How to Clean Grout Like The Pros

In your kitchen, bath, and just about anywhere else in your home, tile provides a very durable and stain resistant covering. Unfortunately, tiles are separated by grout, and grout is not nearly as stain resistant. Since grout is generally white, or at least a very light color, every stain shows up immediately. With our simple tricks, we can make cleaning grout a very simple task.

Some Tricks to Become the Best Grout Cleaner

If you have tile floors, the grout is definitely going to become stained at some point of time. Surface stains can be removed easily with sandpaper. Fold the sandpaper, and work the crease back and forth in the grout. If the grout is too soft for the sandpaper you can also use a normal pencil eraser. If the sandpaper or eraser doesn't do the job or the grout still remains discolored, you can create a solution of one part bleach and four parts of water. Saturate the grout with the solution and scrub with a small brush. A toothbrush is ideal; just throw it away when you’re done. Rinse well with clean water and let dry.

In your kitchen, your tile is constantly assaulted by food and spills of various natures. If you do not like using a lot of harsh chemicals around your kitchen, we have a great natural cleaner for you. Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup ammonia, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and about 6 cups of water in a spray bottle. This cleaner really gets under those dried-on food stains and leaves the grout looking like new. Spray on your grout liberally, and scrub with a soft bristled brush or a toothbrush.

If your tile is heavily stained around your kitchen or bathroom, work in a little Soft Scrub with Bleach with your finger. Let it work on the grout overnight. By morning, even the toughest stains will have disappeared. Rinse with warm water and dry with a clean towel or paper towel. No need to scrub the grout with a toothbrush any more!

As a quick cleaner, wipe down your grout with hydrogen peroxide. This keeps your grout white and kills off all of the bacteria that can be living in it.

Make sure that you do not ever mix any cleaning products made with bleach with any products made with ammonia! The two combine to form chlorine gas, which is extremely dangerous. Rinse away all cleaners thoroughly after you have used them.

Related Posts:

• Cleaning Grout in Your Kitchen
• Cleaning Floor Tile Grout
• CLR Cleaner - Uses, Dangers, Alternatives

Hydrogen Peroxide - Cleaning, Sanitizing Wonder

Over the years, we have offered many great cleaning tips that use hydrogen peroxide. Ever wonder why it’s such a great cleaning agent? Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂) is a mild acid, but it is a very strong oxidizing agent which means that as it combines with other molecules, it gives off oxygen. Because of this, Hydrogen Peroxide can be used very successfully as an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-mold cleaning agent. It also is very good at bleaching surfaces.

Hydrogen Peroxide is safe to use around the house and is non-toxic, especially in the low concentrations that we recommend using. It is also fairly inexpensive, and easy to obtain at almost any grocery or drug store. It can also be bought in bulk at restaurant supply stores.

When you clean with Hydrogen Peroxide, you get an added bonus. It sanitizes your sponges every time you use it. No need to worry about spreading nasty stuff around!

Practical uses of hydrogen peroxide:

• Spray on and wipe down wooden cutting boards to disinfect
• Use to sanitize bathrooms and kitchens, just a splash on a sponge will do
• Can be used to clean toilets, and is septic system safe
• Can be diluted into a spray to clean vegetables and fruits
• Can be used in your washer instead of bleach, just treat it as if it were bleach
• You can even bleach your hair with a highly diluted mix of H₂O₂ and water!

Some of our classic cleaning tips using Hydrogen Peroxide are:

• Removing Blood From Carpet and Microfiber
• Disinfecting Your Phones
• Organic Stains on Granite Counters
• Get Your Vinyl Strap Patio Furniture Looking Like New
• Make Your Caulk Look Like New
• Removing Stains From Enamel Bathtubs
• Safely Sanitize Countertops
• Removing Grass Stains from Clothing
• Homemade Odor Remover

Cleaning Floor Tile Grout

When the grout between your floor tiles becomes stained, you can remove surface stains with sandpaper. Fold the sandpaper, and work the crease back and forth in the grout. If sandpaper isn't readily available you also work the grout with a pencil eraser. If the sandpaper or eraser don't do the job or the grout still remains discolored, create a solution of bleach and water. Saturate the grout with the solution and scrub with a small brush. A toothbrush is ideal, just throw it away when your done. Rinse well with clean water and let dry.

Cleaning Tile Counter Tops and Back Splashes

We have a tile back splash and it can be pretty difficult to remove the dried on food that aways ends up there. Here is the best homemade cleaner I have found for the job. Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup ammonia, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and about 6 cups of water in a spray bottle. This really gets under those dried on food stains and leaves the grout looking like new. I really like this cleaner because it is made with all natural ingredients. I try not to use too many harsh chemicals in the kitchen to make sure nothing I wouldn't want to eat gets into my food.

As always never mix bleach and ammonia. So if you used Soft Scrub with bleach to clean your tile, make sure you wash down the area with water first.

Cleaning Grout in your Kitchen

If you have a tile covered counter top and get stains in the grout, here's a great tip for you! Before going to bed, apply a light coating of Soft Scrub with Bleach to the grout. Work it in with your finger and go to bed. In the morning, even the toughest stains will have disappeared. Rinse with warm water and dry with a clean towel or paper towel. No need to scrub the grout with a toothbrush any more!