Ho To Clean My White Tile From Looking Grey?

How on globe do yous clean ceramic tile and grout…and what products work best?

This was a question I was pondering while taking a shower the other day. Primarily considering the grout on our shower'due south ceramic flooring wasn't looking so good.

I try to keep our shower clean, but with 2 adults and two kids, it'due south pretty darn difficult to maintain Mr. Make clean's level of tidiness (hey, the guy has no hair and that helps a lot with keeping showers looking immaculate).

We have small 2-inch by two-inch foursquare tiles on our shower flooring (sound familiar) and my main goal was to determine the best way to clean them. I also wanted to see if the same solution used to clean the ceramic tile could clean the grout.

Hither'south what I used

OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover
Eco Orange Citrus Cleaner
Chlorox

I've read and then many articles on the awesomeness of OxiClean (oxygenated bleach) and wanted to see for myself how information technology would work on ceramic tile & grout.

My wife bought Eco Orange Citrus Cleaner from a salesperson in our neighborhood considering information technology'southward supposedly non-toxic and kid-friendly. Nosotros've used information technology for full general cleaning and it seemed like a good thought to try information technology on the shower, also.

And as a last resort, I tried Chlorox bleach. Information technology's not my preference due to the baneful fumes and the likelihood you'll ruin your clothes using it.

Admittedly I hit a roadblock the starting time few times I used OxiClean. I'll share my feel considering information technology sheds light on the amount of OxiClean I constitute to accept the most ability. At the very to the lowest degree you lot'll want to coil through the pictures since I was growing my cheesy mustache to raise money for prostate cancer awareness.

Permit'south get started!

How Much OxiClean Powder Should be Used to Make clean Ceramic Tile & Grout?

This is a great question because everyone's ceramic tile & grout has a different level of dirtiness.

Permit'southward first discuss how the makers of OxiClean recommend using information technology for difficult surfaces like tile & grout.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile & Grout-OxiClean

The directions on the OxiClean container say to fill the OxiClean scoop to line 4 and add together it to one gallon of water. Information technology'southward also suggested that a more than concentrated solution/paste may exist required for surfaces similar grout and I'k certainly going to hash out this point.

They then recommend applying the OxiClean & water solution to tile with a sponge or castor or by pouring it straight on pinnacle of the surface. And the final step is to let the OxiClean stand on the tile & grout for five-xxx minutes and to not let it dry out.

Okay, that's what yous'll read on the OxiClean box.

I performed 3 different tests on my ceramic tile to come across what concentration of OxiClean would work best. My hope was that I'd only have to do 1 experiment and POOF, I'd be be a cleaning genius.

But no such luck.

The commencement examination I did used 1/ii cup of OxiClean added to 1 gallon of hot water. I allow the solution stand on the tile & grout for xxx minutes and scrubbed for nigh five minutes. This produced somewhat cleaner grout just the tile didn't look whatever better.

The second test used 1 cup of OxiClean added to 1 gallon of hot h2o. Again, I let the solution stand on the tile & grout for 30 minutes and scoured for 5 minutes. The results were a mixed bag. The grout was clean in some areas and dingy in others as was the tile.

The 3rd test involved 2 cups of OxiClean added to 1 gallon of hot h2o. This fourth dimension I let the solution stand up for sixty minutes and scrubbed for 5 minutes at the beginning and end. As a result, the tile & grout looked much better. The tile in particular sparkled and some of the grime I couldn't get off with the scrub brush in tests #1 and #ii was completely gone.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile and Grout-How much OxiClean to Use

My conclusion is that 2 cups of OxiClean mixed with i gallon of hot water will defintely clean ceramic tile. I barely had to use the nylon scrub brush to get the tiles looking brand new. This concentration will besides eliminate mild grout stains and dirt.

Only there were still sections of discolored grout. Maybe my grout was likewise far gone to be cleaned by OxiClean but that doesn't mean I gave up.

Why Should You Utilise Oxygenated Bleach to Make clean Ceramic Tile?

I try to stay as healthy every bit possible. And 1 sure way to become sick is to expose yourself to harsh chemicals. Plus, my kids use the same bathroom and shower as us. And then the last affair I want to do is utilize chlorine bleach or some other product that could impairment their lungs & skin.

Oxygenated bleach contains sodium percarbonate. When oxygenated bleach is dissolved in water a chemical reaction occurs that releases hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate.

This reaction is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Plus, oxygenated bleach doesn't contain chlorine. And so you don't have to worry about it discoloring carpets or clothing while cleaning tile & grout.

( IMPORTANT , never mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide equally this reaction forms peracetic acid which can melt atomic number 82 bullets. I mention this because many people might endeavour vinegar to clean tile THEN apply OxiClean, a bad idea altogether!!)

Can Eco Orangish or Chlorox Clean Shower Tile & Grout?

At this point in my experiment, the shower tile was immaculate. The grout was driving me nuts. Even though each successive OxiClean treatment improved the grout's look there were withal discolored grout lines on some portions of the shower floor.

Enter Eco Orangish Citrus Cleaner. This stuff is expensive at $80 per gallon. Like I said in the introduction we've used it to clean different areas of our dwelling house like sinks, bathtubs, floors, etc. It'due south marketed equally being safe and non-toxic which is important to us because we accept two young daughters.

Information technology works really well as a general cleaner (every bit it should for that price, holy mother of mercy).

I used 1 function Eco Orangish to 2 parts water. In this case ii cups of Eco Orange to 4 cups of warm h2o. Once mixed thoroughly I poured it onto the shower tile & grout and scrubbed the grout for 5 minutes with a nylon brush.

Then I rinsed the shower flooring with clean water. Unfortunately, the grout was notwithstanding discolored. If I had to only tidy upward the shower flooring I'd about certainly use Eco Orange because it would exercise a good job eliminating superficial clay. But grout renewer it is not.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile and Grout-Eco Orange Citrus Cleaner

Moving on to Chlorox bleach.

I really dislike using Chlorox bleach, merely wanted to see if it could make a dent in my grout. After putting on rubber gloves, a respirator, and centre protection I mixed 3/4 cup of Chlorox with 2 cups of water.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile and Grout-Chlorox bleach requires protective gear

This is super concentrated but that's the point. I didn't desire to perform multiple experiments with bleach.

I scrubbed the tile grout for 5 minutes and let the Chlorox stand on the tile surface for some other 10. Then I rinsed with clean water.

After proverb a little prayer to the grout gods (just kidding, but if they existed you know I would kneel in reverence) and waiting x minutes, I checked on the grout.

Lamentable folks, Chlorox only didn't help in this example.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile and Grout-Chlorox bleach

And so what shall I do?

The shower tile is looking fantastic only the grout is still discolored in some areas.

Cleaning Shower Ceramic Tile and Grout-Mixed results

I started Dwelling Repair Tutor to share my wins and losses to help others. This is a tie 🙂

My hope was that i of these three products could have cleaned both the tile and grout in our shower. I'k confident that OxiClean can make clean anyone's ceramic tiles. And while it didn't fully live upwardly to my grout cleansing expectations I think yous should try information technology since it helped burnish upwardly about 60% of our grout lines.

It'southward relatively affordable at $7.52 and worth a shot since information technology's non-toxic.

I may try a few other products in order to get my tile grout looking better.