Grout is the thick, white fluid often used to fill the grooves between your tiles. It can be a magnet for dirt as it’s a porous substance, so it turns dark quickly and becomes an eyesore. What’s more, the humidity of bathrooms can also encourage mould to grow on grout. Sounds like a pain? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with tips on how to keep grout clean so that you have a sparkling clean bathroom again in no time.
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Ideally, schedule a regular cleaning session for grout to make it an easier job with far less scrubbing involved. However, even the dirtiest grout can be cleaned to give your tiled surfaces a greatly refreshed look.
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3 Simple Tips To Clean Bathroom Grout
You'll need
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- White vinegar
- Spray bottle
- Clean, dry cloths
- A bucket of hot water
- Mop
- Grout brush or scrubbing brush or old toothbrush
- Hydrogen peroxide + medicine dropper (if the white vinegar’s not cutting it)
Optional extras:
- Long handled grout brush — these start around the $20 – $30 mark and allow you to scrub from a standing position.
- Commercial grout cleaner or hydrogen peroxide and bicarbonate soda— a must for heavily soiled grout.
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Cleaning your grout
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- Sweep or vacuum the area you’ll be cleaning. Add a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water into your spray bottle, shake well and spray liberally over the grout to be cleaned.
- If your grout is really dirty, or hasn’t been cleaned in a while, a commercial grout cleaner is a worthwhile investment— there are excellent natural cleaning products on the market that lift heavy duty dirt or black mould as well as the chemical products. Alternatively, use a medicine dropper to apply hydrogen peroxide directly onto the bad stains.
- Leave your preferred mixture to sit for ten minutes, then scrub each line of grout thoroughly.
- Use a clean cloth to wipe and dry the surface as you go. This will stop the dirt from settling back into the grout. Cover a one or two square metre patch at a time, then mop and dry the area thoroughly before scrubbing the next section.
- When you’re all finished, mop over the floor with hot water to remove any residual cleaning products.
For stubborn dirt, you can make a paste of baking soda and white vinegar to leave on the grout overnight, and then remove with a spray of water.
To clean mildew or mould from your bathroom sealant, make a mixture of white vinegar and water and spray on the mould. Leave to sit for ten minutes before wiping away.
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Prevent mould growth
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The bathroom is a breeding ground for mould due to high levels of humidity and moisture. While you can’t stop it completely, there are plenty of ways to keep mould at bay and to ensure it doesn’t become a health issue.
- Keep your bathroom well ventilated. Keep a window open where possible and always use the exhaust fan when showering.
- Hang up your bathmat to dry after use and wash towels regularly.
- Clean your bathroom regularly. Cleaning your bathroom once a week will prevent mould from building up. Wipe down wet surfaces daily.
Text: Homes to Love
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