How to Clean Grout In Tiles and
What is the Best Way to Clean Tiles?

Tiles play an important role in turning homes into stylish dwelling spaces. Tiles are a crucial element of interior design and home décor and it’s hard to find Australian homes that don’t use tiles these days.

While Tiles are an affordable option and are easy to repair, one persistent issue that homeowners complain about is cleaning tile grout and how to wash grout in an effective manner. So, what is the best grout cleaner and is how to make grout cleaning process easier?

Grout is an important element of the tile installation process and all the high traffic areas like kitchen floor tiles, bathroom floor tiles, and hallways require grout to set tiles.

Therefore, this issue with dirty grout and grout cleaning is going to trouble homeowners who are planning to use tiles on their property.

However, if you also have questions like “how to clean tile grout?” and “What is the best way to clean tiles?”, our team of tile experts at Royal Tiles Australia have come up with effective methods for cleaning tile grout. So, make sure you read this guide completely to learn the best tricks to clean tile grout.

grout cleaning

What is Grout?

Grout is a paste made from a cement-based powder which is used as a construction material during the installation of the tiles. Grout is a porous material; hence it can easily absorb liquid, dirt, and greasy elements. Therefore, it is imperative that you clean the grout to maintain the tiles.

Types of Tiles Grout in Sydney

Before you learn how to clean tile grout and the best cleaner to clean grout in your house, you need to understand what type of grout was used to install tiles in your property.

Two types of grouts are used in Australian homes typically, they are:

 

1.  Sealed Grout:

As the name suggests, sealed grouts have a protective waterproof layer which stops any liquid from being absorbed by the grout. Hence, for sealed grout, you can use chemical-based cleaners on the surface.

 

2. Unsealed Grout:

Contrary to sealed grout, unsealed grouts do not have that extra protective layer against liquids making them vulnerable to unwanted elements seeping inside.

Hence, strong grout cleaners like chemicals solutions, baking soda and vinegar are not recommended on unsealed grouts.

Best Ways to Clean Tile Grout in Sydney

Now that you have some idea about what kind of grout you might be dealing with at your home, let’s find out the best ways to clean tile grout as recommended by our experts at Royal Tiles Australia:

 

Method 1 to Clean Tile Grout: Warm Water

Cleaning grout is not always a complicated process and if you are lucky, you can get the job done with only warm water and a medium-bristle nylon brush.

Simply, spray some warm water into the grout and scrub the area with brush in a circular motion. You can target small areas at a time while cleaning grout. Then leave the tiles to air dry. Also, avoid using harsh brush or too much water on the grout especially if it is unsealed as it may lead to growth of mould.

grout cleaning with spray

 

Method 2 to Clean Tile Grout: Vinegar and Warm Water

Who thought that vinegar in your refrigerator could do more wonders than just making your food tastier? But yes, vinegar has much more potential than you think. Vinegar is highly acidic and can be used as an excellent organic cleaner for tile grout cleaning.

Moreover, the acidic nature of vinegar can also help you get rid of stubborn dirt, stains, and soap scum. To apply this method,

  • Mix distilled white vinegar and warm water in equal portions and use a spray bottle to avoid over using the solution.
  • Now, spray the solution and target small areas of grout at a time.
  • Let the mixture be for 5 minutes.
  • Scrub the area with a brush or a toothbrush.
  • Finally, use a damp cloth to wipe away the excess liquid.

 

Method 3 to Clean Tile Grout: Hydrogen Peroxide

If vinegar and plain water is not doing the trick for you, it’s time to take some help from science and create your own homemade grout cleaner.

Of course, you won’t be needing a lab coat and some weird formulas to create this solution. All you have to do is get some Hydrogen Peroxide from the market and apply it directly to clean the tile grout.

The advanced version of this method is to create a paste by mixing one teaspoon of Hydrogen Peroxide with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Apply this paste to the grout and leave it for 5 minutes. Then, wipe it with a damp cloth to see the magic unfold.

Let us know if this trick worked for you.

 

Method 4 to Clean Tile Grout: Baking Soda and Vinegar

I am sure you are somewhat perplexed that words you commonly hear while cooking are showing up too often in a blog about cleaning tile grout but science works in weird ways.

As long as you have a clean sparkling grout, it doesn’t matter what you used to achieve this, does it?

The amalgam of baking soda and vinegar is an excellent tile grout cleaner and can fight the tough stains, dirt, and unwanted elements on your grout effectively.

Here’s how you can create this powerful mixture to say goodbye to dirty grouts:

  • Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water to create a paste.
  • Now, prepare a mixture of 1 cup distilled white vinegar and 1 cup warm water.
  • Apply the paste from step 1 onto the grout and spray the vinegar mixture on top. This should lead to the baking soda starting to foam.
  • Once the foaming stops, scrub the area with a brush and use some warm water to rinse it thoroughly.
  • Use a dry cloth to finish the cleaning.

 

Method 5 to Clean Tile Grout: Melamine Sponge and Water

 A melamine sponge is a simple yet an effective way to fight dirty tile grout. No additional tools and chemicals are required in this method.

Simply wet the melamine sponge and remove excess water. Once the sponge starts foaming, wipe the grout with the melamine sponge to get clean tile grout.

 

Method 6 to Clean Tile Grout: Oxygen Bleach or Commercial Cleaners

If all the tricks mentioned above didn’t work for you, then it’s time to turn to commercial grout cleaners or oxygen bleach.

These commercial cleaners are made specifically to fight the toughest stains, dirt, and grout. Hence, before you begin, make sure you read the instructions on the label properly. Also, take cautious approach while using harsh chemicals as it can have damaging effect on the grout as well.

If you are planning to use the oxygen bleach solution, apply it onto the grout, wait for 10-15 minutes, and wipe the area with a dry cloth.

Hope these tricks help and you can get the clean tile grout by applying these expert tips. If you have more questions about tiles and you want to purchase the best tiles in Sydney, reach out to us or visit our tile shop in Auburn, Sydney.

 

Royal Tiles Australia: The Best Tile Shop in Sydney 

Royal Tiles is one of the biggest tile suppliers in Sydney since 1989 and we have one of the largest tile shops in the entire country located in Sydney. Our tile shop in Auburn houses an impressive collection of the best porcelain tiles, ceramic tiles, mosaic tiles, terrazzo tiles, limestone & marble tiles in Australia

We have the best tiles for your dream property at the cheapest prices. So, visit or tile shop in Auburn, Sydney Today or contact us to buy the best tiles in Australia. If you are unable to visit our tile shop in Sydney physically, you can also check our tile collection in the product section of our website.

At Royal Tiles Australia, we take pride in our ability to transform the houses of our valuable customers into stylish spaces that people cannot help but notice. Thanks to our exclusive collection of the best tiles in Sydney, we can bring that change to your house that it deserves!