If you are like many consumers, you might easily find yourself looking to save some cash on cleaning your grout on a day to day basis. After trying one commercial cleaning product after another, you may be feeling defeated, as so few deliver what the bottle promises. Most are diluted and are simply not effective for removing the grit and grime that grout naturally accumulates. Being porous naturally, grout is much like carpet as it absorbs the soil as well as the added moisture which often results in mildew and mold. Ensuring the filth is properly cleaned not only enhances the aesthetics but it also keeps the grout in optimal condition and contributes to the longevity of the grout.
Homemade Tile & Grout Cleaners
With that in mind, we at Green Co Carpet Cleaning would like to offer some different alternative DIY grout cleaners you can make with ingredients already in your pantry. Keep in mind some of these agents have the ability to lighten color, so make certain you perform a patch test in an inconspicuous area to ensure it will not alter your grout’s color. Also, be sure to properly ventilate if you are sensitive to smells and rubber cleaning gloves for sensitive skin.
Liquid Dish Soap with White Vinegar: Mix equal parts of white vinegar (some suggest nuking the vinegar for 1 minute on high for extra potency) with mild liquid dish soap in a squirt bottle or bucket. Administer the solution to the grout and follow with a scrubbing with a small bristled brush and use a damp cloth to wipe away the residues.
Bleach with Baking Soda: To create a thick paste, mix in a bowl ¼ cup of bleach and ¾ cup of bleach. To ensure the consistency is thick, add little bit of bleach at a time. Using a toothbrush designate for cleaning put the paste directly to the grout and slightly agitates it. Before scrubbing, allow the mixture to sit for approximately 10 minutes and follow up by wiping away the residue with a damp cloth.
Vinegar with Baking Soda: With ¼ cup vinegar mixed with ½ cup baking soda, create a thick paste by adding small doses of the vinegar to the baking soda. Apply the paste onto the grout and slightly agitate it by using a toothbrush used for cleaning and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Scrub thoroughly and wipe clean.
Hydrogen Peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide is preferred solution when the grout is just dirty and void of any stains. For easy application, put the peroxide in a squirt bottle or sponge it on to the grout and let the peroxide do its job for about 10 minutes or until it has stopped fizzing. Scrub the grout well and wipe any residue away with a damp cloth.
Lemon Juice Cocktail: With 1/3 cup lemon juice, ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup vinegar and 7 cups warm water mixed well together, pour the mixture into a squirt bottle for application or sponge the solution directly onto the grout. Let your cocktail sit for 10-15 minutes before scrubbing the grout with your small bristle brush and wipe the remnants away with a warm damp cloth.
Tile & Grout Cleaning & More in Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Woodland Hills & Greater Los Angeles, California
These DIY cleaners are effective and more cost effective to use with your routine cleaning, but every 6-12 months, be sure to invest in a professional cleaning from Green Co Carpet Cleaning. Our tile and grout cleaning extracts the deep routed dirt, debris, and moisture to return the vibrancy to your grout. Contact us today.