How to Clean Grout After Installation
Grout is the gritty substance used to fill in the joints between tiles and assist in holding the tiles together. It also protects the tiles from water seepage. You should clean grout immediately following installation and on an as-needed basis thereafter. Grout can become molded or dirty over time. It is important to keep grout clean to maintain the overall neat appearance of the tiled surface. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Grout float
- Bucket
- Plain water
- Sponge
- Oxygen bleach
- Empty spray bottle
- Measuring cup
- Toothbrush or grout brush
- Rags
Instructions
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Cleaning Grout Immediately Following Installation
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1
Remove excess grout from the joints by holding a grout float at a 45 degree angle and scraping it diagonally across the tile. This should be done as soon as a small section of grout has been installed.
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2
Fill a bucket with plain water. Dampen a sponge in the water and wring it out well.
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3
Wash the grout with the sponge, again working in a diagonal direction across the joints. Rinse and wring out the sponge frequently.
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4
Wait 10 minutes for the grout to settle more thoroughly. Go over the area again with a damp sponge.
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5
Rewash the entire surface area once all of the grout is installed and settled. Drying times for grout may vary depending on the temperature and the type of grout. Timing is very important when cleaning newly installed grout; if the grout is too wet when cleaning it may wash the grout from the joints. If it is too dry, it will have hardened onto the surface of the tile. Clean the grout when it first begins to harden.
General Grout Cleaning
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6
Mix a solution of oxygen bleach and water in a bucket. The bleach to water ratio will vary depending on the brand of oxygen bleach you are using. Oxygen bleach is just as effective as chlorine bleach when cleaning grout, but it will not discolor the grout or tile.
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7
Fill an empty spray bottle with the oxygen bleach solution. It may be easiest to pour from the bucket to the spray bottle using a measuring cup with a lip.
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8
Spray the grout with the cleaning solution. Begin at the back of the room you are cleaning and work your way to the door to avoid walking in the bleach.
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9
Allow the bleach to sit on the grout for about 5 minutes. Small bubbles or foam will begin to form on the grout. This is the oxygen bleach working to remove the dirt and stains from the grout. For extremely dirty or stained grout, let the bleach sit for 15 minutes.
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10
Use a toothbrush or grout brush to scrub the grout. Use a rag to wipe the cleaning solution and dirty residue from the grout as you are working. This will prevent the dirt from settling back into the grout. Rinse the rag in water frequently to avoid reapplying the dirt to the grout.
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11
Wash the entire surface area with a rag (or mop) and clean water once you have scrubbed the whole area. This will rinse off any residual dirt. Allow the grout to air dry.
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