Spring Cleaning - - - Grout Cleaning

Once a year, I go to town on our house. I do major cleaning this time of year, every year. I don't do it all in one week. I do it over the course of 4-5 weeks. I am talking deep clean, every crack and crevice gets attention.

The past two weekends I have been focused on the 2 upstairs bathrooms. Our master bath and the kids bath. I have done a deep clean and scrub to the grout. I deep clean and scrub both the floor grout and shower and bath grout. The floor grout is something I only do once a year, the rest of the year its basic mopping. But mopping doesn't get the deep down dirt.

We moved into this house about 2 1/2 years ago. This house is older than me, we aren't going to talk about just how old that is....we'll just say north of 30. So things aren't exactly what I would've chosen or pristine condition any more. I love our older traditional home and we are making changes as we go. But as anyone who has lived in something other than new construction...there are challenges.

I would definitely not choose white grout for a kids bathroom. Although it can be bleached...its a lot of work to get clean and even more to keep it that way...but alas that it what we have. So, I am working with what I have.

I have this Rubbermaid tool, it is like an industrial strength electric toothbrush. My mother in law bought this for me, I am so glad because I use it all the time. It has two brush heads. One flat and one diamond shape for corners. My next tricks is Soft Scrub with bleach.

First things first, this is not a short cut or quick trick. This is a process and although the tool makes it easier it's not a magic wand.

Step 1: Remove everything from the space and Vacuum
Step 2: Spread small amount on Softscrub on the grout and work it in with your tool. I do this in small sections of the floor so I'm not getting cleaner on my clothes
Step 3: Let it sit for 30 minutes.
Step 4: Dip tool in a bowl of water and work over the areas with the soft scrub
Step 5: Wipe away excess
Step 6: Retreat any stubborn stains.
Step 7: Wipe area with wet paper towel
Repeat to complete the entire floor
Step 8: Mop with plain water or stiffer to remove all remaining traces of cleaner

The picture below is in the kids bathroom. Same light, no filter. I tried to take it in the exact spot. I think my phone angle was a bit different, but you get the idea! Dingy and gray to pure gleaming white!

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