For most people, tiles are just as much a part of the bathroom as a shower tray or washbasin. Keeping the tiles clean is usually relatively easy, but the joints between the tiles are a bit different. In the bathroom, in particular, all sorts of deposits can accumulate there, causing discolouration or even mould. Remnants of soap and cleaning agents, dust and other dirt not only look unsightly but are also a breeding ground for mould spores, from which ugly moulds can gradually grow.
It is all the more important that the grout cleaning in the bathroom is carried out regularly and professionally. This not only prevents the formation of mould but also ensures radiant cleanliness and hygienic conditions. This guide reveals how cleaning joints in the bathroom work best with the help of helpful tips. All tricks for household remedies for cleaning joints in the bathroom and the answer to the question of what is best to do with mould-infested silicone joints, are presented.
10 Tips for Grout Cleaning
1: The right cleaning tool for cleaning joints in the bathroom
If you want to clean the joints properly in the bathroom, you shouldn’t do without the proper cleaning tool. What might sound strange at first is considered a real expert tip: a toothbrush. The tile joints can be optimally cleaned with a toothbrush. There is no need to buy a new brush with an oscillating head and bristles of different lengths – a regular, worn-out toothbrush is sufficient. Also, it is advisable to have a cleaning rag on hand (if possible lint-free).
2: Protect skin and eyes
When cleaning the joints in the bathroom, it is essential not only to use the right cleaning equipment and the right household remedies but also to take care of your health. Aggressive cleaners in particular and simple household remedies such as vinegar or vinegar essence, can irritate bare skin. It may therefore be advisable to work with gloves. Particular caution is also required when it comes into contact with the eyes. Generous ventilation of the room should also always be ensured during and after cleaning the joints in the bathroom.
3: Try small areas first
Various cleaning agents have shown to be effective when cleaning joints in the bathroom. Nevertheless, caution is always better than forbearance in this context: Before home remedies and the like are applied over a large area, their effectiveness and tolerance should be tested on a small area. Otherwise, discolouration may occur or even defects can occur in the joints.
4: Toothpaste for shine and a fresh fragrance
Who says toothpaste is only good for your teeth? Tile joints can also be scrubbed properly with the white paste and polished to a high gloss. Simply apply to the toothbrush and rub it into the grout. Then rinse with plenty of water. The joints are already freed of dirt, and the bathroom is filled with a pleasant mint scent. By the way, cheap toothpaste is completely sufficient for this.
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5: Stay away from candle wax
Many advisors who introduce home remedies for cleaning joints in the bathroom recommend candle wax. Allegedly, it should be good for the tile joints if, after cleaning, the blunt end of a (white) candle is painted over it. This is supposed to seal the joints and bring additional whitening with it.
In fact, experts are relatively unanimous that the effect of such a treatment is rather negative: especially in joints that come into contact with warm or hot water, the wax is warmed up and rinsed off over time. After all, this causes sticky spots in joints and tiles and leads to an increased accumulation of dust, which in turn can lead to the formation of mould. In addition, the wax that gets down the drain can cause blockages.
6: Baking powder, Baking soda or Soda
Baking powder, baking soda, and soda are home remedies that are widely used around the home and in the garden. They are remarkably cheap to buy, almost always available in-house and also incredibly effective. It is also worth using baking soda when cleaning the joints in the bathroom. The powder, diluted with a little water, can be mixed into a viscous mass and then rubbed into the joints with a toothbrush.
If you scrub properly and leave the compound to act for at least 45 minutes, you will get radiantly clean tile joints afterwards. But don’t forget: it is essential to rinse properly. If you want to use soda or baking soda, you should consider the correct mixing ratio: three parts soda or baking soda are mixed with one part water.
7: Nail polish remover and Alcohol
Nail polish remover and alcohol are also popular household helpers often used on discoloured or dirty grout. Simply dab on a cotton swab or cloth and rub it over a large area. Alcohol and nail polish remover can also kill mould in the joints. At least the alcohol is also ecologically well tolerated. On the other hand, this home remedy is usually only suitable for small-area use because the alcohol and the nail polish remover evaporate quickly.
8: Devices and aids away from the household
Very few people in their household have an eraser for joints or a steam cleaner. However, both can be worth buying. The steam cleaner, ,particularly proves to be particularly effective at cleaning joints in the bathroom: It ensures flawless cleanliness and helps to keep bacteria and mould spores at bay. The grout eraser also removes dirt reliably but is all the more time-consuming to use.
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9: Chemical cleaners as an aggressive tool
If all home remedies against mould fail, the last resort is the range of chemical mould removers you can buy in supermarkets, drugstores or hardware stores. These cleaners often work on a chlorine basis and cannot only kill the mould but also to bleach the unsightly dark stains. In return, they have a high impact on the environment and usually also have an unpleasant odour. If you can, you should try the various environmentally friendly home remedies first before using the chemical club.
10: You need to act quickly with silicone joints
If you want to clean the silicone joints in the bathroom in addition to the tile joints, you need to act quickly. Mould, in particular, eats its way into silicone mercilessly and rapidly and can then no longer be removed. It is, therefore, best to use vinegar essence to tackle discolouration on the silicone. Diluted with water, this household remedy is a real mould killer.
