Tip for Getting White Grout Clean CHEAP!

[ducklite]

My shower has white grout and a white tile floor. Over time the grout had gotten kind of grungy, even after being scrubbed clean.

For those that missed the drama, a couple of weeks ago my toilet stopped up and long story short, backed up into the shower. Yeah, I know, gag me.

So after it all drained back down, I rinsed it, but was gagged by the thought of cleaning it "as is." So I did what any self-respecting germaphobe would have done, I dumped half a gallon of straight bleach all over the floor of the shower and left the room for a couple of hours.

When I came back the grout was as white--if not whiter--than the day it was installed! The bleach had soaked in and bleached it all. I rinsed it down again and then scrubbed the shower floor, feeling pretty confident that the bleach had killed enough germs that they wouldn't come through my rubber gloves. Yes "Hello, I'm Anne, and I'm a germaphobe" pretty well fits me.

I just did it again, and the shower floor looks beautiful with no scrubbing!

Now I'm thinking that I'm going to put bleach into a spray bottle and spray the tile walls, turn on the fan, shut the door and let it soak for a couple hours. that grout isn't nearly as bad, but it could still stand a bit of brightening.

All for a cheap bottle of bleach! And to think I've been spending a fortune on expensive cleaners that probably don't kill half as many germs and definitely didn't get it nearly as clean!

Anne

 

[BethR]

Well, I can tell you that I am NOT a germaphobe, but I can attest to the fact that Bleach is a great grout cleaner and mold and mildew remover. Can't beat the price either!

(Just remember to use it in a well ventilated area, rinse it well so that it doesn't get on anything that you don't WANT to bleach, and don't mix it with other cleaning products - I did that once and almost passed out from the fumes. There ARE something to those warnings that they give. )

 

[Stacerita]

Just what I needed to read. I was planning on cleaning the grout in my bathroom tomorrow and was dreading it. Now I will just grab the bleach tonight, spray it all down, and rinse it off in the morning. Thanks!

 

[TurtleGirl28]

Sorry to hear about your toilet backing up. What a mess to have to clean up. Anyway, if the bleach doesn't get it clean enough for you, try white vinegar, it works really well too.



Hope this helps.

 

[hercamore]

Yep, I do this with my bathtub. Fill it halfway with water and pour in some bleach. Only thing the smell is a killer.

Hard to do when it's 20 below out!



herc.

 

[GraysMom]

I like to use the Chlorox gel stuff for cleaning the grout on my bathroom floor. It costs more, but I can control where the bleach goes since it only oozes a little past where you put it (unless you put it on a tile wall).

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

What do you guys think of putting straight bleach on kitchen tiled floors?? I'm embarrassed to say how nasty those tiles are.........

 

[ducklite]

What do you guys think of putting straight bleach on kitchen tiled floors?? I'm embarrassed to say how nasty those tiles are.........

For the kitchen I think I'd rather use amonia to cut grease. Maybe get them as clean as possible with a soapy amonia and water mix, then rinse well--really well--and then try some bleach.

Anne

 

[PatMcDuck]

in a similar vein, my house is 12 years old, and I realized I had cracks in the grout lines that needed fixing FAST in the kids bath. Somehow I sort of put this off... I read up online how to do it, and I re-grouted those walls around the tub. I have all white tile and grout, which makes it easier (i got premixed up ready to use grout). I really had no clue WHAT I was doing, but it came out great. The guys at Lowes helped. : ) This process also gives you white, clean grout, but is only needed whrn grout is missing or cracked of course. But the shower is out of commission while grout dries, and for another day after you seal it and that dries.

 

[louise']

The grout in my kitchen should be a sand color. If I try bleach will the grout turn white? Anyone tried this?
Thanks