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.
Bleach on tiles grout.
Once the grout is clean mop the tiles with water to get rid of any leftover vinegar solution.
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.
With tile the difference between dingy and dazzling often comes down to the grout in between.
Wait for the vinegar solution to stop bubbling and then scrub the grout with a scrub brush or toothbrush.
Homeowners whose floors are covered with ceramic tiles or laminate materials often use bleach to remove mold.
Go easy though grout is less durable than the tile it s holding together and harsh cleaners like bleach can erode it.
Spot test the cleaner in an out of the way.
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.
However there are some things to consider that may make using bleach to clean your tile s grout a bad idea.
Mold on grout lines is a biological stain that requires killing the organism.
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.
Bleach can damage your materials.
Homeowners who use organic soap to remove mold may actually be feeding the spores instead of killing them which is something bleach can certainly do.
Bleach or other heavy duty cleaners should only be used on tough stains not for regular upkeep of your grout.
Bleach can also stain colored grout so it s important to avoid it if you have colored grout.
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.
How to bleach darkened tile grout.
A grout brush is a small stiff bristle nylon brush available in handheld and long handled sizes.
Bleach should not be used often as it can damage your grout if it s overused.
To learn how to tackle tough grout stains with oxygenated bleach or hydrogen peroxide keep reading.
Grouting fills the gaps between tiles creating a white or light gray grid.
Whiten grout using oxygen bleach clean grout between synthetic ceramic or natural stone tiles with oxygen bleach since it is safe for most surfaces.
You can substitute a toothbrush in a pinch but its bristles are too soft to do much good.
Deep stains may call for replacing the grout altogether.