A guide to grout cleaning

According to the Joy of Shards, "grout is a substance which fills the gaps (joints or interstices) between tesserae in mosaics. One purpose of grout is to strengthen the work and make it longer-lasting by keeping water out of the joints." Grout can often be a part of the tiling design, which means that complimentary colours are chosen. Sometimes, the grout gets dirty. Fortunately, you can clean it and make it look fresh again.

Mix the cleaner

Mix together oxygen bleach powder and water in a bowl of water. For some brands, this will be two to four teaspoons per two cups of water. Read the directions to learn the proper amounts. Dissolve the powder by stirring it.

Apply the cleaner

- Apply the cleaner to the grout. Pour a little bit to the floor, then spread it across the floor. Scrub the grout, cleaning the tiles. If you prefer, you can use a turkey baster to apply the cleaner to the grout directly. - Work your way across the floor to the door so that you don't accidentally put dirt on the floor to which you've already applied the cleaner. - Let the cleaner sit on the grout undisturbed for at least 15 minutes.

Scrub and clean

Scrub the grout using a grout brush. If you wish to do detail brush, you can use a toothbrush. - Once you have scrubbed an area, use a soft rag to blot the floor, sopping up the moisture. This will help to prevent the dirt that you've loosened soaking back into the grout. - When the rag gets wet, wring it out in a sink and rinse it out with fresh water, then continue. Do not be tempted to keep on going with the wet and dirty rag as this could spread the dirt on the grout rather than removing it. - Mop the floor with clean water. - If you are satisfied with the cleanliness of the grout, then you can stop. If you are not, begin the process again from the beginning. Repeat as often as you like until you are pleased with the result. Consider applying grout sealer to the grout as this could prevent dirt from staining the grout again. However, grout sealers can contain harsh chemicals.