By Step 1
You have to clean the entire floor normally and pick up any loose dirt and dust. If the grout has an old, worn grout sealer layer that still allows the water to collect, use a floor finish stripper to remove the sealant from the surface and rinse the floor with clean water and let it dry.
Step 2
Now you have to apply a commercial grade grout cleaner according to the directions given by the manufacturer of grout cleaner and start scrubbing with a nylon bristle brush or an old toothbrush. You should work in small areas and rinse the cleaner thoroughly with water before you proceed to another section.
It is important to know that you need to remove mold before you start working on the stains left by the mold. You should put on your gloves and eye protection gear and apply a mixture of ¾ cup of bleach in a gallon of water over the patches of mold and let the mixture work for half an hour before rinsing with clean water.
Step 3
To check the results, you can compare the sections that you have cleaned with the grout in low-traffic or protected areas. The stains often come from different sources, so all of the stains do not react in the same manner to a grout cleaner. In case you have tried one method that did not work well, you must be ready to try another one such as scrubbing with a concentrated white vinegar. You have to let the vinegar solution penetrate into the grout for about 15 minutes and then rinse with plenty of cold water to neutralize the acid from the vinegar.
It is good to know that the cleaning grout can be a frustrating experience when it is not completely clean after the first attempt, but you must resist the temptation to use super powerful cleaners. Muriatic acid, for example, can remove stains but it will damage the grout as well. Therefore, it is advised that you read reviews before you think of any such material to use.
Step 4
When you are fully satisfied with the cleaning result, rinse the floor once more with clean water to remove or neutralize any residue of the cleaner you used.
We all like to finish soon, but if you rush to finish the cleaning phase during this project and start to seal the grout prematurely, you can turn a solution into a permanent problem because, in addition to sealing the grout, you will also seal the spots.
1 – Scrub with a Grout Brush
You do not always have to scrub with a brush. Some cleaners like acid based cleaners typically do not require scrubbing or maybe very light scrubbing. Do not scrub if you don’t have to as it can risk grinding the dirt deeper into the porous surface of the grout.
If you have a particularly bad part of the grout with deep dirt or stains or you are directed to scrub on the directions of your grout cleaner, always use a custom grout cleaning brush.
A grout cleaning brush is thin and designed specifically for cleaning dirt out of grout. When scrubbing, always move in a single direction. Do not scrub back and forth on one area. The reason for this again is to avoid grinding dirt deeper into the dirt. Ensure you are wearing safety glasses as the brush can cause the grout cleaner to flick up.
2 – Start Small and Expand
When you start a cleaning project, it can be very enticing to pour the chemical everywhere and get started. A great pro tip is to start with a small area and expand.
Start with a small square, say 2×2 tiles and follow your cleaning procedure. Clean the area and inspect the result. This small testing grout will let you see how the cleaner works on the tiles and grout in your home. Repeat the process, perhaps with a slightly larger area. You will quickly learn how much cleaner you need, how long to leave it and how much scrubbing, if any, is required. Once you have built up your confidence in the product, expand to larger areas such as 5×5 or 10×10 tiles (depending on the size of your tiles). This is a key tip and the very best way to clean grout, especially when starting with a cleaning product that you have not used before.
3 – Use a Kneeling Pad
The best tip for cleaning grout is to use a kneeling pad. Yes, the right grout cleaner is important and so is safety, but you need to be comfortable too! I started using a kneeling pad with my cleaning projects recently and have not looked back. I am obsessed with the best ways to clean grout. If you have some pro tips, we would all love to hear about them, so please leave a comment in the comment section.
