Grout is an important aspect of your tiled floors because it keeps everything together, but it also becomes dirty every day. Muddy shoes, sand from outdoor activities, and food crumbs can quickly make the once-bright grout lines in many North Shore homes look dingy. The good news is that with just a few simple commercial floor cleaning steps and some basic tools, you can keep your grout looking as excellent as it did when the tiles were first put in.

First, every now and again, sweep or vacuum the tiled flooring. If you don’t clean it up, small pieces of dirt and grit will act like sandpaper and slowly wear down the tiles and the grout. Dirt has more time to get stuck every time you miss a sweep. After cleaning the surface, use a damp mop to go over the flooring. It doesn’t have to be soaking wet; it simply needs to be wet enough to get rid of any spills or dust that are still there. If grout collects too much water, it could get weaker over time. So, before you use the mop, make sure to wring it out.

If your grout is already dirty, combine warm water and baking soda together to make a simple cleaning solution. Then use a stiff-bristled brush to clean it. Use a soft brush to scrub the paste into the grout lines until it is gone. Most stains will come out with some effort. If the filth is extremely trapped, mix some dish soap with some hydrogen peroxide and put it on the grout. Leave it for a time, then scrub it off and wipe it down.

You may have heard that vinegar will clean grout, but you should be careful when you use it. If you put too much vinegar or other acidic solutions on grout, it might wear out, especially on lines that aren’t sealed. This brings us to an important step: sealing your grout. Sealed grout keeps water and stains out, so it’s much easier to clean up messes from muddy shoes or spills. If you can’t recall the last time you sealed your grout, you should probably do it again. It will be much easier to clean if you seal your grout again every year or two.

Some stains and residue just won’t come off, no matter how hard you scrub. In certain cases, it might be very helpful to hire someone to clean your tile and grout. High-powered steam cleaning can get to places that DIY methods can’t, and many specialists can re-seal your grout as part of their service. This is really helpful for older North Shore homes where the grout lines may have worn away over time.

Finally, always clean up spills right away, especially if they are from red wine or tomato sauce. If you don’t, they could stain things for a long time. Cleaning up little spills every week keeps the grout lines looking nice and bright.

It’s not hard to take care of grout, but you have to do it often. The reward is floors that stay clean, bright, and sturdy no matter what the North Shore throws at them, including rain, sand, and other things.

Ultra Brite Carpet & Tile Cleaning North Shore
79-83 Longueville Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066
(02) 8015 5143