Grout is the substance that joins up the tiles in your kitchen or bathroom. Clean, shiny grout can be the difference between a sparkling clean bathroom and a bathroom that looks a bit grubby. However, while there are products to help you, cleaning grout still takes a bit of elbow grease.
Cleaning grout
What causes grout stains?
Due to its porous nature, grout is susceptible to various stain-causing threats:
In the bathroom it’s mould and mildew
On tiled floors it’s dirt and grime
In the kitchen it’s grease or splashes
Cleaning with vinegar
Cleaning grout with vinegar is a popular solution to keep your bathroom shiny.
Create a solution of half water and half white vinegar – you could also use brown vinegar, but it tends to have a stronger smell which you may not wish to have anywhere besides your chips.
You can either pour it directly on to the grout, or even better, use an old spray bottle.
Let the vinegar sit on the grout for about five minutes or so.
Use a stiff-bristled brush such as a toothbrush to get into the nooks and crannies and scrub away any stains that have built up on your grout.
Domestos Bleach Multi-Purpose Cleaner Spray
Domestos Bleach Multi-Purpose Cleaner Spray is one of the best and easiest ways of cleaning grout or cleaning bathroom tiles with bleach. This powerful disinfectant spray leaves your surfaces brilliantly and hygienically clean and is suitable for food preparation areas and most hard surfaces in the house, from kitchen to bathroom.
No need to dilute it – just point it at the affected area and squirt generously. However, if you’ve used vinegar on your grout previously, make sure you clean it all away first
For disinfection leave for 2 minutes and wipe away thoroughly. For tough stains, leave for a minute (always follow the directions on the bottle)
Wipe the surface clean with a cloth.
Make sure you wash the cloth afterwards to prevent mould spreading.
For heavier concentrations of grime, you may need to use that toothbrush again.
Keeping grout clean
Cleaning grout is never an easy task. So, it’s worth taking a few simple steps to keep it clean for longer and prevent it getting grubby again before too long.
Dry your grout regularly
Each time you have a shower or bath, use an old towel to wipe down the walls and remove moisture so that your grout dries out after each use and doesn’t harbour moisture in which mould can thrive.
Seal grout lines
You can use clear grout sealant to put a protective surface on top of your grout. This can help to prevent staining and make it easier to clean your grout next time. Your tiles need to be completely clean and dry, and you’ll need to make sure the sealant has fully dried before you use your bath or shower again. Be sure to follow the instructions for the specific sealant you use.
Ventilate your bathroom
There’s no way to fully avoid moisture in your bathroom, obviously. But you can reduce the amount of moisture build-up, and so the chance of mould and mildew developing. Always use your exhaust fan if you have one and be sure to open a window after a bath or shower. If it’s too cold to open a window, leave the door open until the steam dissipates. Following these simple steps should help prevent the need to be cleaning grout for a while longer.
Domestos safety
Be sure to wear gloves and protect your eyes and skin while you’re using Domestos bleach products – they’re powerful, and deadly to germs! Always make sure that you use Domestos products according to the on-pack instructions.
Get more product recommendations and hints & tips to tackle all your bathroom cleaning problems.
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