No matter how clean your bathroom or kitchen floor is, if you have dark and dingy grout between the tiles, your space is not going to look and feel as clean as it could. The problem, however, is that grout tends to darken over time and a regular ol’ floor mopping won’t do the trick of brightening it up again.
Here, we are going to discuss three methods of making your old tile grout look like new again along with the pros and cons of each method.
1. Oxygen Bleach Powder (Oxi-Clean)
Oxygen bleach powder is an almost miraculous-seeming cleaning product that many people already have in their homes. To clean your tile grout with this product, you will need to add a small amount of the powder into some boiling hot water.
Then apply the mixture to tile grout using either a clean brush or an old toothbrush. Make sure that this stays really wet on your floor, or it will not work. Allow the mixture to sit for about five minutes and then remove with a cloth.
The advantages of this method are that you won’t have to invest much sweat equity and it uses a product that you likely have in your home already. The drawback is that it is a two-step process.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda
If you prefer to use more natural products to clean your grout, then this next method might appeal to you. Start by mixing baking soda and hydrogen peroxide in a 2:1 ratio. Apply this mixture to your tile grout and allow it to sit for a minute or two.
Then take a cleaning brush or old toothbrush and scrub clean. Since the baking soda will leave a residue on your floor, you will have to finish by wiping it clean with a damp cloth or mop.
The advantages to cleaning grout in this way are that it uses very inexpensive products that you likely already have. The drawback is that it is the most labour intensive of the three methods that we discuss here.
3. Steam Cleaner
The quickest and easiest way to brighten up your grout is to use a steam cleaner. This method uses the pressure of steam to get deep inside the pores of your grout and push out dirt that has accumulated. To clean using this method, simply use the small nylon brush attachment and scrub back and forth.
Not only is this the quickest and easiest method, but using a steam cleaner will help to restore grout and bring it back to its natural colour rather than giving it an artificial “white” colour. The drawback to this method is that it is the most expensive. If you are like most people and do not own a steam cleaner, you will have to buy or rent one.
The above methods are all effective ways to clean and restore the tile grout in your home. Review the pro and cons of each method to help you determine which will work best for you.
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