Homemade Grout Cleaners
Grout is usually made of either Portland cement or epoxy and furan resin. It is applied in the space between two tiles in order to hold them in place. Grout surface is very porous and can easily absorb dirt and grim, which over a period of time lead to discoloration and appearance of dirty stains. The best way to keep grout clean is to prevent the accumulation of dirt and dust and clean the stains as soon as they appear. Though a number of commercial tile and grout cleaners are available, many of them are loaded with chemicals that are not eco-friendly and are supposed to pose health hazards. In recent times, grout cleaners made at home are gaining increasing popularity and many of them are equally effective in removing the toughest of stains.
Making Grout Cleaner at Home
For regular cleaning of tiles and grout, you can use liquid dishwashing detergent or a solution of mild soap and water. After applying them, just rub the area gently and then rinse properly with clean water. Such regular cleaning will prevent accumulation of dirt and grim on the tile and grout surface. However, if your tile grout is not sealed properly, then even regular mopping can stain them.
Baking Soda and Water
Make a fine paste of baking soda and water and scrub the grout with it. Use a stiff brush, a toothbrush or especially designed grout cleaning brush for this purpose. Then rinse the area with plain and clean water.
Salt, Baking Soda and Vinegar
Mixture of salt, baking soda and white vinegar is also effective for this purpose. Take equal parts of all these substances and make a fine paste. Leave it for sometime on the grout surface and then scrub the area gently, before rinsing with clean water.
Baking Soda, Ammonia and Vinegar
This homemade cleaner is stronger and hence more suitable for stubborn stains. Make a thick paste of ammonia, white vinegar and baking soda and then add some water to dilute it. Apply this solution to the stained grout and leave it for sometime. Then scrub the area with a stiff bristled brush and rinse with water, or use a damp cloth to wipe away the solution. Do not use metal brushes for scrubbing grout and tile, as this can cause considerable damage.
Chlorine Bleach and Water
Chlorine bleach is ideal for mildew and mold removal, which can be a common sight in bathrooms. For applying bleach on tile grout, just make a solution with water. It can also be mixed with baking soda to make a paste, which should be left for few minutes on the grout, after which a little scrubbing is required. Then it can be cleaned with water, but keep in mind that bleach should be applied in a well-ventilated room. For cleaning tough mildews stains, bleach can be directly applied on the grout after cleaning the area with some water. But many people claim that bleach can discolor the grout, so testing it on a small inconspicuous area would not be a bad idea.
Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
Many of us not aware of the fact that lemon is a natural cleaner and you can mix it with baking soda to make a good cleaning agent for grout. Leave the paste on the grout surface for sometime and then scrub gently with a brush.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a strong cleaner and it needs to be diluted before applying on grout. It is quite effective not only in removing mold and mildews, but also preventing their further development. Just dilute hydrogen peroxide with water before applying on the grout and then leave it for few minutes. It can also be applied in combination with baking soda.
These simple cleaners can help you keep tile grout clean from stains and mildews. However, if the stains are appearing very frequently, check the condition of the grout sealer. If the condition of grout sealer is not good, then consider resealing it. If these cleaners fail to remove grout stains, you can also consider the use of a tile grout steam cleaner for cleaning. Steam grout cleaners can pull out the dirt and dust from the porous surface without scrubbing. You can also avail the services provided by professionals for grout cleaning and sealing.
