By In this post I want to give you some pro tips for the best way to clean grout. These tips will save you time and also give you protection of yourself and your tiles.
Select the Right Cleaner
The first and most important place to start is with the selection of the right grout cleaning product. There are many products on the market and selecting the right one for your tiles and grout can be a difficult task.
The crux of the decision is to consider whether you want an acid, bleach or other type of cleaner. This decision is based on the following points;
- How much dirt you have?
- How much scrubbing you want to do?
- Do you have colored or white grout?
- How delicate your tiles and grout are?
- Do you have stone tiles like marble or granite?
The best way to clean is to start with the right cleaner and you should read more and more reviews before you select one for cleaning.
Safety First
Tile and Grout cleaning products typically use strong chemicals. These chemicals can damage your skin and your eyes and some can even cause difficulty in breathing.
Cleaning safety gear like gloves and safety glasses should always be worn when cleaning grout and the area must be well ventilated. Open windows and doors and ensure you take frequent breaks.
Follow the Directions
Bleach based cleaners are used differently from acid based cleaners. Always read the instructions on the package of cleaner and ensure you follow them compelled. The manufactures put a lot of time and effort into ensuring the usage procedure matches the product perfectly. Generally the directions involve the following;
- Only applying the product to the grout and not the tiles
- Let the product sit for minutes or tens of minutes
- Scrub bad areas
- Wipe away the grout cleaning product
- Mop with fresh clean water once or twice
Use an Old Mustard Bottle
The directions bottles almost always warn to only apply the cleaner to the grout and not the tiles. This is because the strong chemicals can remove the surface polish on tiles and even damage the edges of delicate tiles.
A great tip for applying grout cleaner only to the tile grout is to first pour the grout cleaner into an old squeeze mustard bottle (bottle with a straight or twist-to-open nozzle end). Once transferred, you can then open the nozzle of the mustard bottle and run it along the grout to apply the cleaner directly and only to the grout.
