Selecting the right tiles for your dream house is a tedious task. But all of this effort seems to have paid once the tiles are fixed to perfection and the sparkling floor starts catching every visitor’s attention. However, one thing that makes the twinkle in your eyes fade is the grout. While the new tiles enhance the glamour of exhaustingly done interior, it’s really tough to keep the tile as shiny as a new one for long. Talking practically, leaving it like that isn’t any option too. Actually tiles can be kept neat and shiny, all that you need is the right tools and a little elbow grease!
What you are going to need?
* Hot water
* Vinegar
* Baking soda/grout cleaner.
* A spray bottle
* Gloves to keep your hands safe.
* Mop and Pail
Steps Involved:
1- Add vinegar to hot water to form a solution.
2- Apply baking soda on the grout.
3- Now spray the prepared solution on the grout.
4- You need to scrub the grout to get rid of the stubborn patches on your floor. I’ll suggest, use a toothbrush for this purpose.
5- Repeat step 2,3 and 4 on the areas of the floor where you feel the need to clean the grout.
6- Mop the floor after cleaning all the grout. Don’t skip this step else it’ll leave your floor sticky.
7- Once the floor dries, see if any of the grout is left. Stick to the formula of applying the solution and baking soda and scrubbing on these areas.
All this would seem worth the effort once you see the shiny, clean floor surface when you are done.
Things to keep in mind:
For scrubbing, use a toothbrush: A toothbrush is a better choice to scrub the grout, its small and soft bristles fit well between the tiles. This saves the tiles of any extra scratches or damaging the sealant.
Look for the ‘neutral’ label on the cleaner: Cleaners with this label have a pH level of 7. Hence they clean well without damaging the surface of tiles or making the grout sticky. So don’t pick just any cleaner.
Avoid scour pads: These might cause scratches on the surface of the tiles. So don’t use scour pads to scrub.
Use disinfectant: After cleaning the grout, make sure that you disinfect the area. Use knee or kneeling pads while cleaning, these will save you of any scratches or other small problems.
Cleaning Grout:
* Remove loose debris by cleaning the grout with water and let it dry.
* If the grout is coloured, don’t use bleach as it will discolour the grout leaving it seem patchy, something that you won’t want in any case.
* In case you are using any sort of chemical cleaner, make sure that the room has sufficient ventilation.
* Always use gloves and suitable eye wear to protect yourself while using any chemical based cleaner.
* It’s better to test your cleaner by applying it on a small area. This will let you know the intensity of the cleaner, and whether it would be effective or not. I’ll suggest testing it on the area of the room that’s generally hidden from the eyes of the guest, like behind the door or under that dining table.
* Never mix two different cleaners! This is one of the common mistakes. The results might not be good for your skin in case it comes in contact with the mixture. In case your cleaner bottle gets empty while cleaning and you are tempted to use any other brand don’t mix the too at all. It’s advisable to use the other one only when you are over with complete cleaning process using one chemical. Don’t forget to mop the floor dry before you begin with the other chemical.
* Apply a coat or two of the grout sealer when you are done cleaning. Applying the sealer once or twice a year will help it stay new for long. Just make sure that you select right type of sealer for the area that you’d be using it on.
