| |
|
Tile Grout Cleaner
Keep your Tile Surface Areas Looking Like New
By Cleaning Tile Grout Regularly
By Mark J. Donovan
|
|
Tile grout cleaner
is essential for keeping ceramic tiled floors, custom tiled showers, and kitchen
tiled back splashes looking like new. Due to its sandy coarse texture, tile
grout can easily attract dirt, grime, mold and mildew. Whether sealed or
unsealed, tile grout lines need to have a tile grout cleaner applied to them
periodically to remove dirt and grime and to kill mold and mildew growth.
Cleaning tile grout, however, can be a difficult process. It is important to use
a tile grout cleaner that will effectively clean the tile grout while not
removing any of it.
|
There are a
variety of home-brewed and commercially available tile grout cleaners and
methods to choose from, however it is important to select one that will not
damage your tile grout. Improperly cleaning tile grout can lead to bleaching,
staining and even the removal of grout. If there is one thing worse than
cleaning tile grout is removing it and re-grouting your tile area.
Simple home brewed tile grout cleaner products include the use of peroxides,
chlorine bleach, or vinegar and baking soda and a stiff bristle brush. These
products may be okay for light maintenance tile grout cleaning projects, however
for more severe tile grout cleaning projects they are typically inadequate. In
addition, peroxides and chlorine bleach can remove grout color pigmentation.
|
|
I should also warn
that the mixing of house-hold cleaning products to clean tile grout can be
extremely dangerous and thus should never be done. Deadly fumes can be generated
through the chemical reaction of mixing cleaning products. The fumes may or may
not be detectable and could cause a person to collapse and even die. As a
result, it is best to use a commercially designed tile grout cleaner. Not only
are commercial tile grout cleaners safer to use, they are also more effective in
cleaning tile grout.
Commercial
house-hold cleaners that by themselves do a reasonably effective job of cleaning
grout tile include Lysol, Formula 409, and Mr. Clean.
|
For more stubborn
stains or mildew issues powder cleaners such as oxygen bleach do a terrific job
of cleaning tile grout.
No matter what tile grout cleaner product you select, it is best to first wash
the ceramic tile surface with warm water and a rag to remove any loose debris.
Then after the tile has fully dried apply the tile grout cleaner per the
manufacturer’s recommendation. Normally the tile grout cleaner should be applied
and allowed to soak for 15 to 30 minutes before scrubbing the tile grout lines.
Allowing the tile grout cleaner to soak for a period of time enables the
chemicals to work in and break down the grime, mold and mildew and makes
removing it with a stiff bristle brush and rag much easier.
After cleaning tile grout, and allowing it time to fully dry, apply a grout
sealer to retard the growth of mold and mildew and to keep the grout looking
clean and new for longer.
See
My Shower Pan Installation Ebook to Learn How to Install a Mortar Shower Pan: For a detailed set of
instructions on building a shower pan, including pictures and a detailed
cross-sectional view of the make-up of a shower pan, see my “Shower Pan Membrane
Liner Ebook”.
|
Find a Qualified Ceramic Tile Contractor in Your Area |
|
Get Free Quotes. Easy, Quick and No
Obligations!
For the home improvement or home remodeling project that is
too big for you, check out our partner
NeedContractor. They are a national
resource for finding pre-screened, insured, and licensed home improvement and remodeling contractors in your local area.
|
|
|
Get Matched in 48 hours with Ceramic Tile
Contractors! |
See HomeAdditionPlus.com's
Ceramic Tile Calculator
How to Finance your Home Improvement Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related Ceramic Tile
Information
Tile Grout Cleaner Products from Amazon.com
|
| |
|
