Tools
- Grout Cleaner
- Grout Sealant
Materials
- Grout Cleaning Brush
- Sealant Brush or applicator
- Chemical-resistant Gloves
- Splash-resistant goggles
What you should know before buying products to clean the grout
- Make sure the grout has no cracks or loose fragments. For tips on how to repair grouts and tiles, look for the link to the tile replacement article.
- Some cleaners and sealants may be powerful enough to require special precautions. If you don't have protective equipment, invest in buying splash-proof goggles, chemical-resistant waterproof gloves and a respiratory filter (not enough with a paper mask).
- This job does not require special skills, but it does require patience, so upload new songs to your MP3 player, buy a pair of knee pads to work on the tile floor and spend the time needed for this work.
- If your grout is new and has had several days to harden, ignore the cleaning step — or clean only where necessary — and go straight to the section on sealing the grout.
- Allows enough ventilation for odors to come out of the cleaner and sealant.
- Some commercial cleaners and bleach mixes can damage fabrics, so don't use your best pants for this project.
Cleans Dirty grout
Step 1
Clean the entire floor normally and collect any loose dirt and dust. If the grout has an old, worn coat of grout sealant that still allows water to accumulate, use a floor finish stripper to remove the sealant from the surface. Rinse the floor with clean water and let it dry.
Step 2
Apply a commercial-grade grout cleaner according to the manufacturer's instructions and start scrubbing with a nylon bristled brush or old toothbrush. Work in small areas and rinse the cleaner thoroughly from the floor before proceeding to another section.
It's good to know: You need to remove the mold before you work on the stains that left the mold. Wear your gloves and eye protection and apply a mixture of ¾ cup of bleach to a gallon of water on the mold patches. Let the mixture work for half an hour before rinsing with clean water.
Step 3
To review the result, compare the sections you have cleaned with grout in low-traffic or protected areas. Stains often come from different sources, so not all stains react the same to a cleaner. If you have tried a method that did not work well, try another, like rubbing with concentrated white vinegar. Let the vinegar solution penetrate into the grout for about 15 minutes and then rinse with plenty of cold water to neutralize the vinegar acid.
It's good to know: Grout Cleaning can be a frustrating experience when it is not completely clean after the first try, but you must resist the temptation to use super-powerful cleaners. Muriatic acid, for example, can remove stains but will also damage grout.
Step 4
When you are satisfied with the cleaning result, flush the floor once more with clean water buckets to remove or neutralize any cleaner residue.
We all like to finish soon, but if you hurry to finish the cleaning phase during this project and begin to seal the grout ahead of time, you can turn a problem that has solution in a permanent problem because, in addition to sealing the grout , you'll also seal the stains.
Seal grout
Step 1
The trick to applying sealant is to cover only the grout, so use the broader brush or applicator that covers the grout without the sealant falling on the adjacent tiles. When the tiles are completely dry after cleaning, test the sealant on a few lines of grout in a partially hidden area until you feel comfortable applying it.
Step 2
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and plan your work to avoid walking on the grout sealer before it is dry. Do not skimp, apply all the sealant that the grout can absorb, but do not allow it to accumulate on the surface. Once the first application dries, apply a second coat if necessary.
It is good to know: Now, if you were never able to color without leaving the lines and you have left sealer on the tiles. Do not worry. If the sealant is still wet, clean it immediately with a clean, soft cloth. If it has already dried, clean only the stained area with a damp cloth and remove the residue with a nonabrasive nylon cleaning pad or sponge.
Step 3
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and prevent people from walking on the work area for several hours while the sealant heals. After the last application dries, test the grout with a few drops of water on it in different places. The ideal is to see that a small puddle forms on the surface.
It's good to know: The sealant helps prevent dirt and spills from entering the grout, but it is not a miraculous product either. You still need to clean the floor regularly and clean the spills immediately before they seep deep into the grout.