How To Clean Grout Like You Mean It If I were a better person, I'd be cleaning my grout right now, but instead I'm gathering tips and tricks to help you clean your grout. If you can no longer see your reflection in your grout and want to restore it to its former resplendent glory, read on... Don't want to clean your grout? I've always rented, so my approach to grout has been rather lackadaisical: I clean and scrub the bathroom, of course, but I don't have a lifelong bond with the grout that inspires me to do right by it. Time to bring in the experts! Ask A Clean Person: The Hairpin's regular feature Ask A Clean Person is a goldmine of advice and overarching cleaning philosophy/enthusiasm. In the feature on cleaning floors, grout is tackled with OxyClean or bleach and water, never abrasive cleaners. Their advice is: "sweep or dry mop first, then handsies & kneesies scrub, then polish with a dry cloth." The entire post is helpful and charming, and has totally changed my floor cleaning approach.

Bob Villa: Mr. This Old House's method really appeals to me: spread a baking soda and water paste on grout lines, spraying vinegar over that, and then scrubbing with a brush. It's like making a volcano, and I already own all of those products. Martha Stewart: But then Martha comes in and complicates matters! "Steer clear of lime and mineral scalers and white vinegar, which damage grout... Fight the urge to use bleach or ammonia, too; they won't get rid of mold, and they will harm grout and tile." No vinegar, no bleach — what's a grout owner to do? Martha recommends a multi-step regime involving a yearly grout sealing, weekly gentle scrubbing with a grout brush and ph-neutral products, and grout poultices and restorers as needed for deeper cleaning. That's a lot of stuff. Better Homes & Gardens: BH&G is the diplomat of the group, recommending bleach solutions, baking soda + vinegar, and grout sealants. My favorite tip: "To get twice the scrubbing power, use an old electric toothbrush."

How have I never thought of that?! Popular Mechanics: The mechanics defy A Clean Person by advocating scrubbing with scouring powder... DIY Network: But the DIY Network goes a step further by advising us to clean grout with sandpaper! And if the sandpaper doesn't work, perhaps a pencil eraser will do the trick? I feel like I'd try the eraser before the sandpaper, just to be safe. So, now that the experts have weighed in, I'd like to hear from you. What grout cleaning method works best for you? After reading all of these, I'm going to start using the baking soda vinegar combination for regular cleaning, reserving the bleach solution approach for serious situations and stains. We'll see how I get on.Tile is beautiful, durable, and generally easy to clean, but cleaning grout? That’s a different story. Because of its (typically) light coloring and porous composition, grout is prone to staining. In a tiled entry or mudroom, dirt and grime are the usual culprits, while in the kitchen, spills are more likely to blame.

Soap, mold, and mildew meanwhile make it difficult to maintain clean grout in bathrooms. Fortunately, cleaning grout effectively is possible using only common household products and a bit of elbow grease. With any cleaning project, it’s always best to start off with the mildest cleaning solution. When in doubt about a cleanser, test it in a hidden spot—behind or under an appliance, for example.Dell Laptop Charger Plug Broken The following suggestions for cleaning grout are ranked from the mildest to the strongest:Split Rear Car Seat Covers • The best way to begin is with plain water and a stiff-bristled brush; White Drapes With Fairy Lightsmost home centers and hardware stores carry an assortment of brushes specifically designed for this purpose.

Simply spray warm water on the grout lines and scrub in a circular motion, then let dry. • For heavier dirt and mild stains, turn to that trusty old standby, vinegar. Fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and warm water. Spray on the grout, let it stand for five minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush. • To bring even more cleaning power to the party, make a paste of baking soda and water, cover the grout lines with the paste, then spray on the vinegar solution. Once the mixture stops foaming, scrub with a brush and rinse with plain water. • For moderate stains, you may want to use hydrogen peroxide, which is available in most drug stores. You can use the product straight or make a paste with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. • For tougher stains and really grimy grout, try using oxygen bleach (most often sold in powdered form). Some common brands include OxiClean, Clorex OxiMagic, and Biokleen Oxygen Bleach Plus. Read and follow the manufacturer’s directions, and make sure the area is well-ventilated.

Generally, you will want to let the oxygen bleach solution work for 10 or 15 minutes before rinsing. Always rinse with clean water so that the dirt doesn’t resettle into the grout lines. • Chlorine bleach and commercial cleansers can be used sparingly in extreme cases. One of my go-to products when all else fails is Clorox Clean-Up spray. Long-term use of caustic cleaners will erode grout, so these products should be used on a limited basis. • Steam cleaners can be an effective and environmentally-friendly method of cleaning grout—or for that matter, many other surfaces around the house. Bissell, Oreck, Ladybug and Hoover all make steam cleaners for residential use. To keep your grout clean and stain-free, it’s a good idea to spray it with vinegar and wipe it down once a week. You can also wipe grout with alcohol to keep mold and mildew at bay. In any case, just a few spritzes and wipes a week can save you a lot of time and effort cleaning, preserving the attractive appearance of your home in the process.