Tiles and natural stone finishes help tie a room together, giving it a finishing touch that makes every room look like a page in a magazine. However, over time, the grout between the tile and stone may appear dingy looking or become stained. This this can quickly make a perfectly clean room appear dirty. Listed below are some great ways that quickly remove these stains, making your surface stand out like new.

Bob Vila, home improvement guru, recommends several methods.

  • If cleaning with a standard mop and water solution doesn’t work, try using vinegar. In a spray bottle, combine ½ vinegar and ½ warm water. Spray on the stain and let sit for five minutes, and then scrub with a stiff bristle brush.

  • If vinegar doesn’t work, make a paste of baking soda and water. Cover the grout with the paste. Next, spray on the vinegar solution. This will cause a chemical reaction and make the soda bubble. When the mixture stops foaming, scrub with a brush and rinse with plain water.

  • Tougher stains may require professional equipment, like a steam cleaner like a Bissell, Oreck, Ladybug, or a Hoover steam cleaner, is also environmentally friendly, as opposed to harsh chemicals.

Other methods are used to clean tough stains or dingy grout.

  • A great homemade solution requires mixing 7 cups of warm water, 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/3 cup of ammonia, and 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Allow all the ingredients to mix completely, and make sure the baking soda dissolves. Put into a spray bottle and apply liberal portions to the grout. Let it sit for five to ten minutes, then scrub with a brush.

  • Mixing hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is effective as a cleaning solution. Mix to form a thick paste and apply to grout stain. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, then scrub, and rinse off. Wipe dry.

  • You should avoid bleach on colored grout, as it will discolor the grout. There is also a number of commercial grout cleaning products, which can be useful in removing grime as well. However, be sure and test any product on a small area before applying it all over your tile and grout.

It’s important to note that one should avoid bleach on colored grout; it will ruin the color in the grout. There are a number of products on the commercial market that will clean grout too. If choosing this route, remember to test the product on a small or hidden area of the grout before putting it on the entire surface, to avoid any negative reactions to the grout.

Grout should be cleaned by a professional every year to year and a half. The state of the art equipment and products will leave grout looking like new and will give your room back its sparkle.

Even with proper cleaning methods, it is recommended that homeowners have their grout professionally cleaned every 12-18 months. Doiggs cleans tiles and grout to restore that “fresh new look” to surfaces. Doiggs uses state of the art equipment and the highest quality cleaning solutions to ensure grout is bacteria free, and sanitized. They will restore the luster to your grout and as a result leave tiles with a long lasting shine. Contact Doiggs today to learn more about protecting your tiles grout professionally.