If you find yourself staring at discoloured grout when trying to soak in a relaxing hot tub, or taking your morning shower, it can make you feel a little icky. Grout will naturally discolour and gray over time. That’s even if you tend to be someone who often cleans their bathroom. When grout is discoloured, it doesn’t mean you need new tiles. Instead, you can use these cleaning tips to help make your bathroom grout white again.
Warm Water and a Brush
A spray bottle of warm water and a stiff, bristled cleaning brush will often be enough to rid your white grout of its dinge. You can find the brushes at grocery and hardware stores. You’ll get a better assortment at hardware stores, however, as they carry brushes designed for grout cleaning. Just spritz the grout with water and then scrub it with the brush in a circular motion. You can even use an old toothbrush.
Vinegar
If warm water alone doesn’t seem to be working, pour out half the water and replace it with white vinegar. Then spray the grout and then let it sit for about five minutes before scrubbing.
Baking Soda
If you still don’t see results, put aside the spray bottle and fill a small bowl with baking soda made into a paste with a bit of warm water. This provides more abrasive power to your efforts which can help break down the dirt. Apply the paste with a brush and then spray it with a light spritz of your water/vinegar solution. It will start to foam, and you can then scrub it and rinse with clean water.
Hydrogen Peroxide
You should see results from the baking soda and vinegar method but you might want the grout even whiter. You can use hydrogen peroxide and a scrub brush to get whiter results. If you prefer, add the hydrogen peroxide to baking soda to form a paste. Be sure to rinse the paste away when you are done scrubbing.
Oxygen Bleach
If you want to try something without the need to scrub, you can use a laundry oxygen bleach powder. You’ll need the room to be well ventilated for this and it can be applied and left on for 10 to 15 minutes so it can do its job. Try it on a small area first to see if you get the results you want. Once you rinse it off, and if it looks good, proceed with the rest of the grout.
Commercial Grout Cleaners
Actual commercial grout cleaners are available on the market that can be sprayed and wiped or sprayed and scrubbed. The non-scrubbing sounds easier but they don’t always work as well as you’d hope. Again, you can give it a try to see if you get the results you want.
The problem with these products is, you need good ventilation due to the harsh chemicals. You’ll usually see good results with the spray and scrub cleaners but they do require more elbow grease. Just be sure you read the instructions completely before you begin.
Chlorine Bleach
Chlorine bleach comes in handy spray bottles and can be used on tough cases. However, you need to apply them lightly and again, you will need the room to be well ventilated. This can be used to remove deep-down dirt stains, followed by a scrub-free spray once a week, so you don’t need to take the extreme route again. Otherwise, you’ll eat away at the grout and even remove the finish on the tiles as bleach is so corrosive.
Steam Cleaners
This is the tool of the pros. It’s environmentally friendly and uses heat to get rid of grout dirt and grime. However, you need to purchase or rent the steam cleaner which can be expensive. You can also call in a professional grout cleaner to do the job. We always get the best results.
Caution!
If you use any commercial products including bleach products, never apply them together. Be sure you thoroughly rinse and wipe down the grout to remove all traces of the cleaning solution before trying something else. If not, you are at serious risk of creating a chemical reaction that can be very harmful to your lungs, eyes and skin. This includes mixing cleaners with hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.
Be Proactive
To avoid gray grout, use a vinegar wipe down once a week to reduce mould and mildew build-up while also rinsing away soap scum. Another rule is to use a shower squeegee after each shower. This just takes a few seconds and removes most of the water and soapy residue right away. You’ll find both methods really reduce the need for scrubbing and your clean shower will be a lot more pleasant.
To learn more about cleaning your bathroom call Maid4Condos at 647-822-0601 or contact us here. As a premier residential cleaning service in Toronto, we have the knowledge and experience to help you make your home spotless, including how to make your grout white again.
Share , Like & Engage On Social Media: