Recognizing Cleaning Challenges

Whether in your bathroom, kitchen, living room, or porch, tile is a durable and attractive option for your floors. Unfortunately, if you have tile, you also have grout lines, which can be difficult to keep clean. Dirt, dust, hair, and other residue can quickly build up on your tile and grout. Cleaning your tile flooring is not a complicated process, but removing dirt and dust that stain light-colored grout can be overwhelming. With these natural solutions, you can clean your grout in an effective, eco-friendly manner.

Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is one of the most effective options for cleaning your grout. When combined with water, this powdery ingredient creates carbonation that dissolves dirt while eating through stains and heavy residue. Fortunately, baking soda is capable of cleaning without any harsh chemicals or toxic fumes.

To use, combine ½ cups of baking soda with 1 cup of water in a bowl. Apply the baking soda paste directly onto your grout lines and scrub with a soft-bristled brush. Allow the paste to sit on the grout lines for a few minutes before wiping away with a damp cloth.

Vinegar

If you have any interest in natural cleaning, vinegar is a must-have for your household. The acidic properties in vinegar are antibacterial and antimicrobial, so it is a safe and effective solution for not only killing bacteria and mold, but also for preventing this growth.

Vinegar is capable of eating through heavy residue without harming your grout and it is safe to use on most surfaces. To clean your grout lines only, combine 1 cup of distilled vinegar with 1 cup of warm water in a spray bottle. Douse the grout with a heavy amount of the vinegar solution and allow it to sit for a few minutes before mopping away.

To clean a large area of your tile and the grout together, combine ½ gallon of distilled white vinegar with one gallon of warm water in a bucket. Use the solution to mop, cleaning your tile surfaces and grout at the same time.

Hydrogen Peroxide

If your grout is stained with dirt, dust, and heavy residue, a more involved cleanser will be necessary. Your first inclination may be to use bleach when you see stains, but chlorinated bleach can irritate your skin and eyes while affecting your respiratory system. A safer solution is hydrogen peroxide.

Combine a small amount of hydrogen peroxide with flour until you create a paste. Apply the paste directly onto the stained areas of your grout. Allow it to rest for a few minutes until the stains begin to lighten. Use a damp cloth to remove the hydrogen peroxide and flour paste.

Using harsh cleaning chemicals may seem smart, but the toxic fumes can affect your health. Using one of these alternatives, you can clean your grout in a non-toxic, healthier manner. For more information, talk to professionals at companies like Superior Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Inc.