Sooner or later, the owners of the house are looking for a way to effectively clean the seams between the tiles in the bathroom, because with prolonged use of the room, the joints become so dirty that even the most expensive repairs become unattractive. However, any hostess can restore the former beauty to the room.
Why does the grout turn black?
To understand how to clean the joints between tiles, you need to understand the causes of the pollution. Blackness between tiles appears due to:
- accumulation of dust and dirt;
- the development of fungus and mold.
The first reason is a natural process that cannot be completely avoided, but its consequences can be reduced. The grout crumbles under the influence of an aggressive environment, dirt and dust are clogged into the gaps. The reasons for this are:
- high humidity in the bathroom;
- household chemicals for bathing;
- household chemicals for cleaning premises.
Initial contamination contributes to the development of mold and mildew. These microorganisms are harmful to human health, and it is much more difficult to fight them.
The choice of cleaning agents and the method of cleaning depend on the cause of darkening in the joints.
Methods for cleaning seams
Hosts who are wondering how they can clean the joints between the tiles in the bathroom at home can use special household chemicals or folk remedies. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Traditional methods
The easiest way to easily remove plaque and dirt from the seams between the bathroom tiles is to clean with baking soda. This requires a pack of baking soda and an old, stiff-bristled toothbrush. You need to do the following:
- moisten the grout with water;
- apply baking soda to the seams and wait until it gets wet;
- apply powder to the brush head;
- after the crystals get wet, walk with bristles along the joints of the tile;
- moisten a large brush and apply baking soda to it;
- clean all tiles from plaque;
- wash the tiles with water.
Blackened areas should be treated with special care. Since baking soda is an antiseptic, it cleans up the fungus in the bathroom.
How quickly can mold be removed? Vinegar copes well with this task. You can use a 9% solution or essence. When working, you should use personal protective equipment:
- respirator, such as "Petal";
- rubber gloves.
The acid not only effectively removes mold, but also promotes the elimination of mold in the bathroom. Procedure:
- mix baking soda and vinegar in equal proportions;
- apply the solution to the joints between the tiles;
- leave on the surface for 5-10 minutes;
- brush the joints;
- wash off with water.
The baking soda prevents the vinegar from draining off the tiles right away. It is absorbed into the grout and kills microorganisms. Be sure to wash the seams thoroughly so that the acid does not spoil the tiles.
Many owners have white grout in their bathroom, but not everyone knows how to bleach the seams between tiles. A mixture of baking soda, fresh lemon juice and vinegar will help clean and bleach them. The composition is as follows:
- 6 tbsp. l. soda;
- 1 tbsp. l. citric acid;
- half a glass of vinegar 9%;
- 1 glass of water.
Everything is thoroughly mixed and applied with a brush or a thin stiff brush to the joints of the tiles. The mixture is left for 15-20 minutes. If the product remains, it is necessary to re-treat the surface to remove deep dirt. This mixture should be thoroughly washed off so that the acids do not corrode the grout between the tiles.
This cleaning helps to whiten yellowed seams and helps to get rid of harmful microorganisms. These products can only be used for white grouting. Grout in a different color will lose its color.
Ready funds
Since it is not enough to clean the tile joints in the bathroom with abrasive products or a metal brush, it is necessary to use special tile care products. Any cleaning agent with a high chlorine content can be used for bleaching and disinfection. Simple bleach or products such as:
- Domestos;
- "Sanita";
- "Seth";
- "Comet" and others.
If the grout has darkened, it is better to use a thick product. They stay on a vertical surface longer and penetrate deeper inside. For cleaning it is necessary:
- wet tile seams;
- apply bleach with a toothbrush;
- leave for 15-20 minutes;
- wipe the joints again with a brush;
- at the end, wash the joints between the tiles with water.
Effective cleaning of the tile from the fungus helps to carry out a special pencil for stripping the tile. Inside it is a water-resistant solution that paints the surface, penetrates deeply and kills germs. It is odorless and dries quickly. It is impossible to achieve similar results with simple detergents.
A melamine sponge can also effectively clean the tiles. It wipes off any dirt, rust, limescale. However, the sponge can only perform mechanical cleaning. Without the use of household chemicals, it is unable to eliminate any fungus or mold.
Specialty compounds such as oxygen bleach can kill microorganisms and freshen up the color of the white grout. The product is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1, applied with a sponge on the tiles and joints, left for 1-1.5 hours. The residues can be removed with a stiff brush and washed off with water.
Preventive treatment of seams
Since dampness is the main reason for the development of microorganisms, the bathroom must be ventilated. A fan should be installed in the ventilation hole as a hood.
To protect against fungi, the joints of the tiles are treated with special solutions. They seal micropores and prevent microorganisms from penetrating deep into the grout and multiplying. To prevent the formation of fungus, you need to treat the inter-tile space with soda 1-2 times a month.
Bathroom mold remover should be applied to darkened areas as soon as they are found. Don't wait for the bacteria to multiply. To prevent their appearance, you need to wipe the tiles with a dry towel after taking a bath, and carry out wet cleaning with the addition of 1 tbsp. l. ammonia or vinegar 9%.
Other tips:
Which of the ways, in your opinion, is the most effective? Share in the comments, read all the reviews ...
Sooner or later, everyone has to face the question of how to clean the seams between the tiles on the floor. Even if you regularly carry out wet cleaning in the house, the joints between the tiles will inevitably become clogged, which will not only spoil the visual perception of the surface, but can also cause illness in family members.
Floor tiles are most susceptible to dirt and therefore require regular maintenance
Contamination reasons
The floor is constantly exposed to contact with dirt, dust, water and various substances. But if you can wipe the tile in a few seconds, then everything is much more complicated with the joints. It takes time and effort to clean them, but it's worth it.
Seams collect dirt and are ideal breeding grounds for pathogenic bacteria, fungus and mold. Therefore, the situation must be corrected immediately, before the matter comes to dire consequences.
Before starting to wash the tiles on the floor, it is necessary to determine the type of contamination, since the selection of cleaning agents and the further list of actions largely depend on this.
Most often, seams suffer for the following reasons:
- remnants of materials after repair;
- detergents;
- dirty water;
- food particles;
- dirt from the street;
- dust.
During the operation of the surface, the grout darkens, foreign particles adhere to it and, if you do not take measures, soon a fungus is added to the problems of cleanliness.
During operation, the tile joints become dirty and the surface loses its original appearance
Tools and materials
How and how to clean the dirty tile joints on the floor? For this, a whole arsenal of tools is used. Much, of course, depends on the type of pollution and the degree of its neglect. Sometimes you can do with improvised means and a simple sponge, but in most cases you still need special household chemicals and a stiff brush.
To clean the seams between the tiles on the floor, you will need:
- used toothbrush;
- scraper;
- grout;
- rubber spatula;
- household chemicals (powder, gel or spray);
- soda;
- vinegar;
- lemon;
- peroxide;
- dishwashing liquid;
- protective gloves;
- clean water and a sponge.
Ideally, old grout should be disposed of with special tools.
Dirt at the joints
So let's take a look at how and how to clean clogged joints between floor tiles. If the dirt is not too serious, even improvised means are suitable for this, for example, you can clean the seams with a toothbrush and baking soda. If fat particles are clogged between the tiles, additionally sprinkle the treated areas with vinegar to activate the reaction with soda. Add lemon juice for a pleasant scent and enhance the effect.
If it is easier for you to work with household chemicals or stains are not cleaned out using these methods, use special compounds designed for washing tiles and joints between them. These products can be supplied in the form of a cleaning powder, active gel or spray and they work very quickly. If the stains are tough, apply the product and leave it on for a few minutes. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
If a fungus has developed
Now let's look at how and with what to clean the darkened seams between the tiles on the floor, if it has already come to mold or mildew. Here, simple methods will turn out to be powerless, because after infection it is quite difficult to get rid of the problem. The best way is to completely replace the affected areas.
In cases where fungal infections occur, the inter-tile material is removed and a new grout is applied.
First, you need to clean the affected areas of the joints between the tiles. This is done in the same way as during the repair - with the help of a scraper. After that, it is advisable to walk along the joints with an antiseptic impregnation in order to protect the floors from the spread of microbes. After it dries out, you can start filling up the cracks. Dilute a small amount of grout and apply it to loose joints.
It is recommended to carry out such an update from time to time, since in addition to contamination, a gradual destruction and leaching of the material occurs. This can affect the aesthetics, hygiene, water resistance and durability of the facing surface.
After finishing work
A big problem arises when you need to clean the tiles on the floor after renovation. Such a need appears in the event that there are particles of mortar, grout, construction dust, primer, paint, etc. on the tile. In this case, ordinary soap solution is no longer enough.
Often, solvents, ammonia or kerosene are used to remove serious contaminants. In a concentrated form, these substances are not used, they are used to prepare a cleaning solution. With their help, it is possible to soften the stains from the repair, and after that it becomes much easier to wash them.
Before using a solvent, make sure your tile is capable of withstanding this corrosive substance. Try it on an inconspicuous area. If the surface has not deteriorated, you can safely wash it.
If the solution or paint still cannot be washed off, you can use a razor or scraper. In doing so, try not to damage the decorative part of the tile.
Whitening
Now let's look at how and with what you can clean the old seams between the tiles on the floor so that they turn white again. Over time, the joints between the tiles darken, as they absorb dirty water, dust, various pigments, etc. Therefore, periodically you need to refresh them with bleaching.
The simplest and most effective way is to apply a peroxide-based composition. It is safe for tiles and grouting between joints, but may cause irritation with prolonged skin contact, so be sure to wear gloves.
Dissolve a small amount of the mixture in a plastic container. It consists of dishwashing gel, directly peroxide and soda. You should get a creamy gruel. The proportions are taken approximately equal. The gel will remove the grease from the seams, and the soda and peroxide will return them to their former whiteness. Apply the composition with a toothbrush and rub lightly. Then let it sit for a couple of hours for the reaction to take place. Then rinse everything off with clean water. It is recommended to wash the floors in this way several times a year.
If you monitor the condition of the joints and wash them regularly, and not just after renovation, you will extend the life of your floor and protect your home from mold and mildew.
After some time after the repairs made, the joints between the tiles acquire an untidy, dirty look. Mold and deposits are caused by dampness, steam and water. A warm and humid environment is an ideal place for fungal growth. And if you tighten the process of cleaning the seams, then further it will be more and more difficult to cope with this scourge. We will help you master the method of cleaning seams with the help of an improvised tool and simple tools that you can do at home.
A popular way to make bleach to remove dirt from tile joints at home:- In one and a half liters of water, you need to pour one hundred and fifty grams of soda, one hundred grams of citric acid solution and one hundred grams of vinegar.
- When you pour the acid into the soda solution, add it slowly, otherwise a violent reaction will turn out and the contents will splash out.
- All this must be thoroughly shaken to mix.
- You need to use such a solution carefully, before you start working with it, you need to open the windows for ventilation.
- It is recommended to work with rubber gloves, as the bleach is quite aggressive.
- Using a toothbrush or paintbrush, apply the solution to the seams.
- Let them stand for about fifteen minutes to dissolve all the dirt, and then wash off with a damp cloth.
- Mix equal proportions of vinegar and water. The solution is sprayed onto the surface, which is cleaned with a stiff brush. Do not use metal tools! The dirt is washed off with water, then the tiles are treated again with the same solution. It remains only to dry the working area.
- Take 100 ml of hydrogen peroxide in 200 ml of water. When processing in this way, rinsing the surface with clean water is optional.
- Prepare a grinder or sander for the autopsy procedure.
- Remove furniture from the room, if this is not possible, cover it with something to prevent dust from entering.
- After that, it is necessary to cut off the grout layer.
- Then wipe the surface with a damp cloth, removing dust.
- Make deeper canals with a sander.
- If the grinding wheel cannot handle some areas, use coarse sandpaper.
- Apply thinner to the joints, prime with a primer and then cover with new grout paste.
- Fill the device reservoir with water, following the instructions for use of the steam generator.
- Turn on the device and wait for the water to reach the appropriate temperature. It should be close to 180 C.
- Work from the first corner. Sweep the brush over the surface, then move on until you reach the opposite wall.
- Then you need to turn around and process the next part of the floor.
- Proceed in this manner until the entire surface is cleaned.
- After finishing work, turn off the steam cleaner, and wipe the tiles with a mop or cloth to remove residual dirt and water.
However, it is recommended to periodically wash the joints between the tiles (once a month) so that there is no need to clean them with a radical method. In addition, there is an alternative option - painting the joints using a moisture-resistant water-based paint, which must be applied in several layers.
If you periodically wash the cladding and joints with special solutions, then general cleaning can be avoided. During the operation of the tiled coating, grout joints often lose color and collapse. How and what is the best way to clean the joints between the tiles on the floor? How to turn a yellow moldy seam into a white and clean strip, let's try to figure it out.
How to clean the joints between tiles
The tiled flooring is perfectly cleaned, however, the joint seams are not cleaned and washed out worse and eventually tarnish, accumulate dirt and grease and are a "home" for mold and mildew. The tiles are placed in the kitchen area, where during cooking, grease and other contaminants adhere mainly in the area of the joints between tiles. In bathrooms, tiles are also often used as flooring, where, in the process of constant humidity, the ingress of various detergents and water, plaque is found on the tile joints, in which bacteria and mold develop under favorable conditions.
You need to take a scraper and gradually, centimeter by centimeter, clean the top layer of grout along with the dirt
Various methods are used to clean the seams, these are chemical, mechanical methods, folk methods, oxygen bleaches and steam cleaners.
During operation, the seams between the tiles darken, rubbed off from washing the floors, accumulate various foreign particles. All this contributes to the development of fungus and various bacteria. Since tile coverings are mainly found in the kitchen area and in the bathrooms, it is necessary to pay due attention to cleaning in these areas.
One of the methods for cleaning the joints between tiles is steam cleaning. To do this, use a special device called a steam cleaner, which operates at a temperature of at least 170˚С. Steam cleaners work without the use of chemicals, which is a positive point, cleaning from various contaminants and fungus is carried out in a thermal way. Also, when working with the steam cleaner, it is not necessary to wear gloves to protect the skin of the hands, however, it is necessary to take care of the respiratory system and, if possible, open windows and doors to access clean air. After using the steam cleaner, the areas to be treated must be washed with clean water at room temperature.
Instructions: how to clean the joints between floor tiles
When cleaning the joints between tiles, do not use an abrasive, as it can scratch the tile of the tile, break its top layer, and scratch the coating. Scratches left after using an abrasive and an iron sponge are filled with dirt, grease, bacteria can develop there, which will adversely affect human health.
Cleaning of tile joints can be done in different ways and with different cleaning materials.
To clean the joints between the tiles you will need:
- Pure water;
- Capacity for water;
- Sponge and rags;
- Toothbrush with soft bristles;
- Spatula and knife.
To clean the tile joints, you can use the following substances: dishwashing detergents (Biolan, Myth, Pemolux, Sorti, Pril, Chirton, AOS, Fairy and others); means for cleaning materials from glass ceramics (cleaning gel or cream Lotta, Sanox, Cif and others); products for ceramic tiles ("HG" for floor tiles, Flat and others). Since it is inconvenient to clean the tiles on the floor, a rag will help to facilitate the process. The rags must be rolled up in the form of a pillow and put into a bag, this is done so that it does not get wet, then the bag with the rags is placed under the knees for a more comfortable position during the cleaning process. Use rubber gloves to protect your hands.
In case of intense dirt between the joints, you can scrape out with a knife or a spatula, but this method damages the seams, and, therefore, after these operations, it is necessary to use a new grout.
If the seams between the tiles have lost their brightness and their former whiteness, then you can use Sanox and a toothbrush, it will help you quickly scrub and whiten the floor tiles in the kitchen and bathroom. To do this, apply the gel in the area of the joints and seam, wait 10 minutes and brush the seams with a toothbrush, then rinse with clean water. If a yellow plaque or fungus appears in the places of the tiles, then it is necessary to remove the old seams with a scraper, wash, dry and apply a new grout.
Cleaning tile seams
If you need to clean the seams of the tile after repair and finishing work, then you will need a solvent or kerosene. To clean the remnants of the paint primer and grout, it is necessary to take out the kerosene or solvent on a rag, after putting on rubber gloves on your hands. Gently clean the cladding surface from contamination with progressively rotational movements, then wash with any detergent, clean water and dry. When bleaching the joints between tiles, you can use various gels and cleaners, but you should not resort to detergents that contain various inclusions and abrasives, as this can damage the aesthetics of the tile.
If during the major cleaning there were no industrial tools at hand, then you can clean the tiles well with what is almost always at home
Experts for cleaning tile joints use a solution based on peroxide and soda. It is prepared in the form of sour cream consistency. The prepared mixture is applied only to the seams, left for three to four hours for the reaction to go and eat away the remnants of dirt and fat. Clean the joints with a toothbrush, then rinse with clean water, wipe with a cloth and dry.
The joints between tiles lose their color under the influence of various aggressors such as water, heat, sunlight, grease, detergents and cleaning agents, moisture and water ingress. Darkening of the seams between tiles often indicates the appearance of mold and mildew.
It is quite easy to wash the seams between the tiles from any kind of dirt, using any detergent
To eliminate fungus and mold in inter-tile joints, special tools are used:
- Products for bathrooms and toilets (for removing mold in bathrooms by Bagi Anti-Mold, UNICUM and others);
- Special cleaners ("HG" for removing mold and mildew, Caparol Capatox, Eco Mist for removing mold and mildew Mold & Mildew and others).
However, you can avoid the purchase of expensive means to remove mold and mildew from tiles. The problem can be solved with simple baking soda, bleach, or vinegar. Cleaning the tiles with these means is carried out in rubber gloves, and also during the first application, you need to wait 10-20 minutes, after which intensively clean the place in the area of the fungus with a sponge or toothbrush. Intensive fungus is perfectly disinfected with bleach. Next, you need to rinse with clean water and dry. Yellowed seams are removed with a special marker, which contains a fungicide that prevents the formation of mold. The felt-tip pen has a permanent, waterproof ink with a varnish effect. After successively performed operations, the seams between the tiles will be white and clean.
Options: how to clean the seams between floor tiles (video)
The aesthetics of the tiled flooring depends on its frequency. Tiled flooring is easy to clean, but the seams are often dirty, which can cause many diseases in family members. The reasons for the contamination of the joints between the tiles are dust, dirt, particles of various food, the ingress of various liquids, residues of detergents, as well as residues of materials after laying the tiles. Therefore, you need to choose a product that can be used to clean and wash the seams without harming your health.