| Regular maintenance and routine grout cleaning are | | | | step of cleaning is to use a damp sponge or cloth to |
| essential to having clean grout over a long period of | | | | wipe away excess dirt and grime, as well as wash |
| time, and can reduce the unnecessary cost | | | | away any chemical residues that your cleaning |
| associated with replacement of your ceramic tile. | | | | products have left behind. Using running hot water to |
| However, professional strength grout cleaning agents | | | | rinse the cloth or sponge as you go prevents you |
| can be very harsh and can cause damage to your | | | | from further contaminating the areas that you have |
| grout or cause your colored grout to fade. These | | | | not yet cleaned, and works better than using water |
| stronger chemicals are often an unnecessary | | | | from a bucket. Thoroughly mopping the whole floor |
| expense, as a number of home remedies for grout | | | | following grout cleaning will not only ensure that the |
| cleaning work well and are readily available. | | | | entire area is clean, but also free from any lingering |
| When it comes to grout cleaning, an oxygen bleach | | | | chemical residue. |
| product works better than one composed of | | | | While it is true that the entire process of grout |
| chlorinated bleach, and does not pose a health hazard | | | | cleaning is hard work and consumes a great deal of |
| when used in areas where there are small children or | | | | time and energy, it is beneficial while cleaning grout to |
| pets. An oxygenated bleach solution can also work | | | | take short, intermittent breaks while scrubbing grout |
| quite well on tougher stains. To make an oxygenated | | | | clean in order to prevent back and knee stiffness |
| bleach cleaning compound, combine one cup of | | | | and prevent injury. However, these breaks should be |
| OxiClean or other oxygenated bleach powder and | | | | 30 seconds to one minute in duration, as longer |
| two gallons of hot water. Although OxiClean is gentler | | | | breaks can distract you from your work and further |
| than chlorinated bleach, you should still test this | | | | delay the entire process. |
| mixture on your grout first if you have colored grout. | | | | If cleaning seems like too much of a chore for you, |
| If you have already tried a number of grout cleaning | | | | you can also hire a professional grout cleaning |
| agents and still have black stains on your grout, the | | | | provider to do the job for you. These grout cleaning |
| most likely culprit is mildew. Mildew can be a huge | | | | specialists use some of the best chemicals and top |
| problem in areas prone to moisture, such as tubs and | | | | of the line machines, and are able to get the entire |
| showers, but there is also a home remedy for this | | | | cleaning job done much faster. Also, professional |
| that is relatively inexpensive, and that is alcohol. In | | | | grade grout cleaning machines have powerful suction |
| fact, if you read the labels of a lot of major | | | | that can eliminate more harmful dirt and bacteria. |
| bathroom cleaner brands, you will find that the main | | | | Although using a grout cleaning service can be more |
| ingredient is almost always alcohol. As a more | | | | expensive than doing the job yourself, it is important |
| affordable solution to your mildew problem, you can | | | | to keep in mind that the cost of such service can |
| purchase a bottle of alcohol at your local pharmacy | | | | equate to a much deeper cleaning and improved |
| and put it in a spray bottle for treating those areas | | | | overall appearance of your grout. Grout cleaning |
| that are heavily affected with mold or mildew. In | | | | service agencies who charge more than others are |
| addition, drying your shower and bath areas after | | | | more likely to use better chemicals and grout cleaning |
| each use and then spraying with the alcohol | | | | tools which can get out even the toughest grout |
| treatment is a great way to keep mildew at bay. | | | | stains. It is always a good idea to check out a |
| This can save you more time in the long run, and | | | | contractor's guarantee beforehand, and also get a |
| keep your grout clean. | | | | copy of that guarantee in writing. |
| After you have scrubbed your grout clean, the final | | | | |