Used to seal tiles and sinks, grout is mainly found in your kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen and bathroom are the two rooms in your home most in need of regular cleaning, and the grout is no exception. Due to the nearly constant presence of moisture in these rooms, grout is vulnerable to unhealthy black mold and mildew growing on it and must be cleaned effectively and safely. Cleaning grout naturally reduces the presence of toxic chemicals in your home and the cost of cleaning products.
Background
Grout, a combination of water, sand and cement, can be found between the ceramic tiles in your shower, around the sink in your bathroom and between the bricks on your home's exterior. Grout, usually white, holds the tiles and bricks in place and prevents water from penetrating the areas around the sink, tiles or bricks. Due to grout's makeup, it has microscopic pores that easily trap dirt. The dirt attracts mold and mildew, which can lead to grout discoloration.
Benefits
Cleaning grout with natural cleaners is cost effective and a safe way to clean. Natural cleaners contain such ingredients as baking soda and lemon juice, ingredients readily available and inexpensive. According to Martha Stewart, baking soda has scrubbing power but will not damage the grout during cleaning. Using natural products to clean the grout in your home benefits not only you and your home surfaces but the environment as well. Reducing the presence of chemicals in your home means putting fewer toxic chemicals in the air or down the drain.
Features
Several natural products are effective cleaners for grout, including 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, distilled white vinegar and lemon juice. According to Martha Stewart, distilled white vinegar and lemon juice are acidic and deodorize and mildly bleach surfaces as well as eliminate soap scum.
Considerations
According to Mother Earth News, because the ingredients in natural cleaners are not as potent as the chemicals in commercial products, more patience may be required to clean surfaces. Grout stains will most likely need to be scrubbed, so you won't just be able to wipe them away. Also, remember that simple ingredients can still cause skin irritation. It is necessary to keep even natural cleaners away from children.
Expert Insight
According to Martha Stewart, "It's not surprising that tile, which is as durable as it is beautiful, is a popular material for kitchens and bath spaces. But the job of cleaning tiles--and the maze of grout that keeps them in place--is decidedly unpopular. In an effort to restore dingy surfaces to like-new brightness, homekeepers are often tempted to use cleansers and tools that are tougher than necessary, such as bleach and stiff brushes. But strong-arm cleaning tactics often create more problems than they solve. They can scratch tiles and damage grout, creating conditions that dull surfaces, invite stains, and make maintenance difficult in the long run."
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