(BPT) – The holidays are a time to enjoy your home to the fullest. Whether you’re preparing for guests or just sprucing up the space for your own personal benefit, you want it to look its best. However, there are some things that are notoriously difficult to clean such as tile grout.
Grout is exposed to many stain-causing conditions in a kitchen and bathroom. Moisture accumulation can lead to mold stains on any surface, including grout. Stain-inducing foods and beverages like oils, wine or mustard and even dirt can challenge any surface.
This doesn’t mean you have to accept dirty grout or remodeling as your only options. Custom Building Products, the largest manufacturer of tile installation systems in North America, recommends the following tips to clean, improve and maximize the long-term aesthetic value and structural integrity of tile grout in kitchens and bathrooms:
Start with the basics
Use an old toothbrush to clean small joints and replace missing, cracked or broken grout joints with new grout to protect the tile and keep out dirt. Be sure to follow directions when using cleaners to maximize results with less effort and fewer headaches.
Foundational cleaning strategies
Avoid using baking soda mixed with vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, bleach or other acidic cleaners that will dissolve or discolor tile grout and may negatively impact your tile. These may make the problem worse in the long run. Instead, use pH neutral, low VOC products like TileLab Grout & Tile Cleaner to safely remove grease, soap scum and other tough stains.
Deep cleaning strategies
Don’t steam clean tile grout because the heat and moisture can soften tile grout joints or push unwanted stains deeply into pores. For difficult grout stains, gently scrub the impacted areas with an abrasive, professional-quality cleaner like Aqua Mix Nano Scrub. The nano-sized particles penetrate the small surface pores in tile grout to effectively remove residues, waxes, mineral deposits and sealers.
Refresh with color
Ready for a change or want a fresh, uniform color? Bring worn and aged showers, countertops, floors or other tile surfaces back to life by applying a waterborne epoxy stain like PolyBlend Grout Renew. Coloring while protecting it is an attractive alternative for dramatically enhancing the appearance of a bathroom or kitchen without the expense of replacement. This is one DIY project with results you’ll enjoy through the holidays and into the new year.
Seal for long-lasting results
After you’ve gone through the effort of cleaning, repairing, removing stains and recoloring, protect grout with a sealer before it can be harmed by new stains and other damage. Consider a sealer that offers anti-microbial protection to inhibit the growth of stain-causing mold and mildew on dried grout.
The holidays are a time to enjoy your home, and fresh grout instantly refreshes any kitchen or bathroom space. For more information on cleaners, sealers, colorants and other tile grout care and maintenance products, visit Custom Building Products at www.custombuildingproducts.com and Facebook.