things you’ll need include:
- Vinegar
- Water
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Spray bottle
- Bowl
- Brush (a scrub or toothbrush should work)
After gathering supplies, it’s time to get to work. As you’ll see, it’s not a very long process and is relatively simple to make your own grout cleaner. Cleaning the floor on a consistent basis will not only make the tile look better, but you’ll also be removing health hazards like mold and mildew and remove that “dank” smell.
Steps for cleaning tile grout:
- Fill your spray bottle with an equal mixture of vinegar and water (an even 50/50 split).
- Spray the specific cleaning area generously. Wait five minutes, to allow the solution to sit.
- Give a good scrub with your grout brush or toothbrush.
- Rinse the scrubbed areas with warm water.
- Now, mix a few pinches of baking soda with water in a small bowl (you’ll want to make a paste).
- Once you have the consistency of a paste, apply it to the grout using your brush.
- Follow up by spraying the vinegar and water over the area. You’ll see the mixture start to build up, but don’t fret! This is a reaction from the vinegar and baking soda.
- Brush the area again.
- Rinse the area with warm water.
If that’s NOT working:
Some stains are too deep for this mixture. For this, we recommend using the Hydrogen Peroxide. Following the above steps, spray the peroxide and then scrub away with your brush. You may need to do this several times.
If that still isn’t working, you can call the professionals. We perform tile and grout cleaning services in Vancouver, WA, and can have the entire room looking brand new.
What To Avoid When Cleaning Tile and Grout
One important note: we noticed a lot of store-bought grout cleaners require the use of harmful chemicals. These cleaning solutions may boast of superior cleaning power, but neglect to mention potential damage to the grout or tiles. If you paid a lot of money to get a particular look in your bathroom, you don’t want to ruin it by causing streaks.
For this reason, chlorine bleach should never be used to clean grout or tile. It is a corrosive material, so you could do damage to any metal fixtures it might come into contact with, such as drains or faucets. If you absolutely feel you need to use chlorine or oxygen bleach, use a diluted mixture of 50 percent water and 50 percent bleach.
Avoid acidic cleaners or materials with a high pH content. This will make the grout even more porous, giving mold, mildew, and other grime more places to hide. By using the mixtures above, you’ll be sure to protect the grout while cleaning it. Once finished cleaning the grout, we recommend adding a layer of grout protectant to make cleaning easier in the future.
Finally, try not to use too much water. We understand water is synonymous with clean, especially in the bathroom. However, grout is a relatively porous material – too much standing water can actual weaken the integrity of the grout. If you see pieces of grout getting scrubbed away, you’ll want to back off on the intensity, wipe up all the water, and let it re-harden. Depending on the damage, you may need to regrout certain areas.
At My Heaven’s Best, we’re known for our green cleaning products and techniques. So that’s what you can expect when you work with us: a green and environmentally-friendly way to clean the tile grout in your bathroom. Your bathroom will look better, but will also be healthier by removing molds and mildew.
My Heaven’s Best has been cleaning bathroom tiles and grout, hardwood floors, and carpets for more than 20 years in the Clark County area. Our crews have the experience, understand the latest processes, and work with the finest equipment to bring your floor coverings back to life.
A little embarrassed by how your bathroom tile looks? Has winter rain, snow, and ice turned your living room carpet a dingy appearance? Is it time to make your furniture look showroom fresh? Contact My Heaven’s Best today. We also offer one-hour drying with our carpet cleaning, so you can get back to your life ASAP. We look forward to hearing from you.
