Cleaning Tile and Grout

I'm one of those people that don't notice the grout in my bathroom until I visit someone and theirs is bad....then I come home and check mine. 


How doe's it sneak up on you?  It seemed like just last week when I scrubbed it.


If you have tile in your home you have this problem.  Tile in the bathroom is usually mold or mildew and in the kitchen...it's a combination of food stains, mildew, grime and household traffic.  

Because grout is an important part of your floor....it holds the tiles into place you have to start with the least acidic cleaning solution first.  I've talked about baking soda and vinegar before....well it's that time again.  I use this mixture because it takes time to clean your grout properly and I don't want to spend that much time breathing in harsh chemicals.

Make a paste with the baking soda and mix the vinegar with water 50/50.  Find a stiff brush (not too tough and not to weak).  After this point I'm usually too tired to do the real work but if you are ready here's what you do.  You will also need a bucket of warm water and two towels.

Make sure you have whatever room blocked off from any traffic.  This is never the fun part because my dogs want to be in whatever room I am in.  Don't forget to open some windows if you do not like the smell of vinegar.

Start in one corner and spray the vinegar/water mixture....keep you cleaning area small (about four large tiles).  Once you have sprayed the mixture let it soak for about a minute.  Place the baking soda paste on the grout lines one tile at a time.  

Taking your stiff brush and scrubbing in SMALL CIRCLES (do not scrub the grout in a straight line as it may remove some of the grout).  To do it right it will take about two (2) minutes per tile so count your tiles and plan accordingly.  If you have more than 12 tiles grab something for your knees because this takes some elbow grease and your knees will pay the price if they are on the tile floor.  


When you have pasted and scrubbed the four tiles you previously sprayed with vinegar you are ready to see how well you did.  Take one of the towels and place in the bucket of warm water.  Wipe the tiles and get as much of the paste up as you can...this generally takes about three (3) good swipes of the tile.  Take the dry towel and wipe up the little water you may have missed.  Compare the tiles you cleaned to ones you haven't.  If it hasn't come clean it's time for the professionals or industrial strength grout cleaner.  


If it has come clean....it's time for the professionals because by this time my knees (even though I have them protected, my shoulder, my neck and my back are killing me). But...if you are ready you can finish up your floors.

You will probably need to change out your bucket water about every eight tiles so make the sink area the last part you clean.

Now you are done...almost.  I spray the vinegar mixture all over the floor and mop up, rinsing the mop out often (in case I missed some paste...which I always do).  Once the floor has been mopped with the vinegar I go over it one more time with hot water.

Now your floor is sparkling....don't forget you have the bathroom to do.

If you are in Southern Colorado and this seems like just to much work I highly recommend Trujillo's Cleaning Company.

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