The tile and grout in your bathroom or entryway can start to look dim and dingy, even downright grey or black, not long after you have that tile installed. This is especially true if you have kids or pets who track mud and dirt. Also, if you don't have proper ventilation in the bathroom, the steam from a shower settles onto the tile and grout, trapping dirt and other debris. Cleaning that tile and grout may actually be more difficult than you realize, as improper tools, cleaning products and techniques can actually make the tile and grout look worse, not better. Note a few mistakes to avoid making so you can ensure that all the tile and grout in your home looks its best and lasts as long as possible.
Using Bleach
Bleach can certainly kill mould in the bathroom, but it won't typically get entryway tile and grout fresh and white. Grout is like a cement, and you may realize that bleach won't whiten cements the way it does clothes.
Not only is bleach ineffective, but it can damage the dyes and colours uses for certain tiles, or seep into soft and porous stone tiles, also causing discolorations. Bleach can also strip away the protective coating used on kitchen tiles and other such surfaces. Use some bleach cleaner on the bathroom tile to get rid of mould, but avoid using it in the entryway or kitchen.
Using Scrub Brushes
As with bleach, scrub brushes can clean bathroom tile, but be sure to always use the type of brush that is best for a particular type of tile, and nothing else. Using a bathroom scrub brush on kitchen floor tile can strip away its protective coating, as mentioned above, or leave scratches on soft stone tiles in the foyer or entryway. Stiff brushes not meant for cleaning tile; they can dig gouges into grout, allowing more dirt to settle in, and damage soft tiles.
Also, be cautious about using vacuum cleaners meant for carpeting on your tile floors. Most vacuums will have brushes on the underside that are meant to pull up dust, dirt, hair, and other debris that has been ground into carpet fibres; these brushes can also scratch soft tile and grout, ruining their surface. To avoid this damage, be very cautious about using any stiff scrub brush on floor tiles, wall tiles or grout, and avoid vacuuming the area with a cleaner that has stiff brushes under the vacuum head.
Share20 April 2017
Hello! Welcome to my cleaning blog. My name is Darren. I am currently living in New South Wales with my wife and our two wonderful children. My wife and I are pretty sharp when it comes to housework. Despite the fact we both have full-time jobs, we still find the time to keep the house in decent shape. However, one thing we do struggle with is keeping the carpets and upholstery clean in our home. Thankfully, we found a great cleaning service who now visit us once a month to give the place a deep clean. They have also given us some great cleaning tips.