Whether it s floor tile or wall tile that s dirty with grease soap scum mold or just plain dirt cleaning grout requires two things.
Bleach on tiles grout.
Deep stains may call for replacing the grout altogether.
A grout brush and a suitable cleaner.
Mold on grout lines is a biological stain that requires killing the organism.
A grout brush is a small stiff bristle nylon brush available in handheld and long handled sizes.
Go easy though grout is less durable than the tile it s holding together and harsh cleaners like bleach can erode it.
Bleach or other heavy duty cleaners should only be used on tough stains not for regular upkeep of your grout.
You can substitute a toothbrush in a pinch but its bristles are too soft to do much good.
First bleach can discolor or even strip color away.
Start with water and a stiff brush and if that doesn t do the trick try an oxygen cleaner or a mix of baking soda and vinegar followed by brushing.
Once the grout is clean mop the tiles with water to get rid of any leftover vinegar solution.
Bleach can damage your materials.
Whether you re cleaning in between beautiful tiles or you re scrubbing at the grout around a fine porcelain fixture the damage you re not seeing could be the worse prospect of all when it comes to cleaning with bleach.
Using bleach to clean your colored grout can result in fading of the color making it uneven or even removing the cover if the bleach isn t handled properly.
Because bleach is so highly reactive and caustic it could slowly be destroying the.
The thick mortar can become stained over time especially if it isn t sealed.
Whiten grout using oxygen bleach clean grout between synthetic ceramic or natural stone tiles with oxygen bleach since it is safe for most surfaces.
Grout is incredibly porous like a giant sponge which means it will absorb any grease grime oils or spills it comes into contact with says leslie reichert green cleaning coach and author of the joy of cleaning and while the culprit may vary from room to room mildew in the bathroom cooking.
Grouting fills the gaps between tiles creating a white or light gray grid.
How to bleach darkened tile grout.
Bleach can also stain colored grout so it s important to avoid it if you have colored grout.
To learn how to tackle tough grout stains with oxygenated bleach or hydrogen peroxide keep reading.
Bleach should not be used often as it can damage your grout if it s overused.
Homeowners whose floors are covered with ceramic tiles or laminate materials often use bleach to remove mold.
Spot test the cleaner in an out of the way.
However there are some things to consider that may make using bleach to clean your tile s grout a bad idea.