Cleaning Grout on Tile Floors

[Twisted Canuck]

I thought I would share on this topic, since sooner or later everyone will need to deal with cleaning grout, whether it be in bathroom shower/tub, or on floors.

I built my house bottom to top in 2008, and I have a lot of tile, maybe 2000 square feet all in. The grout was all sealed, but after raising 5 kids, several dogs, and generally living in my house, the grout was looking pretty bad in high traffic areas. It was initially a very light sand color, and was stained quite dark. Grout is porous, it *will* stain after 15 years. I installed tile over Ditra Mat, so I have no broken tiles, and grout is 99% intact, just a few minor chips.

I did some research online, and steam cleaning seemed to be the most recommended way to get grout cleaned and sanitized. So, I bought a fairly inexpensive steam cleaning unit off Amazon, like $120 all in (on sale). It came with multiple different attachments and brushes. And man, does it ever work!

I'm taking my time on it, doing maybe 50 square feet a day is all. That's what one tank will do, and after that my knees and back have had enough. It's a winter project, but I am *really* pleased at how effective the steam is at deep cleaning that grout. No, it doesn't look like brand new. Yes, it removes 90-100% of staining, depending on how high traffic the area.

When I'm done, I will do a few grout repairs, and seal it all again, and it should be good for another 10 or 15 years. It is by far the easiest and most effective way to clean grout I have tried. As a bonus, the steamer has attachments for cleaning fabric like upholstery as well, and It will work excellent for deep cleaning and detailing a vehicle, vinyl, carpet and all.

[ghfalls]

On Amazon you can get mapei grout refresh. It’ works great to make your grout look better than new. Goes on quick and then a coat of sealer and you’ll be good for another 15 years.

[Twisted Canuck]

Originally Posted by ghfalls

On Amazon you can get mapei grout refresh. It’ works great to make your grout look better than new. Goes on quick and then a coat of sealer and you’ll be good for another 15 years.

Yes, I thought about that route to refinish as well, but you really don't want to put that over grout without giving it a really good deep clean first. At least I wouldn't. After reading mixed reviews on it, I'm going to stick with steam cleaning.

[Howard Hutchinson]

Thanks a ton, TC. I have been looking at doing mine too yet a wire toothbrush seemed like a bunch of work. Ha. I'm going to give this a whirl.

Good luck tomorrow night *wink*

[DiabeticKripple]

The wife bought Zep grout cleaner and uses a toothbrush to clean the grout.

Worked pretty damn good.

Like you said it’s very tedious and can only do so much at a time before going crazy

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by DiabeticKripple

The wife bought Zep grout cleaner and uses a toothbrush to clean the grout.

Worked pretty damn good.

Like you said it’s very tedious and can only do so much at a time before going crazy

Just thinking out loud, would a soft wire or buffing pad mounted on a side grinder be an option ?

[Twisted Canuck]

If you want to remove grout, and have to re-grout the floor, yeah, that grinder would work.

The zep product works, but not nearly as fast or as thorough as the steamer. Also, steamer doesn't require any hard brushing.

[barbless]

With the steamer is there a wait time before resealing? Do you still use a kind of bristle brush and a rag or just a clean rag? I should be doing mine also. The tile on my floors are not small, 19 1/2 X 19 1/2. I do have a small steamer, some sealer and the little bottle with the brush to apply the sealer already, so that's a start.

[Twisted Canuck]

You need to wait 24 hours after steaming so grout is dry. The steamer has a nylon brush attachment for light scrubbing, then wipe up moisture with rag after. The sealer applicator bottle has a foam brush tip. My tile thankfully are also large, 20x20".

[barbless]

Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck

You need to wait 24 hours after steaming so grout is dry. The applicator bottle has a foam brush tip.

Thanks, Twisted Canuck

[DiabeticKripple]

This thread reminds me that I need to seal the grout on the tile in my shower. I haven’t done it in 5 years and not sure if the previous owners did or not.

[Twisted Canuck]

Little update here. Just about finished steaming it all, almost ready to seal it. There were really stubborn stains in kitchen and high traffic areas. I hit on the best method to clean. I would steam a joint, hit it with Zep Oxy clean stain remover (I happened to have bottle here, so I decided to experiment), use a nylon brush on it, and then steam it hard again. Amazing how it takes out deep stains. But man, what a lot of tedious work on your hands and knees!!

[Savage Bacon]

So when steaming, do you have to wear appropriate clothing because of the heat, moisture, and sweat? I'm picturing something like a sumo outfit? With knee pads?

In all seriousness, this thread reminds me that I should reseal the tiles in our upstairs bathroom. I'm thankful that we don't have the square footage that you had to deal with TC. You're on the home stretch. I bet you'll be glad when this project is completed.

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[Twisted Canuck]

TC, getting psyched to clean tile...

[Savage Bacon]

Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck

TC, getting psyched to clean tile...

That was my vision

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[El Carnicero]

I've used a solution of scalding hot water, vinegar and baking soda with a tooth brush.
Took my grout from the black and dirt filled, back to the shining white that it was originally.

[Twisted Canuck]

Yay!! Grout is cleaned, sealer going on today already! My tile guy recommended this, supposed to be good stuff, but Lordy! It costs as much as a decent bottle of Scotch! But, after the hours and hours I spent on my hands and knees steaming and scrubbing, I don't want to have to do it again for at least another 10 or 15 years. My goodness. Tedious.