Grout Cleaning Olympics

[Red over White]

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.

For showers there are multiple types of build up (soap scum, mineral deposits and possibly mold and mildew) and you might require a multi prong attack. You might need alkaline cleaning, acid cleaning and then peroxide to restore to your liking. The recipe above is good for the alkaline, zep for the acid (Use gloves and eye protection) and sometimes 40 volume hairdressers peroxide (from beauty supply stores) is magical for tough deep stains after cleaning with alkaline and acid formulas. Sometimes there are stains that just permanent or only slowly get better with regular cleanings. Coloring the grout like described above is always an option, it's tedious but works well for certain situations.

We have tile spinner tools that use 1000 psi at 200°F+ and they immediately recover the water, however 99% of the time in residential the right cleaning solution, a dirty grout demon and a mop is really all that is required.

An ancillary benefit from having super washing soda around is to use the leftovers to make homemade pbw.

35% sodium percarbonate
45% Arm & Hammer super washing soda
20% 7th Generation automatic dishwasher detergent or similar

The above works amazing and is affordable enough to use with a heavy hand. I keep my coffee carafe sparkling clean with it as well.

 

[BongoYodeler]

Thank you.

 

[bracconiere]

i was ordering a dryer duct brush, and saw this...might be A LOT better then a tooth brush?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1839785286...40m9FFyGeMRI7H78Q%3D|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2508447

 

[rgrrbt]

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

Great. You've got me thinking about cleaning my grout. Trying decide between this brush and the Grout Demon. How is your brush holding up? Would you recommend it?

 

[passedpawn]

Great. You've got me thinking about cleaning my grout. Trying decide between this brush and the Grout Demon. How is your brush holding up? Would you recommend it?

I cleaned the kitchen floor without those brushes. Ordered them because I have a couple of bathrooms to do (later).

I did receive the brushes though. I haven't used that Demon model, but after trying these I have no remorse. Did a quick test with them and they work near perfectly. The only thing they are missing is a more weight. The pole that they come with seems sturdy but too light. When I use them, I'll probably tape some weight to the pole in order to put more downward force on the brush. They have the standard broomstick thread, so you could easily use a wooden pole from a broom, painter extension, etc.

BTW, the brushes came with an interesting formula for making your own grout cleaning solution with baking soda and vinegar. I tested their recipe side-by-side with soft scrub w/bleach. It worked better than expected, but not as good as soft scrub. I'm glad, because I didn't want to make part of the house smell of vinegar.

 

[passedpawn]

Another test. Washing soda is not as good as Soft Scrub w/Bleach (see post #17 above). Also, this powder makes quite a mess - doesn't really dissolve well in water. I made a slurry/pasted with it (can't see in pic). Left it on for 30m. It dried back into it's original powder. Perhaps this isn't the best process. Just kind of a mess to deal with.

 

[passedpawn]

I should mention, the brushes that I bought are awesome. Wow. Thanks to @Red over White for suggesting something similar. See post #30 above

 

[day_trippr]

We used to have tile in the kitchen and dining room, I think they were fired terra cotta, and between sealing and Future-ing and cleaning grout it was a pita. When we redid that end of the house we switched to full thickness oak and living with that floor has never been easier...

Cheers!

 

[IslandLizard]

Another test. Washing soda is not as good as Soft Scrub w/Bleach (see post #17 above). Also, this powder makes quite a mess - doesn't really dissolve well in water. I made a slurry/pasted with it (can't see in pic). Left it on for 30m. It dried back into it's original powder. Perhaps this isn't the best process. Just kind of a mess to deal with.

Washing soda is the main component in (traditional) powdered laundry detergents, such as Surf. It's main component is Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3), dissolves best in warm or hot water, and solutions are very alkaline (high pH). It's a very decent cleaner. It would be similar to OxiClean without the PerCarbonate and thus no Oxygen action.

A very different product and application compared to Soft Scrub which is a mild abrasive/fine scouring powder.

 

[bracconiere]

Oxygen action.

i see kids sliding on the floor for some reason? oxi action?


edit: or maybe R/C cars not sure.....


edit2:

 

[passedpawn]

Washing soda is the main component in (traditional) powdered laundry detergents, such as Surf. It's main component is Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3), dissolves best in warm or hot water, and solutions are very alkaline (high pH). It's a very decent cleaner. It would be similar to OxiClean without the PerCarbonate and thus no Oxygen action.

A very different product and application compared to Soft Scrub which is a mild abrasive/fine scouring powder.

Yea, the instructions for making your own detergent is right on the box. Regardless what the interwebz says, it's not an olympic status grout cleaner. In fact, I don't think it would have done well against many of the previous combatants.