How to clean grout

Tiled surfaces can add beauty to a house. However, if the grout is grubby, your home can certainly lose its charm. Sealing grout does not always guarantee that it will remain dirt-free. Dirt can still settle on it, even if it has been sealed with a tile grout sealer.Let us find out how to clean grout.

Required material

You will require some tools and materials. Household items like vinegar and baking soda can be effective tile and grout cleaners and are also safe to use on coloured grout.

Wash the area

Begin by washing the area with water and a clean rag. This takes out particles which are not stuck on the grout.

Start cleaning with the solution

Next, dilute vinegar with an equal amount of water, or make a paste by combining baking soda with a bit of water. The best way to clean grout is by starting off with the most basic cleaning solution first. Resort to harsher tile cleaners only if getting the grout clean seems to be unsuccessful with a mild solution. If you have natural stone tiles, try using mild dishwashing liquid as it works well on cleaning slate floors and other stone cleaning.

Scrub in circular motion

You can now spray the solution or apply the paste to the grout. Cover a small length of the grout and vigorously scrub to release the stubborn dirt out. Ideally, it is best to use a grout cleaning machine, particularly a tile steam cleaner as it not only cleans but also kills germs and bacteria. You may opt to purchase a tile and grout cleaning equipment, especially if you plan to clean the tiled surfaces of your house regularly. However, if a floor tile cleaner is not necessary, you can simply use an old toothbrush to scrub and loosen dirt trapped in the grout. An electric toothbrush is more useful because the vibrations loosen dirt more effectively. Just make sure you scrub in a circular motion rather than simply up and down.

Clean the area

After scrubbing, wipe off excessive paste with a wet washcloth. Repeat these steps until you have cleaned all the grout. Mop the surface and allow it to dry to see if there is any sign of dirt left. You may follow the same process when cleaning bathroom tile and bathroom tile grout.