Cleaning Stained Grout
Cleaning stained grout can sometimes be a difficult job. A few basic tips will help you find the best solution for your grout. Grout can become stained and soiled many different ways. The grout in the bathroom is stained by mildew, while the kitchen it is foot traffic and food. Knowing what the stains are will help you clean it.
The first step is to remove any loose soil from the grout. This can be achieved with water and paper or a sponge. Next you will pick the cleaner to try. Always start with the simplest before advancing to a harsh cleaner. The brush you use needs to be hard, but not hard enough to damage the grout. Old toothbrushes and metal bristled brushed are not recommend. I stiff bristled nylon brush (for dish washing) is a great choose. Always tesy your cleaner in a small hidden area to make sure it doesn’t react poorly to the grout or the tile surface. Here are some of the cleaners you might choose:
Homemade Cleaners - These are very basic, but can work well. A 50-50 mix of white vinegar and distilled water is a great option for the bathroom. You can also make a paste with baking soda and scrub it in with a brush.
Store Bought - The choices here are endless. I have found the Kaboom cleaner to do a good job. It is best to try a few and find the best one for your stained grout.
Commercial - These are cleaner made for cleaning stained grout. They are pH balanced so they do not damage the surface. This can be more expensive, but not clean better than some of the other options.
Steam - Steam cleaning stained grout has become very popular lately. I have tried it and it worked very well on a lot of different stains. The machines cost about $100. The Wagner 905 cleaner is a very well build cleaner.
The final step when you have clean grout is to seal it. Sealing it will make future cleanings much easier. Grout should be sealed at least once per year. These are the basic steps you need to follow to clean stained grout. By the wa, cleaning grout with bleach is not effective and could be dangerous. Bleach can be part of a commerical cleaner, but never mix chemicals yourself.
You can save money and do it yourself. Purchase the same professional grout cleaning products that the pro’s use. Don’t rent a machine, a machine only blows the dirt out. The grout cleaner and brush is the key to cleaning grout.