Tiles are durable and easy to clean, but homeowners often have challenges cleaning grout. Grout can cause problems in areas of your home that receive higher traffic. Places like the mudroom, kitchen, bathroom, entryway, and hallway are affected more by grout. In places like the bathroom or kitchen, where water spillage is higher, mold and mildew can form and cause health problems to your family. These tricks will help you clean grout from your tiles in minutes.
Understand the kind of grout you are dealing with
You need an expert to install your tiles in your house. One of the experts is Zelta Floor and Design. The tile floor installation experts focus on floor installation, tile installation, floor refinishing, and renovation of staircases.
Tiles require grout during installation. It is a mixture of sand, water, and cement used to fill gaps once tiles are installed. Sometimes tile flooring experts can add lime and color pigmentation. After installation, removing the excess grout can be a challenge. There are three kinds of grout.
Epoxy grout: The first is epoxy grout which can hold stronger to water stains. This type of grout holds lesser water compared to cement grout. It is preferred in rooms that are prone to water such as the kitchen and bathroom. Epoxy grout is easier to clean compared to other types of grout.
Sanded grout: Sanded grout is made by mixing sand, cement, and water. When the tiles require larger joints, sanded grout is the best choice. It absorbs more water and contains grit. The grit is not good on tiles because it can cause scratches.
Unsanded grout: Unsanded grout is made using cement only. After drying, it feels smoother and does not contain grit.
Get ready with the materials
Your tile flooring experts like Zelta Design choose the right kind of grout to use depending on the room they are working on. When preparing to clean grout, your first step should be to get the right cleaning materials. Get ready with the list of items below.
Prepare the area you want to clean
Prepare the area by moping it with a wet cloth. Check the gaps between tiles to remove dirt or stains. Work on removing any stubborn stains at this moment.
Prepare the solution
Prepare the solution while considering the type of grout you are cleaning. Places like the entryway may contain debris from shoes. To remove them, mix bicarbonate soda with water at the ratio of 2:1. If the grout looks stained or has lost color, use bicarbonate soda plus vinegar at the ratio of 2:1.
The tiles could be rough or look fragile. To clean them, mix sodium bicarbonate with hydrogen peroxide at the ratio of 2:1.
Clean the grout
Using the solution that you have mixed, start cleaning the grout using a brush. First, smear paste in the gaps and then start to clean using the solution. The paste ensures the tiles are not stained by vinegar or hydrogen peroxide.
After applying the paste, wait for about five to ten minutes. The paste helps soften the grout so that you can easily remove it. After leaving it for a short time, begin to clean in between the lines ensuring no grout is left. Use the water or hydrogen peroxide mixtures to cleanse the spaces and the tiles.
You must make sure no stain is left on the tiles. Once the floor is clean from grout, leave for the next 24 hours. This will be enough time for the grout to dry. Buy enough sealer to apply to the gaps. The sealer helps to keep water from going through the gaps to the under part of your floor.
If water keeps going through, the tiles may become loose sooner. That means you will have to call your floor expert again to come and repair or change the floor. Some stains could be stubborn, but there are different ways to remove them. You can mix bleach with water and use a brush to scrub the tiles.
Conclusion
Grout is useful when installing floor tiles, but removing it can be challenging. With the right materials, it is easy to remove grout from your tile gaps. The main types of grout are sanded, epoxy, and unsanded. To remove grout, prepare solutions using either water and sodium bicarbonate, water and hydrogen peroxide, or water and vinegar. Apply paste first to avoid vinegar staining your tiles, and then clean. You require a sealant to protect your tiles.
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