Shower Tile is beautiful, durable, and generally easy to clean, but cleaning grout? That’s a different story.
Because of its (typically) light coloring and porous composition, grout is prone to staining. Also, soap, mold, and mildew make it difficult to maintain clean grout in bathrooms.
Sometimes, cleaning grout effectively yourself is possible using only common household products but it takes a LOT of elbow grease.
Here are some tips for Cleaning the grout in your showers yourself.
Shower Cleaning
With any cleaning project, it’s always best to start off with the mildest cleaning solution. When in doubt about a cleanser, test it in a hidden spot—behind or under an appliance, for example.
The following suggestions for cleaning grout are ranked from the mildest to the strongest:
- The best way to begin is with plain water and a stiff-bristled brush; most home centers and hardware stores carry an assortment of brushes specifically designed for this purpose. Simply spray warm water on the grout lines and scrub in a circular motion, then let dry.
- For heavier dirt and mild stains, turn to that trusty old standby, vinegar. Fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and warm water. Spray on the grout, let it stand for five minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush.
- To bring even more cleaning power to the party, make a paste of baking soda and water, cover the grout lines with the paste, then spray on the vinegar solution. Once the mixture stops foaming, scrub with a brush and rinse with plain water.
- For moderate stains, you may want to use hydrogen peroxide, which is available in most drug stores. You can use the product straight or make a paste with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
- Chlorine bleach and commercial cleansers can be usedsparingly in extreme cases.One of my go-to products when all else fails is Clorox Clean-Up spray. Again, these products should be used on a limited basis. Long-term use of caustic cleaners will your erode grout and can cause permanent damage.
To keep your grout clean and stain-free, it’s a good idea to spray it with vinegar and wipe it down once a week. Use a small squeegee after each shower to reduce water left on shower walls and floors. You can also wipe grout with alcohol to keep mold and mildew at bay. In any case, just a few spritzes and wipes a week can save you a lot of time and effort cleaning, preserving the attractive appearance of your home in the process.
Finally, if you find these methods don’t work or you would like us to come do the work for you J…..please Give Us A Call! 830-248-1264 We use the same Tile & Grout Cleaning method to clean your showers that we do on your Tile floors. Powerful extraction from our truck mounted equipment leaves your showers looking clean and fresh!
