Although we showed you the “finished” floors in yesterday’s post, there is one part of the process that we haven’t covered–grout! In my post about Tips for Achieving Realistic Faux Wood Tile, I mentioned that “opting for a grout color a shade darker than our tile will keep things looking more natural.” Our grout lines were the smallest possible at 1/16″ (another great tip to keep things looking realistic!), so unsanded grout was our only option. After surveying all the colors, Mocha looked like the best bet. It didn’t contrast the tile too much, but matched the darkest shade in the wood grain pattern on the tile. We actually hired out the grouting job. After Chris was up until anywhere from 11:30pm to 2:30am laying all of the floors, paying $500 for what we thought was a fool-proof job, seemed like the perfect celebratory gift–we tackled the clean-up and haze removal ourselves. Which was a little intimidating at first because there was a lot of haze: We waited the recommended 24 hours after grouting for it to fully cure before tackling the haze.

My mom and I went to our local Ace Hardware to pick up supplies for the job over the weekend. One of the workers there suggested that a solution of distilled vinegar and warm water will cut right through the haze. I loved the sound of the chemical free fix. He helped us find some mops and buckets, a scrubby for any stubborn areas and they even carried the vinegar. We mixed about one part vinegar to 4 parts warm water. Since there was 1500 sq feet of haze to cover, two of my sisters pitched in, too, and we all tag-teamed the task while my mom was on clean water duty. (^38 weeks pregnant–I’m going to pop!) We’d do a whole room, refresh the solution of vinegar and water and do it once more (twice in more hazy spaces). It was so impressive to watch the haze lift right off the tile (thanks for the rec, Ace worker!) and the vinegar solution dried without a scent–no worries. The only disheartening part was there was still a lot of variance in some of the grout lines as you can see above.

While most of them cleaned up by our second pass through revealing that warm mocha color we picked out: There were a lot of areas where the grout lines were much lighter and splotchy: I took a toothbrush and the same vinegar solution to clean a test area–thinking it might still have some haze on it (??) but unfortunately, it dried just as light. After some research into grout variance and asking our friends at The Tile Shop (where we got the grout), they said it was most likely user error while laying the grout–either too much water when mixing, not mixing it thoroughly enough or too much water when sponging it off. cost to drain and clean poolBummer that the one part of the job we hired out seems to have managed to not turn out the way we hoped.dolphin pool cleaner customer service

As for remedying the light grout lines, we ordered a grout dye and sealer in one to try out and will update you soon. The good news is we’re haze free and that part was a lot easier than we thought it would be. I was imagining buffing each individual tile with cheese cloth until the baby got here. In reality, it took us about 2 hours to do the entire 1500 square feet with items we found at our local Ace (or you might already have at home!).las vegas pool party palms Do you have a home maintenance project to tackle? is vinegar the best carpet cleanerAce’s wide product selection (vinegar, people) and helpful customer service (our favorite!) can definitely help–but how about $100 to spend at Ace Hardware, too? natural way to clean tile grout

Enter through the Rafflecopter widget below. (We’ll choose a winner Friday night and update this post.) We’re excited to be collaborating with Ace Hardware as a part of their Ace Blogger Panel this year. Ace has provided us with compensation and the materials necessary to complete this project, but all opinions and sweat are our own. Bleach is great for keeping your bathroom tiles and grout sparkling clean. carpet cleaner hire ukUsing a specially formulated cleaning product containing bleach, like Domestos Bleach Spray, will help to make sure your tiles and grout don’t make your bathroom look dirtier than it actually is! Regular maintenance of tiles and grout will slow down the discolouration process and prevent mould from growing. Cleaning products containing bleach, like Domestos Bleach Spray, can be particularly effective for cleaning white tiles and grout. Remember to follow the safety instructions on your product’s label.

An old toothbrush is an excellent tool for scrubbing grout. Tiles are much more than just simple flooring or wall decoration – they can really be the centrepiece of your kitchen or bathroom. Cleaning grout is an important part of keeping your tiles looking impressive. Whereas marks rarely show up on black grout, white and grey grouting can stain easily, and may make a room look dirty even if it’s clean. The tiles themselves also need a little attention every now and then, so a good tile cleaner should be an essential item in your cleaning cupboard. You don’t have to spend hours scrubbing, however. If you’re wondering how to clean grout and tiles in your kitchen and bathroom, there are some excellent ways to tackle the dirt swiftly and easily, leaving you time for more enjoyable activities. Watch this video to see how easy it is: What Tile Grout Cleaner Do I Need? Choosing a tile grout cleaner depends on your preferences. Commercial products like Cif Power & Shine Bathroom will offer good results with very little effort, but if you’d prefer to use something homemade, there are options available.

Just be sure never to mix different cleaning solutions, as some combinations (bleach and vinegar, for example) are toxic. Many different brands offer specialist grout cleaning solutions that are designed to bring back the brightness of your grout. When you’re looking at the different options, it’s best to choose one that has anti-fungal properties to help reduce the rate of mould growth – especially in the bathroom where warm, steamy environments encourage the spread of fungus. Some homeowners swear by bleach products for cleaning grout – and for white and light grey grouts, bleach can certainly be very effective. Oxygen bleach and chlorine bleach are particularly renowned for their tile and grout cleaning abilities, but they should be handled with care, and should never be used on black or other coloured grouts, as they might have a fading effect. Be sure to follow the directions on the label when using any cleaning product. If you’d prefer not to use bleach products for tile cleaning, why not try making your own natural tile cleaner?

Grout responds very well to the cleaning powers of acids – such as those found in vinegar – and the whitening properties of baking soda. To make an effective tile grout cleaner, simply mix these two products until they form a thick paste that can be easily applied to the grout.Always read the label and product information before use. 5 Essential Grout Cleaning Tips Cleaning grout isn’t just about the type of tile cleaner you use; it’s also about the methods you employ for getting the stains out. The best way to lift the maximum amount of dirt and grime is to apply a solution and give it enough time to soak in and work, before scrubbing it off. Here is a step-by-step guide: Use a dry broom or mop to wipe across the floor tiles, or a dry cloth to wipe wall tiles, before starting the grout cleaning process. This gets rid of any dust that’s accumulated, affording you better access to the grout. Apply your chosen cleaning solution to the grout, ensuring all areas are well covered.

You may find that you need to keep applying the solution regularly as it soaks in. You don’t want to saturate the floor, but you want to make sure the crevices are well covered. Leave the tile cleaner for around 30 minutes – enough time to loosen the stains, making them easier to lift off. Use a hard-bristled brush to scrub the grout clean. DIY stores sell dedicated grout brushes, but you may find that an old toothbrush works just as well – just remember not to use it in your mouth afterwards! Rinse the floor or wall with clean water and dry. For stubborn stains, you may find you need to repeat the process on a regular basis to see optimal results. When it comes to tile cleaning, it’s actually a very similar process. Stores sell specialized tile cleaner, but you can choose to make your own using bleach, or a similar thick paste of baking soda and water. If you’ve got marble tiles, however, it’s best to stick to a mild dishwashing soap, as acidic products – even things like vinegar – can cause damage.

Apart from troublesome areas of caked-on food and dirt, you shouldn’t need to scrub as vigorously as when cleaning grout. A good quality cloth will usually suffice. Cleaning bathroom tiles can be frustrating, as it can seem that grout becomes discoloured almost as soon as it’s been cleaned. Bathroom tiles – especially wall tiles around a bath or shower cubicle – are also vulnerable to mould growth, which is particularly evident in white and other light coloured grouts. White vinegar is good for tackling mould, but its worthwhile looking for a tile cleaner with mould inhibitors that prevent any further growth. You’ll need to clean regularly for these inhibitors to work to the best of their ability. Tile and Grout Cleaning Maintenance Make sure you include tile and grout cleaning as part of your regular cleaning schedule to slow down the discolouration of grout. Try to vacuum tiled floors on a daily basis, and mop or wipe on a weekly basis. It’s also beneficial to use a steam cleaner on tiles periodically to minimize ground-in dirt.