How to Keep the Grout in Your Bathroom in Good Condition
No matter how much you take care of your home, there are just aspects that don’t cross your mind until it’s already visibly concerning—like bathroom grout, for example. Unfortunately, its upkeep is something you have to address if you want to maintain gorgeous tiles in your bathroom.
Grout holds the tiles together, but it’s porous and light-colored—making it susceptible to stains and water damage. Although newly installed grout looks clean and attractive, it can get dirty, moldy, and even damaged if not cleaned and maintained correctly.
Besides looking unkempt, you can have serious water damage if the grout that was used to secure the tiles begins to break off. If you were not aware of this before, now is the time to think about how tokeep your grout clean to extend its life. This way, you will avoid premature grout replacement, which wastes time and money.
Below are some tips on how to care for grout, from everyday upkeep to grout replacement.
Routine Daily Cleaning
To maintain clean tiles, which prevent discoloration and damage, use a daily wiping and spraying regimen after you take a bath or shower.
The first step is to obtain a nice squeegee and run it over the tile and glass walls and doors every time you shower or take a bath. This is necessary to remove extra water after using your bathroom or shower area.
After that, lightly spray your tile and glass with a basic shower cleaner daily. Many cleaning companies sell a daily shower cleaner, so experiment to find which one will work best for your bathroom.
This daily regimen will keep your bathroom clean and will keep the buildup of soap scum to a minimum. However, the habit does not mean you can skip weekly maintenance on your grout and tiles.
Regular Deep Cleaning
Even if you keep your walls and windows clean regularly, you’ll still need to deep clean your shower or bath at least once a week.
Give your grout a great preventative clean with water and baking soda paste on a weekly basis. Rinse the scrubbed grout with clean water to help remove any soap residue.
If your grout is discolored, use hydrogen peroxide instead of water to remove the stains. If you want to use vinegar as a daily spray to clean the shower before applying hydrogen peroxide to the grout, you must make sure to rinse it out before pouring in the hydrogen peroxide.
Treatment of Badly Stained Grout
Grout is a porous material that can get stained. If you don’t wipe out the stains, they can get worse and even permanent. To keep it from getting worse, you’ll need to scrub it with a chemical cleaner like bleach.
You can also use a bleach pen, which is an easy way to concentrate the force of bleach where it’s needed. A bleach pen is ideal for cleaning small surfaces and doing a little grout work, as it avoids direct contact with your tile.
You can also start with an oxygen-type powdered bleach. This form of bleach is kinder to your grout than liquid chlorine bleach, and it’s generally enough to get rid of tough spots. Apply it with a brush, then rinse with clean water after 10 to 15 minutes.
You can use a chlorine bleach spray if all else fails; however, it’s a little harsher and more difficult to handle. To make sure it doesn’t damage your tiles, test it on a small, inconspicuous spot.
Solution for Permanently Stained Grout
If the following methods do not remove the stains, you might consider using grout rejuvenation. This process offers more protection than simply painting the grout with a new coat, and it helps to prevent future staining of the grout.
Conclusion
Flaking, breaking, and falling tiles are all signs that your grout needs to be replaced. It’s especially crucial to repair it quickly if you see this type of grout breakage since water can seep into your wall and create much more serious damage.
It is possible to change grout if you have some DIY skills, but if you’re not too confident with yourself, the best option is to hire an expert to redo your grout.
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