- Always seal new grout. This sealing job will make it easier to clean as well as more stain resistant and water resistant. Since grout is made of sand, it’s naturally porous making it susceptible to water damage. While it’s unlikely that the damage will be that great, it still is something you’ll want to guard against to keep it looking fresh and lasting longer.
- Try at home remedies. Baking soda is a great at home remedy to deal with tough grout stains. It’s a natural whitener as well as safe from harsh chemicals. Dampen whatever area you’re cleaning first and follow by sprinkling baking soda over the grout. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then use a scrubbing brush to scrub it away. (Extra pro tip: dampen your scrubber with citrus essential oil to achieve the same fresh smell of cleaning without harsh chemicals.)
- Don’t use bleach. Bleach may seem like a good option considering we typically want our grout as bright and light as possible to seem the cleanest. However, bleach may discolor whatever tiling you’re using. This is also true of hydrogen peroxide. While it’s a great disinfectant that’s a good alternative to the extremely harsh bleach, it still is capable of causing discoloration in your tiling and grout.
- Protect yourself. When using DIY house cleaners this is typically not as necessary, but if you’re opting for a store-bought solution you’ll want to be sure to protect yourself from the chemicals the cleaners contain. Do your best to always wear gloves and protective eyewear to avoid getting it in contact with your eyes or other areas of your body where you could ingest it. If you have children in the home, be sure to keep them out of the area that you’re disinfecting and warn them thoroughly about the dangers of interacting with the cleaning supplies.
Keeping Your Grout Clean
Grout is one of the last areas you want to worry about in your home. Not only is it difficult to clean, but you also run the risk of over cleaning it and damaging your space in general due to the porosity of grout. This being said, there are a few pieces of advice that make keeping your grout clean a bit easier than in the past: