Grout Cleaning Olympics

[passedpawn]

One must prevail!

Participants:

• CLR
• Homemade PBW (70% oxyclean, 30% TSP) - half scoop dissolved into 1c water
• Goof Off 2
• Starsan (1 capful mixed into 1c water)
• Nature's Miracle Oxy Formula
• Magic Grout Cleaner (from Lowes)
• Straight bleach

Process: wet the area, let sit for 5m, brush for 30s, clean with wet rag, dry.

I've done this test with bleach vs ammonia vs some other stuff, and bleach won. That was the last olympics. Now I'm hoping for some russian doping to find a new winner.

 

[CamG]

LMAO at the Star San.......

I used paint made specifically for grout in our main hallway. It works great... very fast
just apply with a small brush paint won't stay on the tile, it gets absorbed by the grout. You can get it in many different colors.

check out the video in this link.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-B...-8-oz-Grout-Renew-Colorant-GCL10HPT/100096585

 

[passedpawn]

CLR, Goof Off 2, and Magic Grout cleaner have moved on to the final round. Goof Off 2 seems like the clear winner from the qualifying trials.

 

[passedpawn]

 

[Fedora]

You have too much time on your hands, bud.

 

[passedpawn]

Ladies and germs, we have a new world record.

The results:

3rd place (bronze): CLR
2nd place (silver): Magic Grout Cleaner
1st place (GOLD), and the new world champion, Goof Off 2

 

[passedpawn]

And, of f'ing course, it's discontinued. Must have been replaced by something...

 

[passedpawn]

Mostly finished kitchen with the silver winner. Ran out of it. Will complete tomorrow.

 

[day_trippr]

And, of f'ing course, it's discontinued. Must have been replaced by something...

It was lethally toxic to everything.

Sorry...

 

[Homercidal]

My grout is cleaner the more I ignore it.

 

[passedpawn]

It was lethally toxic to everything.

Sorry...

I'm guessing the "safe on plastic" statement didn't pan out. I saw some complaints about that on a review site.

I ended up finishing the kitchen with the following product. Laundry room gets done tonight (hopefully). Worked fine (probably not well enough to take the crown, but now that the reigning champ is dead we'll never know).

 

[Homercidal]

If you like I can hold another cleaning Olympics at my house. I'd need you to perform the duties so we know the results are comparable...

 

[orangehero]

If you have a good respirator rated for VOC's and can ventilate the area after, adding a little vinegar to the bleach solution works incredible.

 

[passedpawn]

If you have a good respirator rated for VOC's and can ventilate the area after, adding a little vinegar to the bleach solution works incredible.

Er, no thanks.

 

[Jaybird]

MY TRICK.... Only use grout the color or dirt. THEN it ALWAYS looks the way you intended!

Been working for years!

Cheers
Jay

 

[orangehero]

Oh I thought this was the olympics not junior varsity.

 

[passedpawn]

There is a new champion!

I did a brief comparison of Zep grout cleaner vs Softscrub with Bleach. The latter won. However, there is much more cleanup necessary with the softscrub, due to the white pumice it leaves behind.

Home depot carries this. They also have a nifty grout brush that works WAY better than a toothbrush or similar.

 

[BongoYodeler]

I’ve never tried it but X14 supposedly works pretty well.

https://www.amazon.com/2-Pack-Profe...4&psc=1#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div

 

[passedpawn]

I’ve never tried it but X14 supposedly works pretty well.

https://www.amazon.com/2-Pack-Profe...4&psc=1#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div

Like any good cleaner, I'm cutting through the anecdotal crap and getting down to the truth.

 

[passedpawn]

There is a new champion!

I did a brief comparison of Zep grout cleaner vs Softscrub with Bleach. The latter won. However, there is much more cleanup necessary with the softscrub, due to the white pumice it leaves behind.

Home depot carries this. They also have a nifty grout brush that works WAY better than a toothbrush or similar.
View attachment 779208View attachment 779209

This did work well. Took a bit of elbow greast to give each segment a few scrubs.

Note that there is a bit of mopping to clean up the residue left by softscrub. The pumice that's left behind leaves a white powder that needs to be mopped up. Not a big deal, but on the other hand if you want the quickest job, albiet not the best cleaner, the ZEP product above worked well and doesn't leave the residue.

 

[Ki-ri-n]

Something else to consider.....I've used a wall paper steamer on grout. Works well. Used a stiff brush to dully scrub it clean.

Also use bar keepers friend on grout. Works too but makes a bug soapy mess. Usually leave that for tough stains.

 

[passedpawn]

Something else to consider.....I've used a wall paper steamer on grout. Works well. Used a stiff brush to dully scrub it clean.

Also use bar keepers friend on grout. Works too but makes a bug soapy mess. Usually leave that for tough stains.

I tested BKF. Not a contender.

We just sold a little steamer in a garage sale. I was thinking about giving it a go on some of my kitchen floor.

Anyway, it's done, looks great (albeit not perfect).

 

[estricklin]

Have you re-sealed the grout after cleaning it? I would think that would stop it from staining so easily. I really haven’t had this problem with any grout. Grout really should be sealed every few years.

 

[passedpawn]

Have you re-sealed the grout after cleaning it? I would think that would stop it from staining so easily. I really haven’t had this problem with any grout. Grout really should be sealed every few years.

I might do that. But if it only lasts a few years, I might as well just clean it instead?

 

[estricklin]

I might do that. But if it only lasts a few years, I might as well just clean it instead?

Well, maybe. But sealing grout is very easy. I can do a bathroom and shower in like 2 minutes. Sealing grout also protects it from damage over time, otherwise tiny little pieces will erode away. The sealer basically makes the grout impermeable.

If you do apply sealer on that particular tile, just apply it to the grout and the tile. If you just apply it to the grout lines, you'll inevitably get some on the tile, and it might make the edges of the tile look slightly shinier. Most likely the tradesman that laid that tile, sealed the tile BEFORE he applied the grout, to help protect against grout haze, and then sealed after the grout was in and dry, so it might not matter, but also many don't pre-seal ceramic, they only do that to natural (more porous) tile.

 

[passedpawn]

Well, maybe. But sealing grout is very easy. I can do a bathroom and shower in like 2 minutes. Sealing grout also protects it from damage over time, otherwise tiny little pieces will erode away. The sealer basically makes the grout impermeable.

If you do apply sealer on that particular tile, just apply it to the grout and the tile. If you just apply it to the grout lines, you'll inevitably get some on the tile, and it might make the edges of the tile look slightly shinier. Most likely the tradesman that laid that tile, sealed the tile BEFORE he applied the grout, to help protect against grout haze, and then sealed after the grout was in and dry, so it might not matter, but also many don't pre-seal ceramic, they only do that to natural (more porous) tile.

I laid a bunch of travertine a few years ago. Definitely sealed that. Wish I had it in my kitchen - VERY little grout there and flush with surface - no bevel on natural stone tiles.

I'm sure this was sealed when it was put in. We went with an upgraded "poly" grout too. Didn't make a lot of difference. This is the 3rd time I've cleaned it since we put it in, about 2008 I think. It gets fairly clean each time, so that's good. Used to be a lot easier to get down on the floor and do it I'm less flexible these days.

 

[Red over White]

I have cleaned carpet and tile for 30 years and have a couple suggestions. The dirty grout demon brush is worth every penny for scrubbing as needed, while standing up. The best & most widely available alkaline tile and grout cleaner is super washing soda and a small amount of dawn is a good surfactant. 2 oz SWS & ½ tsp Dawn per gallon mixed with hot tap water per gallon is fantastic. Dwell time is great for less scrubbing, we keep the floor wet with a flat mop as it dwells. Alkaline cleaning is safe for most all tile, Acid cleaners like the zep above are great for bathroom stains that alkaline cleaning didn't get. However, Acid cleaners are not safe on any natural stone, they will dissolve it. A drop of acid cleaner in an inconspicuous area on a tile is a good test, if it smokes, its not compatible. Good luck!

 

[BongoYodeler]

I have cleaned carpet and tile for 30 years and have a couple suggestions. The dirty grout demon brush is worth every penny for scrubbing as needed, while standing up. The best & most widely available alkaline tile and grout cleaner is super washing soda and a small amount of dawn is a good surfactant. 2 oz SWS & ½ tsp Dawn per gallon mixed with hot tap water per gallon is fantastic. Dwell time is great for less scrubbing, we keep the floor wet with a flat mop as it dwells. Alkaline cleaning is safe for most all tile, Acid cleaners like the zep above are great for bathroom stains that alkaline cleaning didn't get. However, Acid cleaners are not safe on any natural stone, they will dissolve it. A drop of acid cleaner in an inconspicuous area on a tile is a good test, if it smokes, its not compatible. Good luck!

Thanks for this. The best advice usually comes from experts. I’m going to buy some SWS to mix with Dawn and give it a try on the grout in our shower. Any pro tips on using on the grout on tiled shower walls? A bleach mixture kills any mold, but some of the light beige colored grout never seems to get as clean as other parts. I’d love it if this works to clean our grout more uniformly.

 

[passedpawn]

Home Depot sells a grout colorant that is basically paint for your grout. You can completely change the color of the grout. It's a bit of a pain in the arse because you have to use a sponge-brush and carefully paint all the grout, but it'll fix uncleanable grout. Test on an inconspicuous area first!

I have cleaned carpet and tile for 30 years and have a couple suggestions. The dirty grout demon brush is worth every penny for scrubbing as needed, while standing up. The best & most widely available alkaline tile and grout cleaner is super washing soda and a small amount of dawn is a good surfactant. 2 oz SWS & ½ tsp Dawn per gallon mixed with hot tap water per gallon is fantastic. Dwell time is great for less scrubbing, we keep the floor wet with a flat mop as it dwells. Alkaline cleaning is safe for most all tile, Acid cleaners like the zep above are great for bathroom stains that alkaline cleaning didn't get. However, Acid cleaners are not safe on any natural stone, they will dissolve it. A drop of acid cleaner in an inconspicuous area on a tile is a good test, if it smokes, its not compatible. Good luck!

 

[passedpawn]

I have cleaned carpet and tile for 30 years and have a couple suggestions. The dirty grout demon brush is worth every penny for scrubbing as needed, while standing up. The best & most widely available alkaline tile and grout cleaner is super washing soda and a small amount of dawn is a good surfactant. 2 oz SWS & ½ tsp Dawn per gallon mixed with hot tap water per gallon is fantastic. Dwell time is great for less scrubbing, we keep the floor wet with a flat mop as it dwells. Alkaline cleaning is safe for most all tile, Acid cleaners like the zep above are great for bathroom stains that alkaline cleaning didn't get. However, Acid cleaners are not safe on any natural stone, they will dissolve it. A drop of acid cleaner in an inconspicuous area on a tile is a good test, if it smokes, its not compatible. Good luck!

Done! While on the floor, I kept thinking I could adapt my brush to a broom handle. Of course, it already exists duh. I bought another model that was Prime free shipping on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0986YJTHQ?psc=1&smid=A21TR1UE950Q7I&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp