How to Clean tile grouts with bathroom cleaner?

Tile grout lines can be quite tough to clean. They usually tend to hold stuck up grime which gradually stains the whole floor. And, long before you know you are dealing with grubby, old looking tiles that can make cleaning a nightmare. This is especially true for your bathroom and kitchen. These two places are the most tiled spaces in your home and receive more heat, steam and general action than other rooms. Dirty tile grouts can lead to mold and mildew. So, cleaning in time can save you from the horrible ordeal of relentless scrubbing.

Among many ways to Floor Tile & Grout Cleaning, the easiest probably is using a toilet/bathroom cleaner. Here’s a step-wise guide:

Step 1: Choosing a toilet cleaner

You really have two options here- go natural or get a chemical  bathroom cleaner.

Getting a commercial bathroom cleaner- Look for a bathroom cleaner with sodium hydroxide. The most common chemicals used in toilet/bathroom cleaning products are sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite. Both these chemical can be toxic in large amounts, so regulating their use is important. However, they are very effective in cleaning tile or porcelain surfaces along with the grout lines.

There are Toilet cleaners with bleach as well. Many people opt for these products to clean the grout. If you opt for bleach mixed cleaners, caution is important. Bleach can damage the tiling and be toxic to your health. Bleach can take off the water repellant materials of the grout. If you are considering using this kind of a cleaner, use rubber gloves, safety goggles and a respirator mask. Inhaling bleach fumes is bad for your respiratory tract. You might as well wear an old pair of cloth you don’t mind throwing out.

2. Eco-friendly toilet/bathroom cleaner- if you are against using harmful chemicals for cleaning, look for a plant-based natural bathroom cleaner. A cleaning product without sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite might not be strong enough stubborn grout lines.

3. Spot test the cleaner before full use- Before cleaning the whole grout lines, test the cleaner you have chosen on a small inconspicuous spot. If the cleaner doesn’t damage the grout after leaving it o for five minutes, you are safe to go.

4. Pour the Tile & Grout cleaner- pour a small amount of the chosen cleaner on the grout lines furthest from the entrance/door so you can gradually clean in small sections towards the door.

 Do not use too much or too thick of a layer, use the cleaner evenly.

 Let the cleaner sit for 5-to 10 minutes or as per the instructions on the product label.

5. Scrub away- use a nylon-bristled scrub brush or a toothbrush to clean the grout lines once the cleaner has been allowed to sit on the lines for a few minutes. Do not scrub too hard with the brush, just gently take off the debris that the cleaner has collected for you.

6. Rinse and dry- This is a key step to maintaining your grout condition. Rinse off the bathroom cleaner as soon as you are done with scrubbing. Letting the cleaner sit for a while. Do not leave the cleaner after you are done scrubbing as the chemicals can damage the tiling and even leave a bad stain.