DIY & Advice
How to Clean and Maintain Grout
The floor of the house is one of the areas most exposed to wear and tear and dirt in our home. Hence, it is not strange that the grout ends up dirty, going from its white or milky colour, to a greyish and even blackish one.
Overview
Even after scrubbing the floor, the tiles with the dirty grout might still look dirty. Make your floors look like new by also cleaning the grout. Depending on the type of tile and the colour of grout your floor has, there are different cleaning methods you can use to refresh its look. Whether you opt for chemical cleaners or more natural methods, your grout can be spotless with little effort.
Tools & Materials
Items Required
- Soft Bristle Broom and Dustpan or Vacuum
- Microfibre Mop
- Cleaning Gloves
- Warm Water
- Doodle Pad or Stiff bristled nylon scrubbing brush
- Squeegee (optional)
- Everyday Cleaner (for general cleaning)
- Grout Haze Remover (for troublesome grime or initial cleaning of a freshly tiled space)
- Grout Sealer (for cement-based grout)
How-To Steps
Step 1: Remove Dirt and Debris
Use a soft bristled broom to remove loose dirt, sand and other debris. Soft Bristles are the key to easier and more efficient cleaning without scratching or damaging your tiles. The soft bristles reach into grout lines and gently remove dirt and grime efficiently. Use a vacuum only if necessary, you wont get quite the same result and may scratch your tiles.
Step 2: Clean with a PH Neutral Cleaner
For a low toxic regime clean with warm water and a microfibre mop or cloth. The microfibre should ‘grab’ the surface and lift off most daily grime with a little pressure. A damp microfibre mop or cloth is better than wet cotton or sponge for a streak-free clean.
If you need a bit more oomph, try LITHOFIN VITRA CLEAN and follow the manufactures instructions.
If you notice any mould or mildew on your grout we suggest using Lithofin KF Mildew Away (spray) 500ml as per the manufacturers guidelines.
Hot Tip: Don't wait much longer than the curing time, aim to do it within 10 days of grouting. It is easier to clean grout haze sooner rather than later because the haze promotes dirt build up making it more difficult to remove with time. If you miss the window you might have to use harsher cleaners which could detriment the integratory of your project.
Step 3: Admire Your Sparkling Room
It’s that easy to keep your grout clean!
If you did need to clean any mould or mildew from your grout lines, we strongly suggest sealing your cement-based grout after a thorough clean to avoid the problem resurfacing and help keep ongoing cleaning easy.
Have a concern with your grout? Try here
