Cleaning your tile and grout with bleach is a bit of a taboo proposition. It’s one of those things that not everyone recommends, but everybody does anyway. I’m here to tell you that it is perfectly fine and does a great job of cleaning your bathroom floor. You just have to do it the right way and be sure to use the right kind of bleach. Clorox® Regular-Bleach is the best value, as it disinfects 33% more than store-brand bleach, which is exactly what you want when it comes to cleaning up around your toilet.
Here’s how to clean tile grout to get it looking like new again.
Supplies:
- Clorox® Regular-Bleach
- Water
- Electric toothbrush
- Rubber gloves
- Rags
- Plastic cup or bucket
Instructions:
Step 1: Before you break out the bleach, you have to give your tile a good pre-cleaning. Sweep or scrub to get rid of all debris and dirt. You want a clean area to work with so that you can battle the real caked-in grime. In the case of our tile floor, we had an unfortunate incident with an overflowing toilet about three days after the final seal went down, so there are occasional stains in an otherwise pristine white floor. I focused on those lines to even out the color across all the grout.
Step 2: You will want to dilute your bleach, with about three parts bleach to seven parts water. I like to use an old plastic fast food to-go cup for my container. Mix up your solution, and get ready to scrub. As always with bleach, be aware of over-exposure to chemicals and work in a well-ventilated area.
Step 3: Take your old electric toothbrush and dip it into the bleach solution. You can use a regular toothbrush, but just like electric toothbrushes will keep your teeth cleaner, they will also keep your floor cleaner. It goes without saying that once a toothbrush has been used for cleaning, it should only ever be used for cleaning. (Don’t try to just switch out the head of the electric toothbrush either. That thing now full of bleach and dirt, and you don’t want it anywhere near your mouth.)
Step 4: Sadly, this is still an on-your-knees type of operation. The only way to get your grout looking like new again is to go over every inch of it with a gentle scrubbing. Once you have successfully scrubbed your grout, take a rag and wipe away your excess bleach and water. Be sure to use a rag that you are okay with bleaching!
Step 5: Next, you will want to clean your floor again with a mixture of water and floor cleaner. Make sure to get all of the bleach off of the tile, as here is where it can lead to damage. If you leave bleach on the grout, it can eat away at it over time. Don’t flood your bathroom with water or anything, but give it a thorough rinsing after you are done scrubbing.
Now your tile and grout should be spic and span! Be sure to keep some Clorox® Regular-Bleach on hand for the next time your grout starts to look a little dingy.
This post was sponsored by Clorox
