How to clean the darkened seams between tiles?

In the kitchen, bathroom and bathrooms, the seams between the tiles on the walls and on the floor under the influence of increased moisture and various aggressive substances (detergents and cleaners, grease, spray broth) darken over time. To restore the original appearance of the finish, you need to know how to clean the seams between the tiles.

The reason for the color change of tile joints

To fill the gaps between the tiles, special construction compounds are used. These are fairly stable mixtures, but even under the influence of moisture, and also as a result of splashes during cooking, they can darken. This usually happens because bacteria, mold and fungus start to form in the seams, which gradually destroy the grout. They not only spoil the appearance of the decoration, but can also harm human health. Therefore, when darkening occurs, it is necessary to clean the seams between the tiles from dirt and treat against mold and mildew.

How to wash the seams between the tiles?

To clean the darkened grout between the tiles on the walls and on the floor, you can use the tools that are offered in hardware stores. They are selected depending on the degree of contamination of the joints.

• If the grout has lost its color, has become contaminated with grease or detergent residues, then you can try to wash it with any standard cleaning agent that removes grease and limescale. Fairy, CIF, AOS, Silit and others will do.
• If mold or fungus begins to appear on the seams, then chlorine-containing preparations such as Whiteness or Domestos should be used. After application, they are left for five minutes, and then washed off.
• It is best, of course, to use special tools for cleaning tiles and seams, such as Ultra-Stripper or BOZO. And if then the grout is treated with liquid to protect the Atlas Dolphin joints, the walls and floor will remain clean for a long time.
• Small areas where dirt could not be washed can be painted over with a special felt-tip pen.
• After treatment against mold and mildew, the remaining dirt can be removed using fine-grained sandpaper. It cleans the thin top layer, exposing a clean grout, which after this procedure will become even more even and smooth.
• A modern steam generator will help both to clean the joints between the tiles and to sanitize the surface by removing mold and fungus. With this treatment, the structure of the grout material is not disturbed, and there are no smudges or smudges. Contaminated areas are treated with thick hot steam, after which the dirt is easily removed with a rag soaked in warm water.

How to wash the seams between the tiles with improvised means?

If during capital cleaning there were no industrial means at hand, then you can clean the tile well by the fact that you almost always have a home.

• You can wash the tiles on the walls and on the floor with a solution of ordinary vinegar with water, mixing them in equal proportions. The resulting mixture should be sprayed over the entire surface and cleaned with a stiff brush.
• It is possible to clean the grout well with a pasty mixture made from baking soda and bleach. But you can use this mixture only for white putty - bleach will remove the color. After applying the composition, wait until the product dries, then rinse off with a brush.
• You can return the original shine to the finish with a solution of ammonia (1 tablespoon in 2 liters of water).The solution is sprayed over the entire surface and left for 10 minutes, then rinse with a damp sponge.
• A solution of hydrogen peroxide (1: 2) cleans the grout well. They are treated with seams. Do not rinse.

If the old grout cannot be washed and it crumbles during processing, then the only way out is to grout the joints and replace the grout.

Tip

Do not use soap to clean the tiles. The substances included in its composition contribute to the spread of mold.

Some features

If you are going to clean the grout, you should take into account the type of laid tile. The choice of means for treating seams depends on this.

• Glazed tiles do not tolerate acid. The use of acid-based products will result in tarnishing of the surface.
• Unglazed matte tiles after cleaning the seams must be well washed and coated with protective mastic.
• Glass tiles and mosaics are very stable, but compositions with a high concentration of acids and alkalis cannot be used to clean them.
• Tools containing abrasive materials, it is undesirable to use to wash any coating.
• For grouting joints on the floor, you can use mixtures on an epoxy basis, which are slightly contaminated and are not susceptible to damage by fungus and mold.

It is unlikely that it will be possible to clean the seams quickly and easily, so it is better not to allow accumulation of serious contaminants in them. Proper maintenance of the tiles and seams will help keep the walls in the kitchen and bathroom clean and attractive.