While we are predominantly a carpet cleaning company there’s a range of other home services we offer. While all of these are cleaning related they don’t all relate directly to the carpet. One of the more popular ‘non-carpet’ services we offer is cleaning of tiles and grout. This usually takes place in the bathroom but we’re getting more and more requests for tile cleaning house wide. This has a lot to do with new design trends where many homes have tiles throughout and opt for a rug over the top. Even in the living and lounge room areas.
Tiling grout is the while glue that goes in between your tiles to separate them. Usually this won’t be more than a few millimeters thick and in some cases you wont notice it at all (particularly on larger tiles). Due to the nature of grout it can get pretty filthy, particularly in the bathroom where grim and mildew can build up.
In the past many people use bleach or chemicals like hydrogen peroxide to clean grout. Who could blame them? It was a fast and effective way to get the grout looking like new again. However, it was also completely unsafe and these products are awful for the environment because they get washed straight down the drown. I have not so fond memories of cleaning my own shower and nearly passing out from the fumes as well. The good news is there’s a better way!
What we’re about to show you is a technique that uses only a few products, all of which are completely natural. The products are also readily available in nearly any household. In fact you probably have them at home right now. I am talking of course about the holy trinity of natural cleaning products; water, vinegar and baking soda. Really, is there anything they can’t do?
Step 1. Make A Paste
Use 3 parts baking soda to one part water and combine in a plastic container. Try to be as precise as possible but don’t worry too much if your ratio is a little off. Mix together until a solid paste has formed. It should be running but malleable.
Step 2. Get To Scrubbing
Use a cleaning brush and apply the paste to the grout. Be very liberal but don’t completely overdo it. If you happen to run out of paste its easy to make some more. Baking soda is also very cheap so you won’t break the bank by using a little too much. When it comes to cleaning grout time isn’t critical (unlike a carpet stain) so feel free to take a break if your arms get tired or you run out of elbow grease.
Step 3. Apply The Vinegar
Place some vinegar is a spray bottle and spray over the grout that you’ve covered in paste. Very quickly you’ll start to notice a chemical reaction. You’ll see bubbling caused by the vinegar and it will probably remind you of the common science experiment with the volcano. Now all you have to do is wait! I won’t give you a specific time limit here but let the combined solution sit until the bubbling has subsided.
Step 4. Get to Scrubbing (again)
With the same brush you used before scrub your little heart out! Be as diligent as you can and gradually you’ll see the grout dirt lifting to reveal the whiteness underneath. Use a clean rag or mop to wipe up the sections you’ve already done afterward and they should look squeaky clean.
Step 5. Repeat As Necessary
I need to warn you that the above may not clean the grout perfectly the first time. In fact you might need to go over it again fully once or twice to remove any left over stains. It’s worth it though if you want to clean in an all natural way.
So there you have it folks. Another tutorial from the team here at Carpet Cleaning Sydney. If that sounds like too much work or you simply don’t have enough time then get in touch with us. We’ll take the hassle out of tile and grout cleaning for you.
