Home improvement does not have to involve an elaborate process. You do not have to dig deep into your pockets to improve your home. You can simply clean your stone floors and the grout on your floor tiles to instantly improve the aesthetics of your home.
With the right home supplies and the right cleaning process, you can transform your floor tiles from dull surfaces to aesthetically pleasing surfaces.
Things You Should Need To Clean Grout In Floor Tiles
It’s possible to clean and restore your grout using household products, such as:
- Baking soda
- Warm water, hydrogen peroxide, bleach solution or vinegar solution
- Spray bottle
- Wet cloth
- Mixing bowl
- An old toothbrush or a hard-bristled brush
- Grout sealer
- Gloves
- Safety glasses
How To Clean Grout In Floor Tiles
When working with chemicals, even mild ones, the golden rule is to take adequate safety precautions. Always work in a well-ventilated area. Wear eyewear protection gear to protect your eyes, and wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. Having taken the necessary precautions, use these steps to clean your grout:
Step #1: Prep The Area
The first step is to clean the entire floor. Before you focus on the grout channels, you should ensure the entire floor is dust and dirt free. To this end, mop the entire floor to clean visible dust, dirt, and general grime. Do as thorough a job as possible.
Step #2: Prep The Cleaning Solutions
The cleaning solution you prepare will depend on how dirty and stained the grout is. Mix one part water and two parts baking soda in a bowl for everyday cleaning of dirty grout. For slightly discoloured or stained grout, mix one-part vinegar with two parts of baking soda.
If the floor tiles are fragile or coarse, consider preparing a hydrogen peroxide-baking soda cleaning paste. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts baking soda.
Step #3: Apply The Cleaning Paste On Grout Lines
Before applying the cleaning paste, you should conduct a trial test, especially when using a baking soda and vinegar cleaning paste. Apply the paste to an inconspicuous part of the floor to ensure it does not discolour the floor tiles. Apply the cleaning paste on the grout lines with a grout brush or an old toothbrush.
Step #4: Scrub The Grout
After applying the grout cleaning paste, let it sit for a few minutes and then, using a scrubbing brush, scrub channels. Apply plenty of elbow grease while scrubbing. Your efforts will determine how clean your tiled floor will be. Alternatively, use an electric toothbrush to scrub the grout lines. Allow the floor to dry for about a day, and then reseal the grout.
Step #5: Spray Some Hydrogen Peroxide
In case the baking soda cleaning paste does not get the job done, you can escalate to using hydrogen peroxide. While you can use hydrogen peroxide in a cleaning paste, soaking the grout with hydrogen peroxide is more effective in cleaning moderately resistant stains.
Soak the grout line with hydrogen peroxide and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. The solution is safe to use on unsealed and sealed grout. This will allow the hydrogen peroxide to work on the grout surface. Rinse the grout lines with plain water and dry the surface.
Step #6: Clean The Grout With Some Oxygen Bleach
To clean even tougher stains from your grout, you’ll need an oxygen bleach solution. This cleaning chemical is usually sold in powdered form, and you’ll have to mix the bleach water. Mix the bleach as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Importantly, ensure the room is well ventilated before applying the bleach solution.
Soak your grout with the oxygen bleach solution, paying special attention to the stained spots. Allow the bleach solution to soak in for at least 15 minutes. After the soaking period, clean the entire tiled surface with clean water and wipe it dry.
Step #7: Rinse The Surface
If you have the money for it, consider buying a steam cleaner. Steam mopping is an environmentally friendly cleaning solution for cleaning dirty hard surfaces, including a tiled surface with grout. Buying one can help hasten the regular grout cleaning process.
Grout-Cleaning Tips and Tricks
Tip #1: Seal New Grout Every time – Apply a grout sealer when dealing with new or renewed grout. It will reduce the amount of dirt and grime that accumulates in the porous grout. Two weeks after the grout cures, seal the grout with a grout sealer.
Tip #2: Follow A Proper Grout Maintenance Regimen – Cleaning heavily soiled grout can be difficult. Instead, you should perform grout maintenance regularly to reduce the accumulation of dirt, grime, mould and mildew. For maintenance, spray your household with mild grout cleaner or vinegar at least once a week to negate the accumulation of stains.
Additionally, wipe the grout with rubbing alcohol to keep mould and mildew at bay. Such simple maintenance endeavours will reduce your strain, effort, and time when you want to clean the grout in the future.
Tip # 3: Consider Re-Grouting Your Time When They’re Heavily Stained – If you’re dealing with deeply stained and discoloured grout, consider replacing it. You can purchase or rent a grout removing tool. To remove the grout, simply run the tool along the grout lines while being careful not to scratch and damage tiles. After that, clean the grout channels and re-grout your tile. Make sure you seal the grout once it cures (after 14 days).
Final Thoughts
You need to keep the grout in its best condition if you intend to keep your tiled surface in an aesthetically pleasing condition. Don’t perform deep cleaning after months of accumulating irreparable stains. Perform preventive cleaning every week.
However, when your grout appears dull, dingy, or stained, use our cleaning method above to restore the tiled floors to their pristine state.
Quality Stone Polishing Services By The Stone Restorer
The Stone Restorer is your go-to service provider on the Gold Coast if you need extensive tile floor restoration. We are experts in cleaning and restoring all types of floor surfaces.
Whether you’re dealing with marble, limestone, concrete, granite, sandstone, terrazzo, or any other surface, you can rely on our restoration experts to restore your floor, countertop, or any other surface to good as new. Don’t let dirt and grime affect the beauty of your tiled floor.
Give us a call today at 0414 469 301 or ask us for a fast free quote on your stone restoration project.
