Cleaning Stained Grout & Tile In Your Shower

The tiles in your shower are durable and generally easy to clean. What you may have a problem with is the grout between your tiles. Grout is porous and light in color which makes any strain stand out. Fortunately, there are a few steps that you can take to clean the grout in your shower.

Scrubbing With Warm Water

The first cleaning method you should try is warm water and a stiff-bristle brush. If you do not have one of these brushes, you will be able to pick them up at most home centers and hardware stores. These stores will often have a selection of brushes designed to clean grout.

Once you have the brush, you simply need to spray some warm water on the grout. You can then scrub the ground with the brush in a circular motion. This should remove the stain and you need to leave the grout to dry.

Vinegar And Warm Water

There are many instances where warm water on its own is not going to clean your grout. If you have mild stains and heavy dirt build-up on the grout, you need to turn to vinegar. White vinegar is the best option when it comes to cleaning and is used for a range of household chores.

To use it to clean your grout, you should mix it with warm water in a spray bottle. The mixture should have a ration of 1:1 or equal parts of vinegar and warm water. You should then spray this mixture on the tiles and grout and leave it for approximately 5 minutes. You then need to use your stiff brush to scrub the grout and remove the stains.  We will be honest, this is hard work so many  companies offer it as a service.   They offer it, so why not save yourself some time!

Baking Soda Paste

If you have tried vinegar and your grout is still stained, you need to bring some baking soda into the mix. This will bring more cleaning power, but you need to wait for the grout to dry after your last cleaning attempt. As you wait, you can start making the baking soda paste.

This is a simple paste to make as you mix baking soda with water. The paste should be thick able to stick to the grout in your shower. Once the grout is dry and your paste is ready, you can apply the paste to the grout. You should then spray the paste with the vinegar-water mixture.

When the vinegar comes into contact with the baking soda, it will start to foam. You need to leave the baking soda to foam as this removes the dirt and stain from the grout. Once the baking soda stops foaming, you can scrub the area with the brush and rinse it with some plain water.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide

If you have moderate and persistent stains, you may need to use hydrogen peroxide. This is available from most drug stores, but you do need to be careful when using it. There are 2 ways that you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean your grout.

The first route is to apply it directly to the grout. You will need to leave it for a few minutes before rinsing it away and scrubbing the grout. The second route is to make a paste with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.

Using Chlorine Bleach

A lot of commercial cleaners will have chlorine bleach. If you are going to use this for tough stains, you should do so sparingly and ensure that all traces of past attempts have been washed away. This is particularly important with vinegar because when vinegar and chlorine bleach mix they form toxic chlorine gas. Long-term use of chlorine bleach cleaners is not recommended for grout as it erodes it.

Hire A Professional

Getting rid of stains on grout can be a challenge and time-consuming. If you want to avoid this, you can hire a professional grout cleaning service instead. They will generally have the correct tools for the job and know which cleaning method to use. Many professional services will use steam cleaning to remove the stains which are considered one of the best solutions. Check this website for services.

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There are many ways that you can clean the stains on the grout in your shower. Some methods require water or vinegar and elbow grease. You can also hire a professional service to take care of this for you.  Here is a great service that has many testimonials to back it up for grout sealing.

The Types Of Wood Flooring

Wood flooring can add elegance to your home, but you need to choose the right type. There are more types of wood flooring than you might imagine and each offers their pros and cons. It is important that you can compare the popular options of laminate, solid hardwood and engineered hardwood before you make a decision.

The Cost

Cost is the first thing you need to consider when looking at wood flooring. This is not the cheapest type of flooring and certain woods will cost more. The cheapest option will be laminate flooring, but you need to be careful. The cheapest kinds of laminate will be completely smooth and do not offer a realistic wood finish.

The price engineered hardwood will vary depending on the type of wood you are looking at. Many people assume that this is the middle ground option because it is more expensive than laminate. However, engineered hardwood and solid hardwood can cost roughly the same depending on the type you consider. The most expensive solid hardwood floors will be tropical hardwoods.

Where To Use Them

Knowing the cost of wood flooring is important, but you also need to know where they are best suited. Laminate flooring is best for high traffic areas of the home that you will need to regularly clean. This will include living rooms and playrooms. There are some laminates with a waterproof core making them ideal for kitchens and bathrooms.

Engineered hardwood can also be used in the living room, kitchen, dining room, and bedroom. You should not use this flooring in the bathroom because the humidity can affect it. Solid hardwood should also be kept away from areas with changes in humidity because it can cause warping. These floors are best in places where you can show it off such as living areas and hallways.

The Installation

When it comes to installation, laminate is the easiest option. You will be able to lay the laminate flooring yourself as it offers a click-lock design. Of course, there is the potential for the laminate to be laid poorly which can cause problems.

Engineered hardwood flooring is harder to install because it uses a tongue and groove plank system. Many people recommend having a professional install this type of flooring to ensure it is done correctly. This is particularly important if you want to lay the flooring on stairs because it can become fiddly.

Solid hardwood flooring is the hardest to install and will need to be done by a professional. The wood planks need to be nailed or glued down. Fitting the boards together can also be difficult as they change shape after they have been manufactured.

Wood flooring can change the appearance of your home, but you need to consider the type you get. Laminate flooring is the cheapest and easiest, but even the most expensive will not look like the real thing. Engineered hardwood is more stable than solid hardwood and will be easier to install. Solid hardwood is the only option if you want to the classic wood look and do not might the added installation costs.