#6 More Home Remedies to Save Your Tile
(Source: keptblog.com)
Got in-laws popping over for a last minute visit and your home is looking kind of grout? The problem is you don’t have enough time to run to the store and leave enough time to clean. Solution – use things found in your home to buy you time from going to the store.
Option 1
- 2 -1/2 TBSP Ammonia
- 2 TBSP White Vinegar
- 1/4 cup Baking Soda
- 3-1/2 cups H2O
Here’s an easy process, all you need to do is mix up all the ingredients and pour the solution onto the grout. Let the grout absorb the mixture for 15 – 20 minutes and put some elbow grease into it with any kitchen scrubber. Mop over the area with fresh mop solution – if you don’t have time for the floor to dry wipe it with a dry towel and, in-laws think it was clean all along.
*Just avoid using this solution on marble, limestone, and travertine tile as this solution can be quite strong.
Option 2
- 1/4 cup Baking Soda
- 1/4 cup Vinegar
- 1/4 cup Salt
You will need to mix all the ingredients together in a container. Apply the mixture to the grout and let it settle for a good 20 minutes or so. However, don’t allow the mixture to dry as it will make the scrubbing process harder. After the 2o-minute time limit has elapsed, you will then scrub the mixture with warm water. Please Note: If you have travertine, limestone or marble tiling I wouldn’t suggest you use this method.
Option 3
- 3/4 cup Baking Soda
- 1/4 cup Bleach
- H2O
Pour the baking soda, water, and bleach into a container to create a paste. Spread the paste onto the grout and watch the bleach lift up the dirty debris leaving your floor looking refreshed. If you don’t have any bleach on-hand, there is another ingredient you can substitute with – lemon juice. Plus your floor will smell like citrus instead of bleach. Please Note: Use the lemon juice option if you have colored tile to avoid the bleach from fading the colors.
Option 4
- 3 Tablespoons of both dish soap & liquid Castille soap
- 1/2 cup Baking Soda
- 2 Tablespoons of Borax Powder
- 2 Tablespoons of Washing Soda
Save this option for the tougher stains as it is strong – Pour the ingredients into a small container and mix well. Smear the paste onto the grout and let it settle for 20-minutes. Grab an old toothbrush (or any scrub brush you have on-hand) and scrub the mixture into the grout then rinse with water.
Tips to Follow Before you Begin the Grout Removal Process
For best results:
- Test an inconspicuous area if you’re unsure how the tile will react to the mix
- Become Mommie Dearest “no more wire hangers,” instead, no WIRE BRUSHES because wire brush will cause damage
- Protect yourself from any of the harsher chemicals, i.e., bleach by wearing protective gear. Gloves, goggles and lay on an old raggy towel as you sit on the floor scrubbing to protect your clothes
#7 Tackle That Bathroom Grout
(Source: thecleanguys.com)
Since grout is so porous, it attracts dirt and mildew like moths on a lantern and mix that in with the fact that most bathrooms share the same humidity that mildew thrives in – you’re looking at some dirty looking tiles. You should aim for having a maintenance schedule to keep the grout from getting so bad that it will take a lot of work to clean. Here are some pointers on tackling the bathroom grout.
- White Vinegar
- Hot Water – Large container’s worth – bucket
- Dry cloth
- Spray Bottle
- Old toothbrush
Process:
First, you’ll want to take the vinegar and water and pour into the spray bottle. Shake it up and spray onto the dirty grout. Let it sit for 10- minutes then scrub the area with your old toothbrush or any brush except wire brushes.
If your grout is filthy, you could also place a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to life heavy debris
#8 Candles Can Keep Your Grout Looking Clean In-Between
(Source: sun-gazing.com)
It’s hard keeping up with the maintenance of Grout, but to save you some cleanings in-between. You can use candle wax on the grout lines that will work as a sealant – protecting the grout from water and mildew, and dirt. All you will need is a stick candle and rub it on the grout lining of the tile.
#9 ~ 3 Simple Ways to Combat the Grout — Tool Time : )
(Source: homerepairtutor.com)
- Power Drill that stubborn grout with a power drill brush using a solution of your choosing – let the solution soak for a bit
- Baking soda + Hydrogen Peroxide = Easy cleaning – Just mix 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide & 3/4 cup of baking soda or adjust to the amount you need. Put the paste mix onto the grout and scrub with an old toothbrush or scrub brush – no wire!
- Ammonia + Vinegar + Baking Soda = A more natural approach to cleaning the grout. Just add the mix into a spray bottle and soak up the grout lines and let it sit for a few minutes and scrub it down and wipe clean with a lightly damped towel.
#10 Kid & Pet Safe Way to Remove the Grout – Oxygen Bleach
(Source: popsugar-assets.com)
If you’re like many people that have kids and pets, you tend to get worried about what chemicals you’re releasing into a room for anyone to breathe in or (for pets) lick. Why not use a non-tox solution? Oxygen bleach is a fume-free agent along with being non-toxic choice than using chlorine bleach. The solution will lighten up your tile while also killing that nasty bacteria and germs.
#11 ~ 3 More Simple Ways to Clean the Grout
(Source: diyhomecraft.com)
- Vinegar & H20 – Here you will need very hot water mixed up with an equal amount of vinegar. The vinegar will work as a natural degreaser thanks to the acidity, which is great for tile floors * If you don’t have any vinegar on hand you could substitute it with 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol. Also don’t use this solution on stone tile as it could erode from the acid- If you have stone tile you should use cornstarch, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap
- H2O & Scouring Power – Did your toddler have too much fun with the spaghetti throwing? Spaghetti sauce, red wine, and anything that leaves tough stains can be taken care of with hot H2O and an equal amount of the scouring powder. Wallah. *Tip: NO scouring powder? Mix salt, baking soda, and borax cleaner, which is kind of how the scouring powder is made. Now, grab some paper towels and spread the scouring powder (or a homemade mixture) over the tile stain. Let it settle for 5-10 minutes. Next, scrub the solution into the stain and rinse over with hot water and rinse and repeat until stain is gone.
- H2O & Dish Detergent – Go ahead and grab yourself a mop bucket and combine and an equal amount of dish detergent and water. Mop the solution onto the tile and, well, mop it. Let your floor dry for a full 2o-25 minutes before anyone walks on the flooring.
#12 Clorox Bleach Pen
(Source: hoosierhomemade.com)
This cleaning tip is incredibly easy to do, so this will be short. Get yourself a Clorox pen and trace the lines with the pen and let it sit for 20-minutes. Dip a towel into some water and wipe off the Clorox and enjoy a tile surface that looks brand new.
#13 Shaving Cream Grout Removal
(Source: dccsa.com.ar)
Here’s what you will need:
- Shaving Cream
- Bleach
This method is neat because you’re using the thick shaving cream (no gel) to hold the bleach in place. The cream will stick to the grout lines of your shower wall and keep the bleach there overnight to do its magic. Rinse away the gross mildew away in the morning. However, don’t use this method on colored tile – just white.
#14 Oxygenated Bleach & Lemon Your Way to A Fresh Clean Grout
(Source: houzz.com)
Tools for the job:
- Oxygenated bleach
- Towel
- Lemon
- Scrub brush/Old Toothbrush
- Grout Sealer
- Warm H2O
First, wash the area that you will be working on to eliminate any loose access debris. Next, once the area dries you will mix 2 cups of water to 2 tablespoons of the oxygenated bleach – Let dissolve. With your scrub brush scoop up the mix and apply it to the grout lining. Brush the paste onto the grout in a circular motion after it soaked in the mixture for a few minutes. Wipe dry.
#15 Sandpaper Your Way to Clean Grout
(Source: cleanspiration.org)
Since most of the stains are on the top surface of the grout, one can use sandpaper to well, sandpaper the dirt and debris away.
Tools & Materials for Your Arsenal:
- Sandpaper
- Grout Sealant & Cleaner
- Old Toothbrush
Start rubbing the sandpaper on the surface of the grout removing as much as you can and loosening up the dirt. Apply grout cleaner and continue with a toothbrush in circular motions. Wipe clean with warm water and apply the grout sealant.
#16 Steam Clean the Grout & Tile
(Source: .clover-cleaning.com
The steam cleaner will remove discoloration without using all of those harsh chemicals such as bleach. Want more? It’s super easy and beats getting on your hands and knees scrubbing your afternoon away every 4-6 months.
#17 Final Tip – Just for Maintenance
A couple of tips to maintain your grout so that you don’t need to do all the above that much.
- Weekly do a mop over on your tile with oxygenated bleach and water and let dry
- Use a squeegee every time you’re finished with your shower – or towel
- Mop floor immediately after spills instead of just wiping with paper towels – I know it won’t be easy if you have children that are spill prone
