It's recommended to have your tile and grout cleaned at least once a year. If you have kids or pets who get your tile dirty quicker, twice a year might be better for your family. Regular cleanings will keep your tile clean, healthy, and in good condition.
Fresh grout looks beautiful, but without proper cleaning and maintenance, it can become stained, mildewed, and even cracked. And when grout starts cracking and falling, water can seep behind the wall and cause major damage. From daily maintenance to grout replacement, here's how to care for grout.
Most people would recommend getting a professional tile and grout cleaning at least once or twice a year. However, there are also details such as how much traffic your floors get, how often you clean the floors yourself, and how old your floors are to take into consideration.
Regrouting is the best option when tiles and grout begin to show signs of discoloration or the stains are so deep that they cannot be removed. As grout ages, it naturally deviates from its original color. If the white grout turns yellow or is covered with stains, you must regrout very soon.
Mix together ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 tsp dish soap. Spoon cleaning agents onto grout and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Scrub the grout lines with a brush. Grout cleaning tip: Make sure to scrub hard to agitate the grout and cleaning solution and break up any really stuck dirt.
We recommend having your grout and tile professionally cleaned every one to two years, depending on the amount of traffic your tiled surface is exposed to. Public spaces, such as floors, might require a yearly cleaning, whereas a guest room shower will require a cleaning every two years or so.
Grout doesn't last forever. You can expect a lifespan between eight and sixteen years. Its lifespan will vary depending on how you treat your shower. Odds are, you have no idea when your grout was installed.
Start by decanting a 1:1 solution of water and vinegar into a spray bottle. Spritz all over the area, aiming for the grout and any problem spots. Let it sit for 5 minutes before scrubbing in a circular motion with a grout brush or an old toothbrush.
You may not need to remove most of the grout. It may be possible to apply new grout over old grout without removing it at some places. However, where the grout has deteriorated heavily through crumbling or become too dirty, it is best to remove it before applying new grout.
The primary reason why grout deteriorates is that it was not mixed and installed properly. If too much water is added to the grout at install, it will not seal with the required density to withstand prolonged exposure to moisture and (most of all) water.
Forever. Yes that beautiful black grout of yours, oh no! Your tile and grout dries with the detergent, dirt, and water mixture on it, leaving the most enchanting residue behind. This residue is a remnant of the detergent in the mixture.
One of the most common causes for discolored grout is dirty mop water. Rather than cleaning the tile, mop water spreads the dirt from the tile into the grout. Since the grout is the lowest part of the floor, the dirt and grime from the mop water settles into the grout.
Grout turning white is usually due to efflorescence, which the movement of salt or minerals to the surface of porous material (such as your grout) and forms a whitish coating.
Grout that hasn't been sealed, needs to be resealed, or is in poor shape should not be cleaned with vinegar. The vinegar penetrates into the pores of the grout, further weakening the material. Over time, vinegar will deteriorate the condition of the grout by etching or wearing it away.
First, wash your tiles and grout with sugar soap using a toothbrush and scrubbing brush. We used Selley's Sugar Soap concentrate for this, mixed with warm water in a bucket – it works a treat. Use your toothbrush, scrubbing brush and some elbow grease to scrub the grout and give it a good going-over.
Regrouting can be a worthwhile home improvement project that keeps your floors looking good as new. It makes your tiles more resistant to mould, prevents water from seeping behind the shower floors and walls, and ensures they have a longer life span.
Loose tiles, mold growth, and crumbling are all key signs that your grout needs attention.
If you don't have any serious damage to cover, you might pay as little as $1.70 to $5 per square foot. This would cover a basic cleanup job with some “spot” grout removal. On the other hand, a full professional removal and regrouting goes for around $10 to $25 per square foot.
Once the grout is cleaned, you do want to seal it to protect it from dirt, mold, bacteria and mildew. Buy a high-quality, professional-grade sealer and read the directions carefully before starting applications.
If you know your grout has been sealed but it has accumulated heavy dirt or mild stains, turn to vinegar, that trusty old household staple. Fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and warm water. Spray the mixture on the grout, let it stand for 5 minutes, then scrub the surface with a stiff brush.
Why is grout so difficult to clean? Grout is made up of sand particles, making it easy for liquids to pass through and dirt to collect on the surface.