Cleaning Old Tile Grout

Grout cleaning and repair before you can seal your grout you ll need to clean the tile around the grout and then clean the grout itself.

Cleaning old tile grout.

Rather than using a toothbrush. Simply spray warm water on the grout lines and scrub in a circular motion then let dry. Tom s homemade solution for cleaning grout included concentrated dish soap baking soda and white vinegar. Start by spraying the grout with hot water and scrubbing with a stiff bristle brush or a grout brush to lift any dirt or grime on the surface.

These can found at most grocery and department stores. Go easy though grout is less durable than the tile it s holding together and harsh cleaners like bleach can erode it. This can be done with a bleach solution composed of three fourths of a cup of bleach added to two gallons of water. Because grout is porous grime picked up by the cleaning solution often tends to re lodge within the grout pores.

Pour a small amount of water directly onto the tile floor to rinse the solution off the grout. An old toothbrush makes a great tool to scrub the tile grout effectively. If you have a steam cleaner on hand that s especially effective says melissa maker author of clean my space apply steam directly to the grout then use your brush to scrub in a circular motion. Spray a generous amount of the all purpose cleaner the tile walls and floor of the shower to clean grout between floor tiles as well as the tiles themselves.

This will change your life. Rinse the grout with warm or hot water to remove all of the solution. Start with water and a stiff brush and if that doesn t do the trick try an oxygen cleaner or a mix of baking soda and vinegar followed by brushing. However if you notice mold or mildew on your grout you will need to deal with that first.

Wipe away with a clean rag. The solution should sit for ten minutes or so to get deeply into stains to loosen them. Use caution as wet tiled floors can be very slippery. For heavier dirt and mild stains turn.