Product to clean and stain dirty grout floor tiles

Esho

Hi - I have stone tiles on the floor of a shower, and the grout was white and is now stained and dirty looking.

Could anyone recommend a product to clean the grout and one to stain it when its clean?

74merc

I've tried a few approaches, a grout brush and a pot of the stuff for cleaning saucepans (can't remember the name right now) and a steam cleaner and the grout brush.
The steam cleaner made it a bit easier but the results were similar.
I would be wary about staining grout on a stone floor. How are you going to prevent the stone from being stained too?

Esho

Thanks 74merc - no prob with the steam cleaner damaging the grout?
I am planning to stain the grout with an artists brush

sky6

Brick Cleaner will clean the grout with the use of a Deck scrub. Make a solution of Brick Cleaner and water. You might need to try different strengths. When Clean rinse with Water. You can then put on fresh grout if you wish. Just make sure to wear rubber gloves and keep children away. It's Hydrochloric acid that's the active agent in it so be careful.

74merc

Esho, the grout is still looking good nearly a year after using a steam cleaner on it.
I'd be wary of using any acid on stone tiles, particularly if they are calciferous like travertine.
It will dull the finish, due to a reaction between the acid and the alkaline stone.
I'd say it would be safe enough on ceramic or porcelain tiles though.

Esho

Thanks sky6 and 74merc. I'll give the steam cleaner a go first and see how the grot shifts.
Much appreciated :-)

Esho

What kind of a steam cleaner did you use? I will hire one for the day.

cobham

Old toothbrush and bleach solution?

sky6

cobham wrote: »

Old toothbrush and bleach solution?

I tried that before and it's useless. The Brick cleaner works because it breaks down the Cement in the Grout. But as said you do need to be careful using it and always try a sample area first.

e.r

Tubs and tiles stock litofin very good range of tile cleaning/caring products.

newacc2015

Firstly never use a white grout ever. Unless its the expensive plastic like ones, that comes premixed in a tub. Regular cheap white grout just discolours too easily. I use grey grout every where. Its not the best looking with all tiles. But it stays clean looking unlike white

Woodies sell a grout bleach in a marker style tub, that is pretty good. I would try that

Are you regularly sealing your tiles against staining?

Project Tile Design in Dublin 15 have a great range of italian tile cleaners, that I havent seen elsewhere. Maybe try calling them for a suggestion?

BettePorter

My sister was advised against cream grout with her porcelain tiles by the tile saleswoman but she wanted what she wanted. She was a bit worried she'd made a mistake cause nothing seemed to bring up the original colour in places most walked on until she discovered lidl grout cleaner. They don't sell it day to day ..... it appears on the random shelf every few months and she literally buys up as much as she can cause shes afraid they ll stop making it and it sells out fast. She has a cupboard of the stuff! Its absolutely amazing. Spray along a line ..... little rub with a soft brush .... wipe off and after a few mins drying it looks like u regrouted that day! Its incredible stuff!

massy086

BettePorter wrote: »

My sister was advised against cream grout with her porcelain tiles by the tile saleswoman but she wanted what she wanted. She was a bit worried she'd made a mistake cause nothing seemed to bring up the original colour in places most walked on until she discovered lidl grout cleaner. They don't sell it day to day ..... it appears on the random shelf every few months and she literally buys up as much as she can cause shes afraid they ll stop making it and it sells out fast. She has a cupboard of the stuff! Its absolutely amazing. Spray along a line ..... little rub with a soft brush .... wipe off and after a few mins drying it looks like u regrouted that day! Its incredible stuff!

is this it?
http://www.lidl.ie/en/Offers.htm?action=showDetail&id=29143

BettePorter

Can't view that pic but I was in lidl today and its coincidentally back this week! Standard white spray bottle ( looks like a bottle of flash etc)

Esho

+1 on the steam cleaner 74merc! Amazing how it lifted. I got a bissel one, that worked wonders (although the grout brush attachment is not in great shape now)

martinar2

Hi all,
Im in the middle of a clean myself,
Vinegar, brush it into the grout leave it sit a few minutes and rebrush it again, scrub scrub scrub.
I was using a toothbrush last night and got a lot done, getting a grout brush today (I have a lot more to do)

A gallon of whitehat vinegar cost me €3.26 in the local cash and carry and that amount will do many many houses worth of grout.

Then i steam cleaned the vinegar away, but thats not necessary as long as you wipe it up well.

Hope it helps!!