This article was co-authored by Dario Ragnolo. Dario Ragnolo is the Owner and Founder of Tidy Town Cleaning, a home cleaning service in Los Angeles, California. His business specializes in residential & commercial cleaning. He is a second generation home cleaning expert, who grew up around his parents cleaning business in Italy.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Grime and water stains on the grout in your bathroom or your kitchen can be unsightly and hard to clean. You may struggle to clean grout in your home using conventional cleaners and be hesitant to use bleach. Instead, you may try using toilet cleaner to get rid of stains and grime on grout. You should select a toilet cleaner and then clean the grout with the cleaner properly. You should also learn how to maintain the grout in your home so it always looks its best.
Steps
Selecting the Toilet Cleaner
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1Look for a toilet cleaner that contains sodium hydroxide. Many toilet cleaners contain sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite. These two ingredients help to remove stains and grime on porcelain or tile surfaces as well as grout. Though they can be toxic in large amounts, they do work to effectively clean grout.[1]
- You may look for common brands of toilet cleaner at your local hardware store or in the cleaning aisle at your grocery store.
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2Try an eco-friendly toilet cleaner. To avoid exposing yourself or others to harmful chemicals, you may opt for a toilet cleaner that is eco-friendly. There are several toilet cleaners on the market that do not contain harmful chemicals. However, they may not be as effective for cleaning grout, or your toilet bowl, if they do not contain chemicals like sodium hydroxide or sodium hypochlorite.[2]
- Many eco-friendly toilet cleaners are made with plant and mineral-based products. They may also be scented with lemon, mint, or pine, a bonus for making your grout smell less wet or dirty.
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3Use toilet cleaner that contains bleach with caution. Though you may opt for toilet cleaner that contains bleach to better clean the grout, using bleach can be toxic to your health and possibly damage the tiling around the grout.[3]
- Bleach can also strip the water-repellant materials that are in the grout, leading to damaged grout in the future, especially in showers or bathrooms.[4]
- If you do go for a toilet cleaner that contains bleach, make sure you wear rubber gloves, eye protection like safety goggles, and a respirator mask so you are not at risk of inhaling the bleach. You should also wear clothing that you would not mind throwing out, as bleach can damage your clothing.
Cleaning the Grout
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1Spot test the cleaner on the grout. Before you dive right into cleaning the grout with the toilet cleaner, you should spot test it first on a portion of the grout. Choose a spot that can be covered up or hidden if it gets damaged.[5]
- Use a small amount of the toilet cleaner on the grout and leave it on for five minutes. If the grout does not appear damaged, you can proceed to use the toilet cleaner on the rest of the grout.
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2Pour the cleaner on the grout and let it sit. Do this by pouring the cleaner on the area with grout that is furthest from the door. This way, you can clean the grout in small sections, moving towards the door and cleaning each section as you go. If you are cleaning grout along a bathtub or a faucet, you do not have to worry about doing this.[6]
- Pour a small amount of the cleaner on the grout. Do not pour too much cleaner on the grout or lay it on too thickly. You want an even amount dispersed on the grout so the cleaner can soak in and remove any dirt or grime.
- Allow the cleaner to stay on the dirty grout and soak in for five minutes. Do not touch or disturb the cleaner when it is sitting on the grout.
EXPERT TIPFabricio Ferraz is the Co-Owner and Operator of Hire a Cleaning. Hire a Cleaning is a family owned and operated business that has been serving San Francisco, California homes for over 10 years.House Cleaning Professional
Fabricio Ferraz
House Cleaning ProfessionalIf you're cleaning the grout in your shower, make sure no one has used it for 2 hours. If you try to clean the grout within 2 hours after anyone takes a shower, you can easily scratch the paint. Over time, this will cause you to have to repaint your bath much sooner. Using a paper towel will help protect the paint, as well.
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3Scrub the grout with a toothbrush. Once you have let the cleaner sit on the grout, take a toothbrush or a grout cleaning brush, and gently run it over the grout. You should not have to scrub the cleaner off the grout very hard to remove any grime or dirt. Often, the grime will come off easy by running the brush over the grout.[7]
- Scrub all of the grout that is covered with the cleaner. You should notice the grout appears clean and grime-free once you scrub it with the brush.
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4Rinse and dry the grout well. It is very important that you rinse off the toilet cleaner as soon as you are done scrubbing the grout with the brush. Do not let the cleaner sit on the tile or the grout once you are done scrubbing it, as this can lead to a build-up of residue. This may also lead to a stain on the tile or the grout. Use a wet mop or a wet cloth to rinse off the cleaner.[8]
- You should then dry the grout and the tiles well once the cleaner has been rinsed. Use a towel or soft cloth to do this. Do not use cloth that will scratch the surface of the tile or the grout.
- Alternatively, you can use a product like Goo Gone on the area with the grout.[9]
- Use an aluminum brusher to scrub the product after 3 minutes.[10]
- You can also use a homemade tile grout cleaner made with a half cup of baking soda, half a cup of white vinegar, and half a cup of water.[11]
Maintaining the Grout
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1Squeegee the grout after you shower. Try to get in the habit of using a squeegee to remove water from the surface of the tiles and the grout in your bathroom after you shower. Drying the shower doors and the tiles in the shower helps to prevent a buildup of grime or mineral deposits in your grout.[12]
- You can attach a squeegee to the inside of your shower with a suction cup so it is right there at the end of your shower. Encourage others in your household to squeegee off the shower once they are done to keep the grout dry and clean.
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2Use a sealing product on the grout. You can also maintain the grout so it looks its best by using a sealing product on it. Seal the grout once or twice a year so it remains water repellent. This will ensure the grout stays clean and grime-free.[13]
- You can find sealing products for grout at your local hardware store or online.
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3Replace the grout if it becomes damaged. If you notice the grout in your bathroom or kitchen is shrivelled, full of mildew, or damaged in any way, try to get it replaced as soon as possible. Replacing the grout will ensure it does not get worse or you do not experience other home repair issues as a result of damaged grout.[14]
- You may try cleaning the grout before you consider replacing it. If it does not respond well to cleaning, it may be time to switch it out for new grout.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan you use toilet bowl cleaner on grout?
Raymond ChiuRaymond Chiu is the Director of Operations for MaidSailors.com, a residential and commercial cleaning service based in New York City that provides home and office cleaning services at affordable prices. He has a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management from Baruch College.
House Cleaning ProfessionalYou can certainly try! If it doesn't work for you, try using warm water and vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide.
References
- ↑ http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/311-CloroxToiletBowlCleanerClingingBleachGel
- ↑ http://grist.org/article/2009-05-19-natural-toilet-bowl-cleaner/
- ↑ https://www.homerepairtutor.com/clean-ceramic-tile-and-grout/
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/keep-your-shower-tile-grout-looking-new.htm
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll6EYDlco0g
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll6EYDlco0g
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll6EYDlco0g
- ↑ Dario Ragnolo. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 13 August 2019.
- ↑ Dario Ragnolo. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 13 August 2019.
- ↑ Dario Ragnolo. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 13 August 2019.
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/keep-your-shower-tile-grout-looking-new.htm
- ↑ https://www.angieslist.com/articles/keep-your-shower-tile-grout-looking-new.htm
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.
About This Article
Using toilet cleaner is an effective way to get rid of unsightly grime or water stains on the grout in your bathroom. Before you use a cleaner, put a small amount of it on the back of the toilet and let it sit for 5 minutes to ensure it doesn't damage the grout. If the grout looks fine afterward, pour the cleaner directly on the grout in small, dispersed sections. Then, use a grout cleaning brush to gently scrub the area clean. When you've removed all the dirt and grime, rinse and dry the grout thoroughly, since leaving toilet cleaner on the grout can lead to stains and residue build-up. To learn how to keep your grout from getting dirty, read on!
