Want CLEAN Grout?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ten years ago I installed 12x12 mission red colors tile in our kitchen and made the HUGE mistake of using concrete colored grout. I was thinking it would be gray and kinda is....but really more white! And white +/- grout is the WRONG color for any floor but especially for a kitchen.

Yes, I DID seal it when it was installed. I can't remember what product I used but it didn't keep the grout from getting badly stained and of course the more you mop it the more slightly dirty water collects in the grout lines and it looks like poop.

Over the years I tried using Softscrub & a toothbrush, bleach, etc and never truly got the grout clean again. I thought of cutting the grout out and replacing, I thought of staining it or PAINTING it!

I've been searching online for a looong time and finally found THE stuff. Here are pictures of the results of maybe 10-15 minutes easy work.

Hmm, site won't let me upload more than one photo. I'll try again.






I knew the grout was dirty, but it was FILTHY! I'm embarrassed how bad the rest looks and am working on it now but thought someone must need to know about this stuff like I did. I have NO affiliation whatsoever. Bought it and brushes from Amazon and I'll go write a review eventually. I hope this helps someone. PS: spray it, let it sit 3-4 minutes, wipe with warm water on a rag. No residue, not acidic, no smell. Miraculous, at least to me!

 

[landyacht]

I'm going to have to look for that, I loath the "grey" grout in our kitchen. Did you find it at one of the big box stores?
Thanks for the review

 

[venturesomerite]

well hot damn

 

[Bighead38]

. Bought it and brushes from Amazon and I'll go write a review eventually. I hope this helps someone.

I'm going to have to look for that, I loath the "grey" grout in our kitchen. Did you find it at one of the big box stores?
Thanks for the review

Guess you missed it. I'm surprised he didn't post a link though.

 

[Jinks]

Or, you could pour a little white vinegar on the floor, scrub it lightly with a brush, & rinse with a damp mop. It'll be just as clean.

 

[TommyK]

Does it work on mold?

 

[Nick Danger]

What's the active ingredient?

 

[bdamico]

i'm guessing hydrogen peroxide

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Or, you could pour a little white vinegar on the floor, scrub it lightly with a brush, & rinse with a damp mop. It'll be just as clean.

I tried that. It worked better than most anything else but DIDNT get everything off. In a way, it looks WORSE generally clean but with spots that were black. Plus it stunk to heaven using vinegar.

Sorry about not having posted a link, I should have.

Here's where I stopped last night. A it less than half the floor done. Used 2/3's of the spray bottle so I'm going to have to order another one. After that I'm expecting to nt have to periodically clean spots or areas.

My "crew" felt I was giving entirely too much attention to the floor last night and not enough to them. They wanted to get into the photo. Of course they're a big part of the reason the floor got as dirty as it did!

PS: Here's the link. Again, hope this helps someone out.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089XLLC6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[James-W]

It seems to be working really good. I have heard that some people use a floor buffer with a green pad and some rather strong commercial cleaners. But this seems to work really well and with a lot less screwing around.

 

[malibu101]

Off topic but this thread reminds me of this--
When I was 17 (1985) I worked over the summer as a summer helper at a school with a few other kids. One of our jobs was scrubbing the grout clean throughout the kitchen and serving area. It took a lot of time on hands and knees with a scrub brush. Whatever cleaner they gave us worked great for grout cleaning, as well as dissolving the thread holding our sneakers together. Probably can't get that good old stuff anymore.
And this was for $3.15 an hour minimum wage at the time.

 

[Zeke]

Put that stuff with a steam cleaner and you wouldn't even be bale to call that work.

 

[shoot summ]

Put that stuff with a steam cleaner and you wouldn't even be bale to call that work.

This...

Haven't tried the product the OP is using, have used oxygenated bleach which works very well. Just bought a steam cleaner and holy ****, they are amazing...

 

[zmotorsports]

That looks great. Do you think it would work the same for shower tile/grout? Our master shower is starting to show some discoloration and I would like to revive it.

Mike.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

That looks great. Do you think it would work the same for shower tile/grout? Our master shower is starting to show some discoloration and I would like to revive it.

Mike.

I don't know but I'd try it if I had that issue.

Someone (above) asked about mildew. I don't know if I had mildew but I probably did. It was so damn dirty probably everything including the cure for cancer was in there!

Zeke,
Yeah, If I'd thought about it before hand a steam cleaner with a vac attachment might have made even shorter work of this. As it is, I'm half done and it wasn't all that much work anyway. The "work" was mostly just kneeling and getting up with my youthful soon-to-be-61 year old body.

Next is countertops that don't APPEAR to be dirty but the grout IS a little darker than it was when I installed it. I'll take before, during after photos of it too. Where my girlfriend makes her morning coffee will likely be the most noticeable change.

PS: This stuff was about $13 for a 32 oz. spray bottle. But I re-bought a 64 oz. bottle this morning for only $7 more. Double the quantity for only $7 works for me.

 

[Todd.Brock]

You are getting me all excited over grout cleaner.... I spent a fortune on Quartz Lock Urethane grout. We did the same routine with grey tile and light grey grout. It was put down a year ago and looked like total *** after 6 months. So I have used various home remedies, Home Depot **** , vinegar, soft scrub with bleach and nothing pas been particularly effective. I had the carpet cleaner guys who also do tile, offer to do s test spot. They used some pre treated and then a pressure rinse /extracter thingy
Looked better , but not 175 bucks worth. So, to make a long story longer- I will give this a try and hold you responsible if it doesn't work ....

Edit - it's in the mail and should be drone shipped on sat. I'll report back.

 

[tlmartin84]

Ok, so what about sealer? I was about to ask the question in the forum, once clean has anyone found a really good long lasting sealer?

After about 6 months my shower tiles need it again....

Sealer Suggestions?

 

[Banjorear]

Or, you could pour a little white vinegar on the floor, scrub it lightly with a brush, & rinse with a damp mop. It'll be just as clean.

If you don't mind your room smelling like an Italian sub I guess it would work....

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

You are getting me all excited over grout cleaner.... I spent a fortune on Quartz Lock Urethane grout. We did the same routine with grey tile and light grey grout. It was put down a year ago and looked like total *** after 6 months. So I have used various home remedies, Home Depot **** , vinegar, soft scrub with bleach and nothing pas been particularly effective. I had the carpet cleaner guys who also do tile, offer to do s test spot. They used some pre treated and then a pressure rinse /extracter thingy
Looked better , but not 175 bucks worth. So, to make a long story longer- I will give this a try and hold you responsible if it doesn't work ....

Edit - it's in the mail and should be drone shipped on sat. I'll report back.

I noticed there were a couple - not many - reviews on Amazon that said this product didn't work for them at all. I don't know how that would be possible given how great it has worked for me, but I was willing to be out $13 just to try it. I'm guessing that somehow a sealer that these people had applied was limiting the product from working or getting "access" to the dirt/stains? Seems stupid anyone would apply sealer to a less than clean grout line. And how could the dirt penetrate the sealer and NOT allow the product to get in and clean the dirt off?

Anyway Tood, you're on your own with this buddy but I DO hope it works for you. My kitchen has been such a longstanding embarrassment I'm REALLY REALLY happy now. I'm not going to seal the grout - maybe ever depending on how quickly/badly it gets dirty again, or if I do I'm going to search high and low til I find the best sealer everyone recommends.

 

[DenisG]

Put that stuff with a steam cleaner and you wouldn't even be bale to call that work.

My new word for the day. Thanks!

 

[bdamico]

You are getting me all excited over grout cleaner.... I spent a fortune on Quartz Lock Urethane grout. We did the same routine with grey tile and light grey grout. It was put down a year ago and looked like total *** after 6 months. So I have used various home remedies, Home Depot **** , vinegar, soft scrub with bleach and nothing pas been particularly effective. I had the carpet cleaner guys who also do tile, offer to do s test spot. They used some pre treated and then a pressure rinse /extracter thingy
Looked better , but not 175 bucks worth. So, to make a long story longer- I will give this a try and hold you responsible if it doesn't work ....

Edit - it's in the mail and should be drone shipped on sat. I'll report back.

I think there are comments on amazon of it whitening colored grout, for what it's worth.

 

[duneslider]

I would like to try and pass along some information that all grout owners might benefit from.

Sealing grout, or using "stain-proof" grout does NOT mean it won't get dirty. What we are seeing here (in the OP's pictures) is dirty grout. Not necessarily "stained" grout.

The standard grout in your kitchen is a portland cement based grout and is essentially just like the concrete drive way you have outside your garage. It is porous and has a rough surface. You will notice that the OP's kitchen cement gets WAY dirtier than his driveway (just guessing since there wasn't a picture of the driveway but I bet I am right).

Sealing concrete is a good idea. I helps fill in those pores so dirt and grime can't fill them in. So, why does the driveway stay cleaner than the kitchen grout? Well mostly, because it gets rinsed better.

What typically happens in the kitchen is the dirt, dust, food, etc gets just wet enough to turn into a nasty paste of all that stuff and gets wiped off the tile and rough grout grabs onto it where it will dry into a hard layer of grime. Once this happens repeatedly for a long time it becomes difficult to clean with normal cleaners.

So, best cleaning practice is to get the dirt (mud grime creating material) off the floor before getting it wet. Vacuum works best for this. This will pick up most of the grime causing material. Then use a lightly damp mop (microfiber is great), this is just enough moisture to pick up the loose dust/dirt. You are not really wanting to get stuff wet. This should be the normal DAILY cleaning. Hit the trouble spots with a damp rag to pickup/scrub the bad spots (like under you kid's seat at the table). Maybe weekly (depending on how busy your house is) use a good pH Neutral cleaner on the floor. I put mine in a spray bottle and either spray it directly on my mop or mist it on the floor and work an area at a time. I put a little more back into this and try to scrub the floor a bit better. You should NEVER use typical household cleaners on tile and grout, they will just make the problem worse. Stick to pH Neutral-if it doesn't say that don't use it regularly!

Now, maybe once or twice a year I will use a "heavy duty" cleaner. Typically, you will want to use a heavy duty alkaline cleaner (I suspect that is what this stain-x pro is). It has some solvents and such that break up the dirt and help it wash away. It is also breaking up your sealer and washing it away. Look for cleaners made by the same companies that make grout sealers.

Steam? Everyone loves this, right? This shouldn't be a regularly used cleaning method on a porous surface. It can essentially liquify the grime and force it deeper into the grout.

Vinegar? This is an acid. Acids etch concrete right, that's how they prep concrete for applying top coats like epoxy. This actually breaks down the grout surface, removes sealer, and makes it ready to receive new grime in new places. It should be used for specific spot cleaning if the stain requires an acidic cleaner.

Depending on the soiling/grime/stain an acidic cleaner might be the best option and the reviews saying stain-x didn't work is probably because the stain needed an acidic cleaner. I use acidic cleaners as a last resort. Most kitchen grime (dirt, grease, food) responds well to alkaline cleaners.

The best bet is keeping it clean, rather than playing catch up.

If you have mold/mildew issues that is a TOTALLY different cause/topic and nothing you do to "clean" will solve the issue and if you have that issue I would be happy to help address that in a different thread. By nature concrete should NOT breed mold. You have other issues.

$13 a bottle seems really high for a quality cleaner to me though. I can mix gallons and gallons of great cleaner for that price.

 

[404]

Not the usual sort of msds..

http://www.stain-x.com/uploads/MSDS_-_STAIN-X_Pro_Grout_Cleaner_-_RTU.pdf

 

[bdamico]

I would like to try and pass along some information that all grout owners might benefit from.

Sealing grout, or using "stain-proof" grout does NOT mean it won't get dirty. What we are seeing here (in the OP's pictures) is dirty grout. Not necessarily "stained" grout.

The standard grout in your kitchen is a portland cement based grout and is essentially just like the concrete drive way you have outside your garage. It is porous and has a rough surface. You will notice that the OP's kitchen cement gets WAY dirtier than his driveway (just guessing since there wasn't a picture of the driveway but I bet I am right).

Sealing concrete is a good idea. I helps fill in those pores so dirt and grime can't fill them in. So, why does the driveway stay cleaner than the kitchen grout? Well mostly, because it gets rinsed better.

What typically happens in the kitchen is the dirt, dust, food, etc gets just wet enough to turn into a nasty paste of all that stuff and gets wiped off the tile and rough grout grabs onto it where it will dry into a hard layer of grime. Once this happens repeatedly for a long time it becomes difficult to clean with normal cleaners.

So, best cleaning practice is to get the dirt (mud grime creating material) off the floor before getting it wet. Vacuum works best for this. This will pick up most of the grime causing material. Then use a lightly damp mop (microfiber is great), this is just enough moisture to pick up the loose dust/dirt. You are not really wanting to get stuff wet. This should be the normal DAILY cleaning. Hit the trouble spots with a damp rag to pickup/scrub the bad spots (like under you kid's seat at the table). Maybe weekly (depending on how busy your house is) use a good pH Neutral cleaner on the floor. I put mine in a spray bottle and either spray it directly on my mop or mist it on the floor and work an area at a time. I put a little more back into this and try to scrub the floor a bit better. You should NEVER use typical household cleaners on tile and grout, they will just make the problem worse. Stick to pH Neutral-if it doesn't say that don't use it regularly!

Now, maybe once or twice a year I will use a "heavy duty" cleaner. Typically, you will want to use a heavy duty alkaline cleaner (I suspect that is what this stain-x pro is). It has some solvents and such that break up the dirt and help it wash away. It is also breaking up your sealer and washing it away. Look for cleaners made by the same companies that make grout sealers.

Steam? Everyone loves this, right? This shouldn't be a regularly used cleaning method on a porous surface. It can essentially liquify the grime and force it deeper into the grout.

Vinegar? This is an acid. Acids etch concrete right, that's how they prep concrete for applying top coats like epoxy. This actually breaks down the grout surface, removes sealer, and makes it ready to receive new grime in new places. It should be used for specific spot cleaning if the stain requires an acidic cleaner.

Depending on the soiling/grime/stain an acidic cleaner might be the best option and the reviews saying stain-x didn't work is probably because the stain needed an acidic cleaner. I use acidic cleaners as a last resort. Most kitchen grime (dirt, grease, food) responds well to alkaline cleaners.

The best bet is keeping it clean, rather than playing catch up.

If you have mold/mildew issues that is a TOTALLY different cause/topic and nothing you do to "clean" will solve the issue and if you have that issue I would be happy to help address that in a different thread. By nature concrete should NOT breed mold. You have other issues.

$13 a bottle seems really high for a quality cleaner to me though. I can mix gallons and gallons of great cleaner for that price.

So you think this is like Viper or other alkaline floor cleaners used in spinners?

 

[Dragster Racer]

Not the usual sort of msds..

http://www.stain-x.com/uploads/MSDS_-_STAIN-X_Pro_Grout_Cleaner_-_RTU.pdf

I have run into MSDS sheets like that and i wonder how they get away with it. Proprietary is what some say on nearly every line.

 

[duneslider]

So you think this is like Viper or other alkaline floor cleaners used in spinners?

Not sure, I found a msds for their concentrated version and it appears to have various solvents in it but I am not a chemist so I can't say for sure. I am not familiar with viper but I would suspect this is alkaline based but I am not positive.

Either way, it seems expensive for what you are getting unless it really is magic then its a good deal.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Magic or not. It's worth a $13 gamble. If I knew what product to mix up gallons and gallons of , I would be on it.

 

[duneslider]

Magic or not. It's worth a $13 gamble. If I knew what product to mix up gallons and gallons of , I would be on it.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-Building-Products-TileLab-32-oz-Heavy-Duty-Stripper-and-Cleaner-TLSTSQT/100004909

http://www.custombuildingproducts.com/products/aqua-mix/cleaners/aqua-mix-heavy-duty-tile-grout-cleaner.aspx

http://www.mapei.com/US-EN/Tile-&-Stone-Installation-Systems/Cleaners/UltraCare-Heavy-Duty-Stone,-Tile-&-Grout-Cleaner

Here are just three that are usually easy to find at your local home improvement stores. Visit the tile area and look for Heavy Duty Tile and Grout cleaner or Heavy Duty Stripper and Cleaner. This will be the stuff you use if you already have a mess. They will also have a pH neutral cleaner but may not have a concentrate at the box store of that. Or you can do a google search and find a few hundred different brands available online or on amazon. I am partial to Stonetech by Dupont, lowes used to carry it but I believe they changed. Look up any company that makes grout sealer and they will also offer grout cleaners that compliment their line. I think it is good to use a cleaner made by the same company that makes the sealer you use but this isn't required. Just know that a heavy duty cleaner WILL strip the sealer.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

....What we are seeing here (in the OP's pictures) is dirty grout. Not necessarily "stained" grout.

It was dirty, no question. But it was most definitely NOT surface dirt that would have cleaned off with any conventional cleaning product you can make "gallons and gallons" of cheaply. I've been trying for years, literally. I've used Mr. Clean, 409, Fantastik, Castrol Purple stuff degreaser, Comet green cleanser, Barkeepers Friend or whatever that stuff is called, Softscrub, and more. All with assorted brushes, kitchen sponges and even a 3M red pad from work. It did NOT clean off, period. Even with the product there were a few spots I had to go back and do again. Those areas were stained.

....So, best cleaning practice is to get the dirt (mud grime creating material) off the floor....This should be the normal DAILY cleaning......The best bet is keeping it clean, rather than playing catch up.....

This is undoubtedly true. What surface ISNT cleaner by cleaning it "DAILY"?
But in the real world (meaning not an Internet forum) who has time to vacuum, wipe with a damp cloth, etc their entire kitchen floor DAILY? We have a house keeper that comes every other week, sweeps and mops the kitchen floor. We both sweep it almost every day because of our dogs shedding. So you'd think (I would think) that would have kept it cleaner than it was.

I'm not a slob (despite the appearance of my embarrassing floor) but I flatly will never have time to do what you describe DAILY.

Put me down for using this too expensive product probably monthly and being happy as hell to have found it.

Geez, I wouldn't have thought a product recommendation with photos showing it worked extremely well would bring out such a response.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Dune slider/ thanks for the recommendations. I used this stuff and it didn't do ****. I'm curious if what you mentioned will affect the sealing properties of urethane grout? If so , I don't really care. If it's clean, I can seal it and clean it. I laid it down and then built a kitchen. I took care, but not great care. I figured it would wipe up. If this stuff that Dan in Pasadena is selling, I will get my money back from him and try your suggestions.

I kid I kid.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Blood from a stone, buddy. Blood from a stone.

Your picture reminds me I also tried some kind of Zep cleaner from Home Depot - it didn't work. I don't think it had this same label but it was years ago so maybe it was the same stuff.

 

[duneslider]

No idea what the zep cleaner is but if it says it will damage natural stone it most likely is acidic.

It takes me about 5 minutes to vacuum and dust mop my kitchen. No, I don't do it daily but probably 3-4 times a week. I also wipe my counters off and the table daily, weird I know. I even wash my dishes every time I use them, my wife thinks I am insane!

Your grout was not stained. Think of stained concrete, how do you remove the stain from stained concrete? Surely you don't think a cleaner from a spray bottle will do that?

You had surface build up that accumulated over years and years is my guess and it can certainly be VERY difficult to remove. Your one experience with one product in one kitchen certainly trumps my 18+ years in the tile/flooring industry, I certainly know much less than you.

I am not saying that product doesn't work, it obviously does but I can guarantee there are comparable (or better) products out there that can be had for less and that are available in concentrate to mix at different dilutions. But seriously, use whatever you want. I was just trying to share a little knowledge that I have gained over years and years of doing it.

Unfortunately, my grout isn't that dirty so I can't do a demonstration.

 

[duneslider]

Dune slider/ thanks for the recommendations. I used this stuff and it didn't do ****. I'm curious if what you mentioned will affect the sealing properties of urethane grout? If so , I don't really care. If it's clean, I can seal it and clean it. I laid it down and then built a kitchen. I took care, but not great care. I figured it would wipe up. If this stuff that Dan in Pasadena is selling, I will get my money back from him and try your suggestions.

Urethane grout by design is basically stain proof. Nothing is really 100% stain proof but urethane grout does NOT need to be sealed. My guess is you have surface build up and a good cleaner and scrub brush should break it up. It works best mixing with hot water too, that aides in breaking up the soils.

I would have to read up a bit but I think urethane grout and acids don't mix well. I know with installing epoxy grout I add vinegar to my cleaning water to aide in cleanup because it will break down the epoxy on the surface of the tile. Urethane only wants you to use water (and sparingly) for cleanup. Most grout haze removers are acidic.

Urethane grout is fairly new technology and had a bit of a rough start, not sure what brand you have but they are better now than when they first came out. They should be very durable and cleanable. If you know the brand, you might want to check with the manufacturer about cleaners they recommend.

I am sure that stain-x cleans great.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I used Quartzlock 2 rapid cure. It was a bit of a PITA if you didn't get it up before it dried. I had to buy Bostik Blaze, which reactivates the urethane. Bostik was curious but said ph balanced cleaners were best, steam was no Bueno, and soft scrub was ok to use. I am not holding my breath for stain x , but I will try all the recommendations you had as well for cleaners before having a grout company clean and re color with a solvent based colorant. Unless it looks totally off.

 

[404]

I have run into MSDS sheets like that and i wonder how they get away with it. Proprietary is what some say on nearly every line.

Because no one has turned them in ... yet.

 

[duneslider]

I used Quartzlock 2 rapid cure. It was a bit of a PITA if you didn't get it up before it dried. I had to buy Bostik Blaze, which reactivates the urethane. Bostik was curious but said ph balanced cleaners were best, steam was no Bueno, and soft scrub was ok to use. I am not holding my breath for stain x , but I will try all the recommendations you had as well for cleaners before having a grout company clean and re color with a solvent based colorant. Unless it looks totally off.

You can't really recolor urethane grout. It is essentially non-porous so applying a colorant is nothing more than painting the grout. I would not think it would work but I haven't ever tried either. I used quartzlock 2 a number of times and it worked great, even had some in my kitchen on the backsplash but I just tore that out.

pH neutral is what you should use for normal cleaning. I probably wouldn't use softscrub but IDK. There is a similar product at HD in the tile section called Nanoscrub by AquaMix. It is designed for tile/grout. I have had good luck with it but I would start with a heavy duty alkaline cleaner and a scrub brush and see how that works.

I couldn't find any info on bostik blaze but it says it is safe on stone and can be diluted for general cleaning. Makes me think it is alkaline based. Have you tried the bostik blaze on your dirty grout?

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Here's something that'll clean it....I guarantee it.... http://www.batguano.com/nuclear/nucgallery.html

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

It takes me about 5 minutes to vacuum and dust mop my kitchen. No, I don't do it daily but probably 3-4 times a week. I also wipe my counters off and the table daily, weird I know. I even wash my dishes every time I use them, my wife thinks I am insane!

Where do you find the time to work in your garage?

OP ... will this stuff work on bathroom tile grout too?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

OP ... will this stuff work on bathroom tile grout too?

No idea, sorry. I haven't tried it there yet. I finished the full 32oz. bottle tonight and I'm about 2/3 done with the kitchen. I ran low ordered more and of course ordered the WRONG thing. Damn!

Apparently Pro-X also makes a laundry stain remover and that's what I bought. I'm going to keep it though. Maybe it'll work miraculously too!

When I get my 2nd bottle (ordered) I'll try a spot in my shower but honestly I have no issues with dirty or mildewed grout there.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Apparently Pro-X also makes a laundry stain remover and that's what I bought. I'm going to keep it though. Maybe it'll work miraculously too!

Dawn dishwashing detergent works magic on the grease, gear lube, engine oil, and grimy stains on my clothes. Wife pretreats and almost everything almost always comes out. Seems to be the grease and oil cutter of choice for racers, engine builders, and transmission shops.

Let me know about the shower grout.