I need help with cleaning tile grout!

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whatevergirl

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Hi everyone-

I need some help, as we are moving, and I’d like to leave this floor as sparkly as it was when we moved in.:o

The house we have been renting, has white italian tiles, and the grout between used to be white:blush: , now it’s tan…any ideas other than straight bleach, which seems harsh, to get the grout between the squares–white as can be, again?

Are there any cleaning products out there sold in target or wherever that deep cleans grout? Thanks in advance!🙂
 
whatevergirl said:
Hi everyone-

I need some help, as we are moving, and I’d like to leave this floor as sparkly as it was when we moved in.:o

The house we have been renting, has white italian tiles, and the grout between used to be white:blush: , now it’s tan…any ideas other than straight bleach, which seems harsh, to get the grout between the squares–white as can be, again?

Are there any cleaning products out there sold in target or wherever that deep cleans grout? Thanks in advance!🙂
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What’s wrong with straight bleach for grout?

I found this.
 
straight chlorine bleach can actually start dissolving the grout, be careful.

we steam clean and that does a pretty decent job, but it is never going to be back to its original color because the installer never put a sealer on the grout. be careful with a direct application of a jet of steam it can also loosen grout, that is what happened on kitchen counter tile (but it was a lousy grout job in any case). i had best success with hydrogen peroxide (spent all last week doing this so I now feel like an expert)
 
puzzleannie said:
straight chlorine bleach can actually start dissolving the grout, be careful.

we steam clean and that does a pretty decent job, but it is never going to be back to its original color because the installer never put a sealer on the grout. be careful with a direct application of a jet of steam it can also loosen grout, that is what happened on kitchen counter tile (but it was a lousy grout job in any case). i had best success with hydrogen peroxide (spent all last week doing this so I now feel like an expert)
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hydrogen peroxide…hmmm:hmmm:
 
I have no suggestions on how to get them clean.

Although, I do have a suggestion for when you move into your new house. Turtle Wax your bathroom, tub, shower (walls, shower door and floor). It makes cleaning SOOOOO easy. Just re-Turtle Wax it every 6 - 8 months.
 
JustAnotherThou said:
I have no suggestions on how to get them clean.

Although, I do have a suggestion for when you move into your new house. Turtle Wax your bathroom, tub, shower (walls, shower door and floor). It makes cleaning SOOOOO easy. Just re-Turtle Wax it every 6 - 8 months.
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Turtle wax, hmmm…I’m getting an education today! 😃 Thanks everyone.
 
Interesting thread!
I know that bleach can break down the grout, but that link (thanks mercygate) about the “oxygen bleach” (oxyclean) was really interesting!
And I’d heard of steam-cleaning too…
But the Turtle Wax one is fascinating! Is that really only useful on new tile? Like, does it SEAL in any existing dirt or something on older tiled surfaces??? Just curious…

Fascinating… I learn something new every day!
 
What has worked well for us is a paste of baking soda and water.

Mix a batch so it’s not too soupy and use a gentle brush to “rub in”. Let it set for about 30 minutes and wash off.

Used this method and it’s very effective, low cost and does not smell.

Good luck.
 
whatevergirl said:
Turtle wax, hmmm…I’m getting an education today! 😃 Thanks everyone.
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Yup. I use car wax. It really does make clean-up easy. Yes: you have to apply it to a perfectly clean surface because it seals dirt in/on.
 
dontknow said:
What has worked well for us is a paste of baking soda and water.

Mix a batch so it’s not too soupy and use a gentle brush to “rub in”. Let it set for about 30 minutes and wash off.

Used this method and it’s very effective, low cost and does not smell.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
I think this might be the best from a breathing it in standpoint, frankly…I loathe using bleach because I really have a hard time breathing after using it…it’s so strong, and I can’t imagine that is healthy for our bodies.

But, I could put a splash into this mixture…thanks a million–I am going to try some …umm…right now…yes, I need to stop procrastinating this lovely chore. ha

Thanks everyone–talk amongst yourselves now:p …I hope to learn other great cleaning tips!!
 
whatevergirl said:
I think this might be the best from a breathing it in standpoint, frankly…I loathe using bleach because I really have a hard time breathing after using it…it’s so strong, and I can’t imagine that is healthy for our bodies.

But, I could put a splash into this mixture…thanks a million–I am going to try some …umm…right now…yes, I need to stop procrastinating this lovely chore. ha

Thanks everyone–talk amongst yourselves now:p …I hope to learn other great cleaning tips!!
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Be careful what chemicals you mix! You could create something toxic!
 
I have also used turtle wax on older bathrooms, although you do need to get it sparkling clean because yes it will seal in the dirt. If you have a shower door if you can get all the soap scum off you can turtle wax the shower door also, makes it soooo much easier to clean. My thinking, when I used it on older bathrooms, is I am never going to get some of the old dirt out anyway unless I replace all the tile, so I still Turtle Wax it for easy cleaning.
I reapply mine every 6 months (January and June).
You just apply it as instructed for a car. You don’t have to use the Turtle Wax brand, any car wax will work, I just like the Turtle Wax sponge thing to get into ridges and corners.
Seriously, I use it on my tub and even after washing my dog all the dirt just rinses off. We have no soap scum on our shower door and the only other thing I use is the squeegie or a wash cloth on it about once a week.

By the way, this tip is courtesy of my BIL who was in the Air force for many years, he said that is what they did in the Air force and when he lived with all guys. I have been doing it for YEARS and can vouch for it.
 
Have you tried a Magic Eraser? That works great on the grout around our kitchen sink. I always thought it was a gimmik but I love those things now. The only thing it doesn’t seem to clean is dead bugs off the wall. :hmmm:
 
JustAnotherThou said:
I have also used turtle wax on older bathrooms, although you do need to get it sparkling clean because yes it will seal in the dirt. If you have a shower door if you can get all the soap scum off you can turtle wax the shower door also, makes it soooo much easier to clean. My thinking, when I used it on older bathrooms, is I am never going to get some of the old dirt out anyway unless I replace all the tile, so I still Turtle Wax it for easy cleaning.
I reapply mine every 6 months (January and June).
You just apply it as instructed for a car. You don’t have to use the Turtle Wax brand, any car wax will work, I just like the Turtle Wax sponge thing to get into ridges and corners.
Seriously, I use it on my tub and even after washing my dog all the dirt just rinses off. We have no soap scum on our shower door and the only other thing I use is the squeegie or a wash cloth on it about once a week.

By the way, this tip is courtesy of my BIL who was in the Air force for many years, he said that is what they did in the Air force and when he lived with all guys. I have been doing it for YEARS and can vouch for it.
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How does this work if you fill the tub up on a regular basis? I don’t want my kids to get waxed. It does sound very intriguing though.
 
JustAnotherThou said:
I have no suggestions on how to get them clean.

Although, I do have a suggestion for when you move into your new house. Turtle Wax your bathroom, tub, shower (walls, shower door and floor). It makes cleaning SOOOOO easy. Just re-Turtle Wax it every 6 - 8 months.
Click to expand...
I have a new bathroom being installed as we speak…and the tiles in the shower are travertine…do you think I could TurtleWax those, too? This is such a neat idea!!
 
newf said:
I have a new bathroom being installed as we speak…and the tiles in the shower are travertine…do you think I could TurtleWax those, too? This is such a neat idea!!
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Yes! Especially Travertine because it’s so full of pits (nasty dirt/germ catchers!). Has your marble been “filled”?
 
JustAnotherThou said:
By the way, this tip is courtesy of my BIL who was in the Air force for many years, he said that is what they did in the Air force and when he lived with all guys. I have been doing it for YEARS and can vouch for it.
Click to expand...
lol I got this tip from my dad…retired airforce! Gotta love military ingenuity!
 
whatevergirl said:
Hi everyone-

I need some help, as we are moving, and I’d like to leave this floor as sparkly as it was when we moved in.:o

The house we have been renting, has white italian tiles, and the grout between used to be white:blush: , now it’s tan…any ideas other than straight bleach, which seems harsh, to get the grout between the squares–white as can be, again?

Are there any cleaning products out there sold in target or wherever that deep cleans grout? Thanks in advance!🙂
Click to expand...
I use comet bathroom cleaner (in a spray bottle, NOT the powder) and a scrub brush. Just spray it on, let it sit a minute, and then scrub. Don’t be overzealous, though, b/c you can wear down the grout itself. Then you have to wash off the cleaner. Comes out sparkly white!

HTH!
 
I use Dreft pre-wash spray on my grout in the kitchen and it works reallly well. I had puppies and we all know what fun it is to house train and all the yellow came out.
 
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