How to Clean Kitchen Floor Grout

Kitchen floors are hard enough to keep clean without worrying about that tiresome grout between your tiles. Most people don’t have time to get down on their hands and knees to scrub kitchen floor grout, which is why it starts to look dingy over time. 

While it’s easy to keep putting off cleaning your grout, eventually, you’re going to have to tackle it. When you do, you’ll be happy to have some useful hacks. Here, we share our grout-cleaning tips from the cleaning services that Toronto trusts to keep their homes clean.

Consider the Type of Grout

Believe it or not, there are actually different types of grout. To make things a little more complicated, it can also be hard to tell what type of grout you’re contending with in your home. Here are the different types of grout and how to spot them:

• Sanded grout: Sanded grout tends to be more common in kitchens, as it is used in high-traffic areas. It can feel and even look sandy. It is the most difficult to clean because there are so many tiny places for dirt and grime to build up between those grains of sand.  
• Unsanded grout: Unsanded grout is smoother and, as a result, easier to clean.   
• Epoxy grout: This is less commonly found in kitchens, especially for floors. It is designed for areas exposed to a lot of water, like the bathroom or laundry room. It is also the easiest to clean.

If you are unsure about what kind of grout you have, a good rule of thumb is that the grainier the grout looks, the more likely it is sanded. It is important to avoid getting too aggressive with your scrubbing, as this can loosen the little bits of sand.

Consider the Age of the Grout

Next, consider the age of the grout. Older grout is more likely to break apart as you work, while new grout is tougher and can withstand a bit of scrubbing. While you want to follow the instructions below for all tile floors, a newer floor tends to be more resilient. As a result, if the grout is extra filthy, it can stand up to a more aggressive approach if need be.

The Scrub-Free Method

Scrub-free grout cleaning is not only easier on you, but also on the grout. You can create your own grout cleaner by filling a spray bottle with ⅓ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of liquid dish soap.

You can then spritz it onto the grout lines and let it do its job for ten minutes. Lastly, wipe it up with a clean towel or wet mop. You can also try a second round if it isn’t as clean as you expected. 

The Professional Method

If you find your homemade cleaner doesn’t work, or your grout is looking worse for wear, you can try the professional method. This is a one-two-punch approach that calls for some scrubbing. It’s a gentle scrubbing, though, not an aggressive scrubbing. The tool of choice is a toothbrush. 

Believe it or not, professionals still prefer a homemade cleaner. However, their mixture is a 1:1 ratio of vinegar to water combined in a trusty spray bottle. Spritz the grout with the mixture, and then use the toothbrush to gently loosen the dirt. Wipe away the residue with a microfiber cloth. The results should be noticeable. If not, give it a second try. 

Be Careful as You Clean

Avoid damaging the grout with these tips:

• Don’t scrub: The less scrubbing, the better. Although instinct tells you it takes scrubbing to remove the kitchen grime, this is actually the best way to damage the tiles. Remember, you might have to use the scrub-free method a few times to see results, but it is the safest way to remove grime, damage-free.
• Don’t use high-friction tools: We’ve heard of all kinds of aggressive methods to try to clean grout, including wire brushes and even sandpaper. As we mentioned, however, you’re not going to remove dirt, but instead, remove little bits of grout by being too aggressive.
  
  So, if you decide to use a tool, stick with our recommendation and use a soft-bristle toothbrush.
• Avoid harsh chemicals: Our homemade cleaning solutions are just as effective as the products you buy at the store. The one key difference is that they don’t contain harsh chemicals like bleach. As a result, you are less likely to damage your tiles and eat away at your grout.  
• Avoid “dousing”: It might seem like you need to douse your floors with tons of your homemade cleaner, but this is not the case. You just want to lightly spritz the grout to see the best results. The wetter the grout, the more damage you cause.
• To whiten: If your grout looks dingy and grey, this calls for the whitening approach. Use a teaspoon of cream of tartar (which you can find in the baking or spice aisle at the grocery store) with a squirt of lemon juice as a spot tester. It should be the consistency of runny toothpaste.
  
  Smear it on a less noticeable area covered with grout and let it sit for about five minutes. Wipe it away with a clean, damp cloth to see if it works. If all seems well, carry on with the rest of the floor.
• Avoid scrapers: The scraper might seem like a good workaround to the wire brush, but again, you should avoid anything that will wear down the grout. A scraper is very likely to cause damage and even remove an entire chunk of grout. 

These hacks will protect your grout while keeping it clean.

Bleach: The Big Guns

Although we advise against using bleach, if all else fails, you can bring in the bigs guns as long as you stick to these steps:

• Mix: Use three tablespoons of powdered bleach with warm water in a bucket.  
• Protect: Bleach is harsh, so be sure to wear gloves, and don’t touch your face or eyes as you work.
• Apply: Apply the mixture to the grout with a clean cloth or sponge.
• Wait: Wait for about ten to fifteen minutes.  
• Rinse: Rinse away the bleach with clean water and a sponge.  

If you don’t like using bleach, hydrogen peroxide is an excellent substitute. It is much safer and has equal cleaning power for grout. You can make a paste with hydrogen peroxide and baking powder, and apply it to the grout for added cleaning power. Let it sit for about ten to fifteen minutes before you wipe it away with warm water and a clean sponge. 

If you still have trouble keeping your kitchen or home clean, then Maid4Condo’s professional cleaning services in Toronto are ready to help. You can call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.