Clean the grout on tile walls with common household products.
Tiled walls can add a great deal to the appearance of the home, but cleaning grout between the tiles can easily become a maddening chore. Since grout is a porous material composed of cement and water, dirt and other grime can easily infiltrate and make cleaning difficult. Although it can be time-consuming, cleaning the grout on tile walls can be a bit more straightforward with a few common household items.
Things You'll Need
· Clean cloth
· Baking soda
· Water
· Hydrogen peroxide
· White vinegar
· Coarse sponge or nylon brush
· Oxygen bleach
Instructions
Preparing the Walls
1. Apply the intended cleaning products to an inconspicuous area for the recommended period of time to test colourfastness. Because the cleansers used to clean the grout will inevitably come in contact with tile, this is a necessary step to prevent damaging tiles. If the colour or texture of the tiles is altered, do not use the product.
2. Wipe over tiled walls with a clean, dry cloth to remove hair, oils, soap scum and other grime from the surface. This will allow cleaning products to more easily seep in to grout.
3. Pour a generous amount of baking soda in a plastic mixing bowl. Using a fork or your hands, stir in just enough warm water to form a paste. Mix the ingredients in a bowl that will not be used for food preparation or storage.
Cleaning the Walls
1. Apply the baking soda paste on the lines of the grout and allow it sit for approximately 10 minutes. If baking soda is not readily obtainable, spray concentrated hydrogen peroxide or distilled white vinegar on the grout and let stand for 10 minutes.
2. Scour the grout lines with a coarse sponge or nylon brush.
3. Rinse tile grout with clean, warm water to wash away grime and product residue.
4. Apply the cleaning products as necessary if stains or a dirty appearance persist.
Tips & Warnings
® Combine equal parts powder oxygen bleach and water if baking soda, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are not available. Stir the mixture until the bleach has completely dissolved and spray it on the wall. Saturate the grout lines and allow it to work for 30 minutes before scrubbing. Do not apply to coloured grout as it will remove the colour.
® Use a grout sealer and follow application instructions on the packaging. Sealing grout annually will prevent grime from settling in and makes cleaning much quicker and easier.
® Because it may be necessary to use a great deal of pressure, consider using a sponge to clean grout around ceramic tiles as they can be scratched easily.
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