Keep it Fresh: How to Clean Bathroom Grout
After all the hard work involved installing bathroom tiles – whether they are on the floor or on the wall – it’s good to have a plan in position regarding keeping that grout looking as pristine as possible! It’s not complicated, but it does involve paying attention to detail and not letting any grime get a foothold on the grout from the offset. Keep it all looking fresh and gorgeous with our tips on how to clean and maintain your bathroom grout…
1 – Don’t Let it Get Grubby in the First Place
If your brand new bathroom is a family bathroom, or one that’s used more than once a day, it’s worth trying to wipe the tiles down after every bath or shower. If you have a shower squeegee for the glass panels, whizz it over the tiles as well. A couple of minutes spent wiping over surfaces and tiles with an absorbent cloth to get rid of water deposits, soap traces and condensation is well worth the effort and pre-empts major deep cleaning sessions.
2 – Coloured Grout is a Practical Choice
White grout is the first choice for many customers, but it’s well worth considering a coloured grout to lessen the cleaning commitment! Of course, the bathroom should always be kept clean and hygienic, but having a dark grey grout does make things easier. Choose Anti-Mould Grout from Tile Mountain in colours, including Light Grey, Medium Grey, Anthracite and other shades, including White. Shown here with Lithos Dark Grey Hexagon Matt Marble Effect Porcelain Tiles.
3 – Choose Complex Tile Patterns
Some tiles are designed to look like multiple tiles fixed together – so you get the look of a complex multi-tile layout, but with fewer grout lines to clean and maintain. This is one of the Windsor Multi Patterned Tiles from Tile Mountain – one porcelain tile measuring 450x450mm that has the appearance of four smaller tiles.
4 – Cleaning Tips for Floors and Walls
One old-fashioned method uses a paste made from two parts of bicarbonate of soda and one part water. Mix it up in an old bowl and use a toothbrush or similar to apply to the grout lines. Leave a few minutes, then spray with white distilled vinegar (also available as a general purpose cleaner). Let it fizz/ bubble and brush again. Rinse off and your grout should be perfectly clean. A once a week blitz will do the job and in particular, will keep new white grout looking good.
5 – Be Consistent
A warm, dry bathroom is easier to keep clean as grime, mould and mildew is less likely to accumulate in damp spots. Also, make sure there’s no fluff or dust rolling around under the bath. A weekly mop with general purpose bathroom cleaner will keep both the tiles and grout looking good. Use a sponge/scourer on the grout if necessary – choose one with a white abrasive side – the green ones sometimes leave fragments of green plastic stuck in the grout!
6 – Use a Spray Bleach (Sparingly!)
A perfectly tiled shower room or bathroom deserves to be kept looking crisp and sparkling. Large format tiles are often used so there aren’t as many grout lines visible – but those that are visible need to be fabulous! An easy solution is to give grout lines a spritz of a spray cleaner that includes bleach. Spray, leave a couple of minutes, scrub a toothbrush up and down the lines, rinse off and dry. One of my tried and tested favourites is Domestos Multi-Purpose Bleach Spray.
7 – Tackle Mould and Mildew Too
Whilst you’re inspecting the grout, keep an eye out for any suspicions of mould or mildew on sealant or other joints or corners too. Prevention is better than cure! Brush away thoroughly, using a spray bleach or other general bathroom cleaner. There are various proprietary mould and mildew products available, including sprays and creams. Mould & Mildew Blaster by Astonish is very reliable, does the trick, and will see off any unwelcome black spots on grout, sealant etc.
8 – Home & Dry
Once the grout has been scrubbed clean, keep the bathroom warm and dry with a towel radiator – this is the Naples Matt Black, and an electric version is also available. It doesn’t have to be over-hot, set a low-level heat just enough to take the edge off a chilly room and to allow damp towels to air dry. It’s available in various sizes, so choose the right size for your bathroom or shower room – advice is available from our experts via our contact page here.
