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Step 1
Before cleaning, wipe away any excess wet buildup with a white terry-cloth towel or paper towels. If your grout is crumbling, consider replacing it. (See How to Replace Cracked Tile Grout in a Tub or Shower.)
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Step 2
While cleaning (steps 3 through 6), be sure to wear rubber or latex gloves and safety goggles, and throw open the windows to avoid exposure to the harsh chemical fumes of bleach-containing solutions.
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Step 3
Spray on a commercial grout cleaner or a heavy-duty all-purpose cleaning solution with bleach. Wait for several minutes.
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Step 4
Scrub the grout with a stiff scrub brush or a grout brush, then rinse thoroughly.
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Step 5
Blast mold, mildew or stubborn stains with a bleach-containing cleanser, or make your own using 1/4 cup (2 fl oz/60 ml) chlorine bleach and 1 qt. (32 fl oz/1 l) warm water. Let the disinfectant sit at least 10 minutes to thoroughly kill the mold and mildew.
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Step 6
Scrub the grout with a stiff brush or a grout brush, rinse, then dry with a white towel or paper towels.
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Step 7
Now that the grout's sparkling clean, keep it that way. Apply one to three coats of commercial grout sealer with a small brush or paintbrush. (Commercial grout cleaner, grout brushes and grout sealer are available at home supply centers and janitorial supply stores.)
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Step 8
Reapply annually to make certain the only thing scary in your home is the Halloween decor.
Comments
payless70 said
on 1/26/2009 The professionals at Payless Carpet Cleaners provide information and tips in regards to tile and grout cleaning. Refer to http://www.payless-carpet-cleaners.com or if located in the South Florida region contact by telephone at (305)503-5868 or (954)671-1050.
soapberryusa said
on 8/25/2008 A good product to take stains out of tile or porcelain is ZUD cleanser. It is so good it will eat holes in porcelain if you leave it on too long.
GroutStore said
on 6/20/2008 I agree it is easy to do it yourself. To find the commercial grade grout cleaner and brush you will need I suggest visiting http://www.thegroutcleaningstore.com . They sell professional strength products to the public.
CateS said
on 2/10/2008 I have had contractors tell me to NEVER use chlorine bleach on grout. Grout contains latex and latex turns yellow when exposed to chlorine. So, I've never used chlorine on my grout. As a result, it's brown and stained--which is better than yellow! Or is it?
Any thoughts?
VegasMyst said
on 12/20/2007 Thanks for all your tips. My whole downstairs has white grout on the floors. I appreciate any tips I can get.