Walk into any tiled bathroom or kitchen today, and the grout will tell you plenty about the space. Clean grout is simply beautiful, and it keeps the tile looking new and fresh. On the other hand, nothing dulls bathroom tiles and kitchen tiles like stained grout. How do you refresh your grout and tiles? NYKB shares some great tips to get you started.
1. Get Your Grout Done Right
Proper tile installation will save you on grout maintenance in the long run. If you’re doing a kitchen remodel or bathroom remodel, get a professional contractor to do a great job once and for all. If you cut corners on your tile work, your grout will chip, crack, and stain faster than you expect.
2. Do Your Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Grout Cleaning
Don’t wait for your grout to get moldy to clean it. Save your elbow grease for a monthly deep cleaning with bleach and a grout brush. Until then, wipe down your bathroom tiles every time you take a shower or bath.
Run a squeegee on the walls and floor to remove excess water. Do the same with your kitchen tiles at the end of the day. Wipe down the backsplash after washing the dishes.
Also, remember to vacuum up any food debris that people may trample into the grout.
3. Use Strategic Mats and Rugs
Areas with high foot traffic stain faster. You’ll notice the darkening grout around your front and back doors, kitchen and dining areas, and around pet bowls. A mat is a great barrier between dirt and grout, adding a nice touch to your décor. After all, it’s much easier to clean the mats than to scrub the grout with a toothbrush.
4. Avoid Dunk-Style Mopping
Believe it or not, there is a right way to clean your bathroom and kitchen tiles. Remember that grout is porous, so skip buckets, mops, sponges, and cloth rags. Every time you dunk these cleaning items, the water gets dirtier—you’re basically cleaning the grout with wastewater.
Choose a microfiber mop instead because it uses less water and picks up more dirt. If you need a little extra cleaning power, simply add a tile cleaner, vinegar solution, or hydrogen peroxide solution to the spray bottle.
5. Try A DIY Grout Redo
If only a small section of your tiles needs a retouch, reapply the grout yourself. However, pay attention to the tile adhesive and grout mix to create an even, watertight seal between your tiles. Use a grout sealer to protect the grout lines from stains, and then use the cleaning tips above for maintenance.
Know When to Call the Experts
Sometimes, cleaning your bathroom and kitchen tiles doesn’t work for you. A bathroom contractor or kitchen contractor is best for:
- Large homes with multiple bathrooms, kitchens, and fully tiled floors
- High-traffic spaces include homes with many family members, guests, and pets
- Homeowners with health conditions that make manual cleaning difficult
- Busy homeowners who may not have spare time to deep clean their grout
- Older properties with seriously stained grout
- Extensive mold and water damage in kitchen tiles and bathroom tiles
If any of these scenarios resonate with you, hire a professional bathroom or kitchen contractor to sort out your tiles and grout. A professional deep cleaning tackles stains and molds, applies fresh grout, and seals it. You can also choose a colored grout that masks the staining for less maintenance work.
A professional cleaning typically lasts a year or longer but sealing should occur once a year to protect your grout. Start with an expert assessment to check your bathroom tiles and kitchen tiles. Contact your nearest bathroom contractor or kitchen contractor today with these tips in mind.
