Grout lines can attract grime and dirt resulting in discolored grout that can deteriorate the great looks of beautiful tiles. Grout can be challenging to keep clean because it’s porous, and on a tiled surface, dirt and crumbs can be left behind, even after cleaning or sweeping. Besides, a quick wipe of your tiled floor can sometimes miss some spots as grout lines are usually slightly deeper than the floor surface.
Fortunately, you can use some common household products to clean dirty grout. And with just a little effort and time, your grout can instantly look as good as new. Check these proven cleaning methods and additional tips to help you remove and reduce dirt in the grout with time.
Table of Contents
Necessary Materials and Ingredients for Cleaning Floor Grout
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Stiff bristle brush
How to Clean Floor Grout - Step by Step Procedures
Step 1: Prepare the area you want to clean
Spray the floor grout with hot water and scrub it with stiff bristle brush to remove any grime or dirt on the tiled floor. Follow the line of the grout as you continue spraying and scrubbing in a circular motion. You can also use a vacuum cleaner if you’ve one on hand because it's incredibly efficient when it comes to cleaning grout.
Step 2: Mix your cleaning solution
To make your cleaning paste, mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts baking soda. If you are working with a surface where the grout is already exposed to grease such as the kitchen, consider adding in several drops of some dish soap.
Step 3: Apply the cleaning paste
Spoon your homemade grout cleaning solution over the lines of grout and let it sit for approximately 10-15 minutes. Give the cleaning paste some time to work into the surface pores, and you will end up with a brighter and cleaner grout.
Step 4: Begin scrubbing the grout
Using a stiff bristle brush, start scrubbing the grout lines to remove any dirt or grime trapped in the surface pores.
Step 5: Rinse your tiles
After thoroughly scrubbing the grout lines, mix several drops of dish soap with hot water. Then, rinse the tiles with a cloth or sponge and wipe any remaining grout cleaner.Other Floor Grout-Cleaning Tips
For grout on newly installed tiles
Since grout is pretty porous and susceptible to collecting grime, you should begin your grout-cleaning routine with prevention. If the grout was recently installed or you renewed existing grout, you can keep the new grout in the best condition possible by utilizing a grout sealer, at least 10-14 days after your grout cures completely.
For lightly discolored grout
To clean lightly stained grout in a tiled floor, utilize a strong bleach cleaning solution (one gallon of water to 3/4 cup bleach), and then scrub with a toothbrush or small brush. However, avoid scrubbing the grout too hard because you might damage it. You can also try using any foaming grout cleaner, which might require you to soak for a couple of minutes to be effective. Remember to use hand gloves to protect your hands from the bleaching solution.
For deeply stained and discolored grout
If the grout is discolored and deeply stained, you should consider replacing it. Tile stores normally sell and even rent out tools for taking off the grout. Run your tool along the grout, and ensure that you do not scratch the surrounding tiles. Clean the area between the tiles using a powerful bleaching agent, apply the new grout, and then seal it. If your floor has porcelain tiles, avoid spilling bleach solution on the surface because it might cause pitting or pink or yellow stains.
Conclusion
The secret to having clean-looking tiled floors is keeping the grout clean. Tile resists stains and dirt, but grout is usually porous and absorbs spills and dirt, so it stains pretty easily. You can eliminate dirty grout using the simple methods and tips outlined above. You can also preserve all your hard work and effort by applying grout sealers. These sealers typically fill the grout pores, keeping grime and dirt out. How often the grout needs resealing will be determined by the amount of traffic the space gets and the sealer you select.
