People struggling to clean their grout often ask one question in particular on the internet. Does hydrogen peroxide damage grout? The question to this answer is as simple as it gets.
Hydrogen peroxide does not damage grout. In fact, it is one of the safest ingredients you can use to clean grout. That’s why it’s the most popular ingredient for making a DIY solution at home.
Let’s see why this is an ideal option to use on grouts.
Contents
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Damage Grout?
Unlike vinegar, hydrogen peroxide is a neutral cleaner. So, it works really well on grouts but does not eat it away. That’s why a solution of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is excellent for cleaning grouts without damaging them.
When you mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide, it creates an oxygenated bleaching solution. However, unlike chlorine bleach, this one does not have any harmful chemicals induced in it.
To sum up, hydrogen peroxide is not only harmless for grout, it’s an excellent option for cleaning grout. So, if you’re thinking about cleaning grouts using hydrogen peroxide, you can go ahead and do it without any worries.
How To Clean Grout Using Hydrogen Peroxide?
Now that you know that it’s safe to use hydrogen peroxide on grout, it’s time to learn the proper way to do it. Ensuring that it’s safe isn’t enough. If you don’t follow the procedure properly, you won’t get clean grouts.
Step 1: Put On Your Safety Gloves
It’s essential that you keep yourself protected, regardless of how safe hydrogen peroxide is to use. If you have any injury in your hands that you’re not aware of, hydrogen peroxide will certainly sting. Sometimes small cuts can lead to greater discomfort.
Also, be very careful about accidental splashes. Make sure that the solution does not reach your eyes. If it does, immediately rinse your eyes and seek a doctor if the discomfort gets worse.
Step 2: Create The Cleaning Solution
Take an empty bottle and pour one-fourth of it with hydrogen peroxide. Now, add half a cup of baking soda to the bottle. These two ingredients are major components of cleaning grout. They have the ability to clean residues, debris, and stubborn stains from the grout.
The last step is to add liquid dish soap. You will only need one teaspoon of dish soap to complete the solution. Close the lid and shake well.
Make sure that the solution is mixed well together. Now, you’re ready to move to the next step.
Step 3: Apply The Mixture
Take the mixture and apply it to the grout. It’s better if you use a small tip narrow-squeeze bottle. This way the application process will be easier.
Allow the solution to stay there for at least five minutes. This will ensure that all stains and residues are removed. Now, take a sponge and wipe the solution away. It will clean the grout.
You can also use paper towels if you don’t have a sponge near at hand. The next thing is to rinse the grout with water.
Step 4: Repeat If Necessary
Sometimes, the stains are more stubborn than usual. If you’re not satisfied with the result, you can always repeat the same process. Repeating the procedure a few times will make the grouts shiny as new again.
Measures To Keep Grout Clean
Is occasionally cleaning the grout all you can do? No, there are other measures you can take to make sure that you don’t deal with dirty grout as frequently as before. Let’s take a look at a few things you can do.
Seal the Grout
Using a sealer on top of the grout once a year is a great way to protect it. The floors will stay cleaner and you won’t have to deal with dirty grout as frequently as you used to.
In addition, the procedure is pretty easy too. So, you can do it yourself. The sealant will act as a shield and prevent residues from building on the grout.
Vacuum
The longer you allow dirt to sit on the tiles, the greater the chance of stained grout. So, make sure to vacuum your floors regularly. Dirt and dust that are easy to remove with vacuuming are one step of keeping grout clean.
Moping
You don’t need to mop grouted floors every day. However, consider moping them once a week. This helps keep the grout clean. Note that, it’s better not to use detergents.
When you use detergents on grouted tile floors, they can buildup residue. After the water dries out, the residue stays there and makes the floors dirty.
Keep Floors Dry
No floor is suggested to keep exposed to moisture for a prolonged period. So, even if you mop the floors, it’s better to allow the floors to air dry. Avoid keeping the floors wet for a long time. This can grow mildews on the grout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is grout so tough to clean?
Sand particles are the primary element of grout. This facilitates any type of liquid to pass through the grout. And when they do, they accompany other things like dirt, dust, and detergent.
Once the liquid is evaporated, the residue stays there and creates buildups. This is one of the reasons why grout gets dirty easily. These residues stain the grout, which makes it tough to clean.
What other solutions can I use to clean grout?
If you want to keep hydrogen peroxide constant in the equation, you can change the other elements. Instead of baking soda and dish soap, you can use lemon juice and cream of tartar with hydrogen peroxide.
Final Words
So, does hydrogen peroxide damage grout? No, it doesn’t. You can be certain about it and make your DIY mixture for cleaning grout.
Making a solution at home not only saves you time and money but also facilitates the process. The solution that I’ve mentioned will certainly amaze you with its outcome. But overall, I will recommend you take preventive measures to always keep the grout clean.