How to Whiten Grout Lines

Cleaning the surface of your tiles is easy, but grout lines are much more challenging. Sometimes, you may even need to repaint the entire grout. Fortunately, you don’t need many tools to clean grout lines; in fact, you probably already have most of what you need at home. However, if you want to repaint the grout lines, you will need to buy a special type of paint.

Start by preparing warm water and a nylon brush. Sometimes, a little warm water and some scrubbing is all you need. Simply spray warm water on the grout lines and then use a stiff brush to scrub in circular motions. This may be enough to remove dirt from the surface, revealing the white grout underneath.

• If the stains are harder to remove, you can add a few drops of dish soap to the warm water for extra scrubbing power.
• Try to find a brush specifically made for cleaning grout lines. If you can’t find this kind of brush, an old toothbrush or a nail brush will work. Avoid using a wire brush, as it may damage the grout.

Use a vinegar and water solution to remove mold stains. Mix one part white vinegar and one part warm water in a spray bottle and spray the solution onto the stained area. Wait about 5 minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush. Rinse with warm water if necessary.

• This method should not be used if the tiles are made of marble or other natural stones. Vinegar may damage these materials.

Make a paste with baking soda and water to treat stubborn stains. Mix a sufficient amount of water with baking soda to form a paste, then apply it to the stained areas. Scrub with a stiff brush and rinse with warm water.

• You can also spray a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water over the baking soda paste, wait for the fizzing to stop, and then scrub with a stiff brush.

Use hydrogen peroxide to tackle tough stains. You can spray hydrogen peroxide directly onto the stain or mix it with baking soda to form a paste. After spraying the hydrogen peroxide on the grout lines, wait a few minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush. Rinse with water after scrubbing.

• Hydrogen peroxide is very effective at removing blood stains.

Use a ready-made oxygen bleach cleaner. You can purchase products labeled for use on grout lines or oxygen bleach products for grout cleaning. Turn on an exhaust fan or open the bathroom window, wear rubber gloves, and follow the instructions on the product label. Most products require 10-15 minutes for the solution to penetrate the grout before scrubbing with a stiff brush. Rinse with warm water after scrubbing.

• Popular brands include: Biokleen Oxygen Bleach Plus, Clorox, OxiClean, and OxiMagic.

Use a steam cleaner to restore the grout's original whiteness. Start with the lowest pressure setting and gradually increase if needed. Use the brush attachment to scrub away tough stains.

• A steam cleaner doesn't require any cleaning chemicals. Instead, it uses pressure to blast away dirt and grime.

Use bleach diluted with water for exceptionally tough stains. Turn on the exhaust fan or open the bathroom window, wear rubber gloves, safety goggles, and old clothes. Then, mix 1 part bleach with 10 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the stained grout and wait 2 minutes. Scrub with a stiff brush, then rinse with water.

• Be cautious when using bleach if your bathtub is made of porcelain. Bleach can cause the porcelain to yellow or become pitted.

Try a baking soda and bleach paste for particularly stubborn stains. Mix 2 parts baking soda with 1 part bleach to create a paste. Apply the paste to the grout lines and wait 5-10 minutes, then wash it off with water.

• Although bleach should not be mixed with other chemicals, mixing bleach with baking soda is considered safe. Many people find that this combination enhances the effectiveness of both the bleach and baking soda.

Purchase white grout paint. You can find white grout paint at most hardware stores. This product typically contains epoxy and is very durable. Grout paint differs from grout caulk, which is often transparent and not white in color.

• Depending on the grout color, the white grout paint may darken slightly once it dries.
• If your tiles are very dark, the white paint might appear too bright. You may want to consider purchasing a light gray or off-white grout paint instead.

Prepare the tiles and grout lines. Apply grout to any areas that are chipped and allow it to dry. If a protective surface coating for the tiles is necessary, you can do this at this stage, but be careful not to get it on the grout lines. Tile surface coatings can prevent the paint from adhering properly. Ensure the grout lines are clean and free from oil, food, soap, or dirt.

• If you've cleaned the tiles, make sure they are completely dry before proceeding to the next step.

Find a small paintbrush and a paint tray. The paintbrush should be small enough to reach the grout lines. You could even use an old toothbrush. A cheap paintbrush from a hardware store works perfectly for this task. You'll also need a paint tray or any small container to pour the paint into.

• If you're worried about bristles shedding and sticking to the grout, you can opt for a foam brush instead. Make sure the foam head is the same size as the width of the grout lines.
• Consider trimming the paintbrush bristles slightly to make them stiffer, which will give you better control while painting.
• Another option is to buy a small paint roller. This tool makes it easier and more precise to paint the grout lines.

Pour a small amount of paint into the tray. You should pour less than the amount of paint you think you'll need, as you can always add more later. Pouring too much paint may cause it to dry out before you've finished using it.

Paint along the grout lines with long, sweeping strokes. Dip the brush into the paint tray and load it with a small amount of paint. Carefully paint along the grout lines, being mindful not to spill any paint onto the tile surface. While you can remove paint, it's best to avoid making a mess.

• The grout paint will adhere only to the grout, and it can be easily cleaned off the tiles if it spills. However, if you're concerned, you can use painter's tape to protect the tiles from accidental paint drips.

Wipe off any paint on the tile surface with a damp cloth. If the paint has dried, you can scrape it off with your fingernail. You can also use a paint scraper or an old spoon to remove the dried paint.

Wait for the paint to dry before applying a second coat. Depending on the brand of paint, the drying time may range from 1 hour or longer. Check the product label for specific drying times. Ensure the first coat is completely dry before applying the second one.

Chờ sơn khô trước khi sử dụng. Tùy vào nhãn hiệu sơn, bạn có thể phải chờ sơn cứng lại trước khi sử dụng khu vực lát gạch. Một số loại sơn chỉ cần khô là được.

• Tốt nhất là bạn nên để cho sơn khô lâu hơn thời gian được hướng dẫn để đảm bảo khô hoàn toàn.

Cân nhắc phủ lớp bảo vệ khe gạch. Lớp phủ sẽ giúp cho lớp sơn khe gạch bền hơn. Ngoài ra, nó cũng giúp cho các khe gạch sạch lâu hơn và dễ làm sạch hơn.

• Giữ sạch các khe gạch trong phòng tắm vòi sen bằng cách xịt dung dịch giấm trắng và nước pha với tỷ lệ 1:1, mỗi tuần 2-3 lần. Giấm sẽ tiêu diệt nấm mốc.
• Xịt cồn tẩy rửa trong phòng tắm vòi sen mỗi tuần một lần dể diệt nấm mốc.
• Phủ lớp bảo vệ khe gạch sau khi sơn khô hẳn 10-14 ngày. Lớp phủ sẽ bảo vệ khe gạch khỏi ố bẩn và dễ làm sạch hơn.
• Đường chỉ khe gạch thường sẫm màu hơn khi ướt. Nếu thấy khe gạch không trắng như mong muốn, bạn hãy chờ cho khô trước khi phải dùng đến chất tẩy rửa và kỳ cọ lại.