Clean Grout In Between Tiles

4 Parts:

How to Clean Grout

How to Clean Grout in between Tiles

Tips, Tricks & Warnings

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Ceramic Tiles are a popular choice for covering walls and floors in homes, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Tiled surfaces may look beautiful from a distance, but sometimes when you look a little closer, the grout in between the tiles can become extremely dirty. This dirt will eventually lead to mould and mildew. Both of these can be extremely harmful to the health of your family, especially if there is anyone in the house with asthma and/or allergies.

The following instructions will help you learn how to clean the grout in between your tiles, and keep them sanitized and looking great. You have to do this regularly to prevent any mould or mildew from forming, and to keep you and your family safe.

Things You'll Need

1. 1
   A Soft Brush

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   This is used to sweep away any dust or debris from the surface you are about to start working on.

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2. 2
   A Coarse Scrubbing Brush

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   Use any type of coarse scrubbing brush you feel will do the job efficiently. Make sure the brush you choose will be able to get in between the grout lines and clean the grout properly. An old toothbrush or another brush of similar size is perfect for a job like this, and using an old toothbrush means you save money, and repurpose an item you'd otherwise throw away.

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3. 3
   Warm Water

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   It is always a good idea to use two separate containers to hold your water -- one to hold the cleaning mixture and, the other, for fresh water to rinse the surface after you've finished cleaning it.

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4. 4
   Oxygenated Bleach Or Hydrogen Peroxide

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   There are many different cleaning agents and brands of oxygenated bleach available that can be diluted with the warm water. Hydrogen peroxide and lemon are great alternatives to harsh chemicals.

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5. 5
   Lemon juice helps dissolve stains and it also gives your cleaning agent a nice smell

   .

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6. 6
   Clean Towel

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   This is used to mop up any mess and to help dry up any dirty water that may appear after you start scrubbing.

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Instructions For Cleaning the Grout Between Your Tiles

1. 1
   Prepare The Surface Of Grout And Tiles

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   Before you start cleaning the grout with the cleaning agent, you need to make sure that you have brushed or swept away any debris and dust from the surface. Any dust or debris left on the surface, will make your job more difficult and the grout lines messy when you apply your cleaning mixture.

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2. 2
   Make Your Cleaning Mixture

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   1. If you are using a store-bought cleaning agent, then follow the directions on the package to dilute it.
   2. If you are using the mixture of hydrogen peroxide and lemon, use the following instructions:  
      1. Mix 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide with 2 cups of warm water and as much lemon juice as you require.

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3. 3
   Scrub Grout Lines In Between Tiles

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   1. Take your coarse scrubbing brush and dip it into your cleaning mixture.
   2. Scrub the grout lines until you have removed all of the dirt and stains. Grout stains can be very stubborn so, you may need to apply some pressure when scrubbing.

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4. 4
   Wash Down With Water And Clean Towel

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   1. Use the container of fresh water and your clean towel to remove any of the dirty water and grime.
   2. Gently splash on enough water but not too much that you can't easily mop up all the mess.
   3. Try not to spread the water everywhere when performing this task, as this will cause the dirty water to seep back into the grout, and make the task more difficult.

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There are a lot of individuals who would like to use tiles in terms of their home flooring, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom. Tiles, like other things in the home, need to be maintained. Usually, the biggest issue is the mould and mildew that end up growing on grout, can be tedious to clean.

Grout gets dirty, especially white or beige grout. In the bathroom, the issue is usually mould and mildew, and in the kitchen, it's usually food and cooking grease as well as mildew and often mould. You'll have to find the product or homemade cleaner that works best for you, and apply a little elbow grease. You might want to try a less volatile, less acidic cleaner first, before resorting to the stronger cleaners.

Things You Can Try With Things You Have in Your Home

It's better to scrub in circular motion instead of brushing back and forth. Brushing in a circular motion will clean more efficiently. After you've finished cleaning the grout, rinse with clean water. If you were cleaning the grout on floor times, use a mop and water, and then dry using paper towels or rags.

1. 1
   Vinegar

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   When it comes to using vinegar, homeowners should mix equal parts of vinegar and water.

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2. 2
   Baking soda

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   When it comes to baking soda, homeowners could craft a paste out of it by adding water until it's the consistency of batter. Dip a stiff brush into the mixture and scrub the grout.

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Purchase Cleaners

Aside from using the usual cleaners Lysol and Mr. Clean, for grout, you might want to try powdered cleaners like Ajax or Dutch Cleanser. Other ways of cleaning grout include:

• Steam Cleaner.
  • The H₂0 Mop is an excellent, affordable, environmentally friendly steamer.
• Commercial Grout and Tile Cleaner.
• Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂0₂).
• Chlorine Bleach.
• Oxygen Bleach Powder.

• Make sure you use a clean scrubbing brush.
• Work on one small area at a time. If the surface of the area you are trying to clean is too big, you will not have enough time to mop up the dirty, wet cleaning agent before it dries and it will only soak back into the grout lines.
• Try to avoid steel wire scrubbing brushes. In addition to leaving dark scrape marks on some surfaces and scratching the tiles, these types of brushes will scrape away the grout and damage the water seal of your grout.
• Use a sturdy plastic brush instead. Your old toothbrush won't be too effective, try using a more heavy-duty brush with stiff bristles from your local dollar store.
• If you are tiling a bathroom or kitchen, you might consider using darker grout - like charcoal. Unlike white grout, darker colours don't end up looking grubby.
• Make sure the room is well-ventilated if you are using strong cleansers. Breathing them in can damage your lungs, and cause breathing problems, especially if you are asthmatic or have other breathing issues.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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