Comments on: Tile and Grout Cleaner

Question: Tile and Grout Cleaner

Witty — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:15:44 -0800

If there's a badass tile and grout cleaner out there (for the bathroom), can you tell me what it is please? I can't seem to find "it". I don't mind letting "it" sit and soak. I don't mind scrubbing. But I want results. Gracias!

By: Medieval Maven

Medieval Maven — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:24:02 -0800

I find a paste of oxyclean or similar is the bang up cleanest cleaning cleaner you will ever use.

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:29:06 -0800

Bleach gel pens. It'll sit there and clean everything, leaving your grout pristine. Note: Not for use on dyed grouts.

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:36:00 -0800

Similarly, anything that will get blackish mildew stains out of caulk, short of re-caulking?

By: Kellydamnit

Kellydamnit — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:48:43 -0800

I'd second the bleach gel for grout or caulk.

But it's more for stains and discoloration than actual bits of mold or other assorted nastiness. I'd say give it a good cleaning with your normal product of choice, and then let the bleach sit on there.

By: NotMyselfRightNow

NotMyselfRightNow — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:53:46 -0800

We had this problem in our last apartment. Ended up using Soft Scrub With Bleach and really worked it into the grout and tile. Let it sit for a while, then hit it with Simple Green and a Swiffer.

Upside: It cleaned the hell out of it. From brown tile to white tile in one evening.

Downside: I really didn't need to know how nasty our floors were before this...!

By: SashaPT

SashaPT — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 09:35:05 -0800

I used Kaboom on our tile floor, which had been cleaned infrequently by the previous owners. It was definitely a hands-and-knees, scrub-each-inch-of-grout kind of job, but it worked really well. (Except on the part of the floor that was under the edges of the old toilet, where 20 years of dried pee will just not frickin' come out. A big kiss for someone who can solve that one.)

By: Caviar

Caviar — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 09:50:21 -0800

I've had pretty good luck with a combination of the bleach gel pen and those swanky Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.

By: cali

cali — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 10:51:15 -0800

I mix equal parts bleach and water and put it in a spray bottle. The gel is great for vertical sections of tile because it won't drip, but for getting deep into the cracks of old caulk it's too thick.

Of course, I have to wait until my hippie roommates are out of town for the weekend before I clean the bathroom. If anyone has a less toxic solution I'd be glad to hear it.

By: nakedcodemonkey

nakedcodemonkey — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:21:11 -0800

Bleach nukes stains, but if you want a less noxious solution, peroxide is pretty effective. Don't spray it, though (when aerosolized, it's pretty nasty). Wipe on with a toothbrush or sponge and walk away.

By: cali

cali — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:38:07 -0800

Is that hydrogen peroxide?

By: tozturk

tozturk — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:52:51 -0800

I second the endorsement of Kaboom! It's amazing. We had some nasty mold-stuff growing on our floor and it fixed it more than anything else.

I haven't had any good experience with Clorox pens though.

By: nakedcodemonkey

nakedcodemonkey — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:56:27 -0800

Is that hydrogen peroxide? --Yes.

By: matteo

matteo — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 12:27:27 -0800

I like Cif

By: jimmereeno

jimmereeno — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 13:54:59 -0800

Depending on just how bad your floor is, you might consider using a professional tile/grout acid wash followed by grout colorant. You can purchase both at home centers or custom tile stores.

The acid is used to both clean and "etch" the grout. The colorant then colors and seals the finished grout. Note that using this technique you can even update the color of the grout to one that might camouflage future stains, etc.

This page has some step-by-step instructions and recommendations for specific colorant brands.

By: Cranberry

Cranberry — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 14:50:44 -0800

Prevention is your friend. (Unless you like scrubbing with stinky cleaners) The best advice I ever got was to leave the vent fan on for at least 15 minutes after finishing the shower.
Speaking of cleaning, vents need it too. And the little fans can be replaced easily and economically.

By: Witty

Witty — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 22:42:31 -0800

Thanks everybody. I have some great alternatives to go with here.

By: flummox

flummox — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 15:30:58 -0800

Go ask all the professional tile installers who have nothing better to do then talk to each other at http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/index.php? Seriously there are many very knowledgeable folks willing to help you out or search the archives