Q: DEAR TIM: Cleaning a tile floor is my next big project. The grout lines are filthy, and I haven't discovered an easy way to restore the tile. Is there a magic product that will clean floor tile? Once the grout is clean, what's the easiest way to keep it that way? Should I invest in a cleaning machine? -- Michelle S., Corvallis, Ore. A: DEAR MICHELLE: We had a boatload of tile floors in our last home, and cleaning them was a nightmare. To make it worse, we had brilliant white tile with light gray grout in our kitchen and breakfast area. I knew when I was installing it that it was going to be a challenge to keep it clean. Add to the mix three small kids, and soon the grout around the refrigerator, stove and kitchen sink was nearly black. It took me years to discover how to clean tile floors in a way that was easy and that didn't harm my family, pets and the colored grout. I finally settled on using powdered oxygen bleach. Little did I know that this choice would put me way ahead of the current green movement.

Oxygen bleach is nontoxic, doesn't produce harsh fumes, and is color- and fabric-safe. It removes all food and grease stains with no or minimal scrubbing. The oxygen ions attack the stain molecules, breaking them into pieces that rinse away with little effort. To clean floor tiles, mix any high-quality oxygen bleach with warm water and stir it until it dissolves. Then pour the solution onto the floor tile so the grout lines are flooded with the solution. It's best to apply the oxygen-bleach solution to dry grout so it soaks deeply. Let the solution sit on the grout for at least 15 minutes. If it completely soaks into the grout, add more solution, making sure there is always plenty of the cleaning liquid on the grout. The longer you let the solution sit on the grout, the less work you have to do cleaning tile flooring. The oxygen ions work for up to six hours. To get maximum cleaning results, it helps to scrub the grout lightly after 30 minutes. Always pour new solution onto the grout as you scrub.

An oxygen bleach solution will remove red wine stains in minutes. dry carpet cleaning north eastBeet juice is not a problem. carpet steam cleaning vs chem dryI've not discovered one stain it can't remove. best above ground pool vacuum reviewsFriends have tried the tile cleaning machines, but they say the oxygen bleach does a much better job. pool cleaning service springfield moYou have to always scrub a little, but that's how anything gets clean.buy robot vacuum cleaner philippines

Once you have clean floor tiles, you can keep the grout looking like new by adding oxygen bleach powder to your mop water. carpet cleaner for shop vacApply a liberal amount of mop water to the floor, scrubbing the tile surface with the mop. which steam mop works the bestBut leave the mop water in the grout joints without rinsing the floor. The oxygen ions clean the light dirt in the grout without scrubbing. Come back 30 minutes later and rinse the floor with clean water. If you do this each time, you'll never be on your hands and knees again with a scrub brush. It's always best to work on stains while they're fresh, if at all possible. But tile floors that have been dirty for years will come clean in no time if you use oxygen bleach. How To Clean Grout Like You Mean It (Image credit: Bethany Nauert)

If I were a better person, I'd be cleaning my grout right now, but instead I'm gathering tips and tricks to help you clean your grout. If you can no longer see your reflection in your grout and want to restore it to its former resplendent glory, read on... Don't want to clean your grout? I've always rented, so my approach to grout has been rather lackadaisical: I clean and scrub the bathroom, of course, but I don't have a lifelong bond with the grout that inspires me to do right by it. Time to bring in the experts! Ask A Clean Person: The Hairpin's regular feature Ask A Clean Person is a goldmine of advice and overarching cleaning philosophy/enthusiasm. In the feature on cleaning floors, grout is tackled with OxyClean or bleach and water, never abrasive cleaners. Their advice is: "sweep or dry mop first, then handsies & kneesies scrub, then polish with a dry cloth." The entire post is helpful and charming, and has totally changed my floor cleaning approach. Bob Villa: Mr. This Old House's method really appeals to me: spread a baking soda and water paste on grout lines, spraying vinegar over that, and then scrubbing with a brush.

It's like making a volcano, and I already own all of those products. Martha Stewart: But then Martha comes in and complicates matters! "Steer clear of lime and mineral scalers and white vinegar, which damage grout... Fight the urge to use bleach or ammonia, too; they won't get rid of mold, and they will harm grout and tile." No vinegar, no bleach — what's a grout owner to do? Martha recommends a multi-step regime involving a yearly grout sealing, weekly gentle scrubbing with a grout brush and ph-neutral products, and grout poultices and restorers as needed for deeper cleaning. That's a lot of stuff. Better Homes & Gardens: BH&G is the diplomat of the group, recommending bleach solutions, baking soda + vinegar, and grout sealants. My favorite tip: "To get twice the scrubbing power, use an old electric toothbrush." How have I never thought of that?! Popular Mechanics: The mechanics defy A Clean Person by advocating scrubbing with scouring powder... DIY Network: But the DIY Network goes a step further by advising us to clean grout with sandpaper!