Tile and Grout Cleaning Tips
Posted on May 19, 2017
If your tiles are not as shiny as they should be and your grout is looking dingy and perhaps stained with mildew and mold, there are ways to improve the look and get the sparkle back naturally.
Here are a few home remedies for getting your tiles and grout back in to tip top shape:
Baking soda and vinegar
Mix 1 part water with 3 parts baking soda to form a paste. Use your finger or a small paintbrush to layer the mixture onto the grout. You might want to wear gloves if you have sensitive or irritated skin on your hands. Make up a 1:1 solution of water to white vinegar and put this into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the baking powder paste and watch it bubble. Once the bubbling stops, use a scrubbing brush or toothbrush to scrub along the grout lines. Mop up with clean water, no detergents, rinsing often, until all of the baking powder is gone. (Do not use on natural stone or marble) Safe for all grout colors.
Oxygenated bleach
Put 2 cups of warm water into a container and add 2 tablespoons of oxygenated bleach. Use immediately after mixing. Check that the solution does not remove color from your tiles. Pour along the grout lines, and leave for around 10 minutes, then scrub with a brush. You can also dip your brush into the bleach powder as you go along to remove tough stains. Rinse with clean water and dry. (Might not be safe for all tiles and all colors of grout)
Baking soda, peroxide and dish soap
Mix 3 cups baking soda with 1 cup hydrogen peroxide along with 4 tablespoons of dish soap. Wear gloves when applying. Apply with a toothbrush or scrubbing brush after testing a hidden area to ensure color fastness. Leave on for 15 minutes, some bubbling might occur. Rinse off with hot water. Floors may become slippery, so exercise caution. Wipe off all residues with a cloth, then mop with clean water, rinsing often to remove all soap from the floor.
Borax
Borax is a highly alkaline mineral that is effective in cleaning, deodorizing and disinfecting. Dip your damp sponge into a bowl of borax powder, scrub onto the tiles and grouting to remove the dirt and mold easily.
Salt
Try using a coarse salt such as Epsom Salts. Dampen tiles and sprinkle the salt along the grout lines. Leave overnight and scrub in the morning. This also works well to kill mold spores on your tiles.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a natural stain remover, you can use it baking soda in the same way as you use vinegar and baking powder to clean with.
Steam
The best method to use is steam. There are no chemicals involved and all germs, mold and mildew are removed safely. Buy or rent a good quality steam cleaner, or call in the experts to do a clean for you. (This will remove the grout sealant if there is any).
Once your grout and tiles are sparkling clean, you may want to apply a sealant so that the grout stays cleaner for longer. Make sure that you clean with a nylon bristled brush only as wire brushes can scratch and damage your tiles and grouting. Where possible, consider the environment and use eco-friendly solutions.