How to Protect Bathroom Grout

How to Protect Bathroom Grout


Bathroom grout is usually made of sand, cement and water. Although it is traditionally white, it is now made and sold in a number of colors. Grout adheres your bathroom tile to the walls, floors or ceilings. It also absorbs water, mold and mildew because it is a porous material. In order to protect bathroom grout from discoloration and bacteria, it is essential to clean, dry and seal the grout regularly. Read more to find out how to protect bathroom grout.


     Steps
  1. Dry your bathroom after every shower or cleaning. Use a squeegee, towel or cloth to dry all tiles after they get wet. Make sure you have a bathroom fan or window that can suck the excess moisture out from the air.
    • If you do not do this, grout will absorb excess moisture, which will turn into mold and mildew. It will stain and breakdown the structure of the grout, causing it to crumble prematurely. In extreme cases, the water and mold can get behind the grout and into the tiles.
  2. Clean bathroom tile and grout weekly with a pH neutral cleaner. Many multipurpose surface cleaners are pH neutral, so check on the bottle before you buy and use it.
    • A neutral cleaner means that the pH, or "potential of hydrogen" is not acidic or alkali. The potential of hydrogen is judged on a scale of 0 to 14, with 0 to 6.9 being acidic, 7 being neutral, and 7.1 to 14 being alkali. Water is also neutral, at a pH level of 7.
  3. Clean the tile and grout occasionally with a mild alkali cleaner. The frequency of deep cleaning grout depends upon the amount of traffic the bathroom gets. Deep clean every month, if it is heavily used, with 1 of the 2 methods below.
    • Mix 1/2 cup of powdered oxygen bleach into a gallon of water. Use a spoon to stir it until it is completely dissolved. Pour the mixture all over your dry bathroom grout. Reapply after the solution soaks into the grout, or about every 15 minutes for vertical surfaces. After 30 minutes scrub the tile and grout with a nylon brush, or a tooth brush for an extra thorough cleaning. Rinse well with warm water and dry with a towel or squeegee. The more you reapply the oxygen bleach on your tile and scrub it, the cleaner your grout will become.
    • Wet the surface of your bathroom tile. Fill an empty salt shaker with baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda generously all over the grout. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then scrub it with a nylon brush. Rinse well with warm water and dry immediately.
  4. Remove mold or mildew with a stronger oxygen bleach mixture. Make a paste with a small amount of water and apply it directly to the affected areas. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Scrub the grout with a tooth brush, and then rinse and dry it.
  5. Seal bathroom grout with a latex penetrating sealer after installation, and again every year. A penetrating sealer is important for bathroom grout, because it is absorbed into the grout's pores and protects it from mold and mildew. Some of these sealers can be expensive, but it is a good idea to choose based on quality rather than price.
    • Allow your tiles to dry. It will take approximately 5 days for the moisture behind the tiles to evaporate. Do not use your bathroom during this time.
    • Apply the sealer to a sponge. Wipe it over the tile and grout of the entire bathroom surface you want to protect. Leave the sealer on for the time indicated by the product's directions.
    • Wipe the excess sealer off the surface of the tile with a damp cloth or paper towels. The directions may suggest you use a pH neutral cleanser first and then rinse off the tile with a damp cloth.
    • Apply a second coat, if it is recommended by the product. Allow the last coat of protective grout sealer to sit overnight before you use the bathroom.


Tips

  • If your tile is chipping off, the grout is either poor quality or old and needs to be replaced.
  • Some tile cracking cannot be prevented, because it is a consequence of a house moving or settling.

Warnings

  • Do not clean your tile with acidic cleaners, such as vinegar. The acid can weaken the grout, making it crack or crumble more easily over time.

Things You'll Need

  • Towel or squeegee
  • Bathroom fan or window
  • Nylon brush
  • Toothbrush
  • Oxygen bleach
  • Water
  • Bucket
  • Baking soda
  • Salt shaker
  • Latex tile sealer
  • Neutral multipurpose cleaner
  • Sponge
  • Cloth or paper towels
also read this;

how to mediate with you inner voice
How to Stay Warm at Home Without a Heater