Natural Solutions for Treating Tile Grout By Clifford Woods It is possible to clean tile grout without having to do a lot of heavy scrubbing, however the products you would have to use consist of a number of rather harmful chemical substances. If a standard non-toxic method were accessible, it would be a breakthrough in the cleaning industry. The truth is that a combined strategy is required to maintain the clean appearance of your grout. Mold Growth Due to the fact grout has a rough and porous surface; it has a tendency to present cleaning difficulties which do not exist on the surface of polished stone or glazed tile. Filthy-looking grout is generally a mix of dirt, mildew, and mold. To be successfully cleaned, a blended approach should be used - one which extends into the small pores of the grout and puts a stop to any mold development at its origin. In order for mildews and molds to develop, they will require a moisture source, food, along with a little bit of warmth. Lowering the temperature of your bathroom can be quite uncomfortable as you step out of the shower. Luckily, the most effective method of control is by lowering the food and water sources for mildew. The food supply for the majority of these molds is actually our very own skin tissues along with the soaps we use. The phosphates present in soaps can also boost the growth of these molds. Trying to keep these residues at minimal amounts will decrease possible mold development. To lessen humidity, you can squeegee or towel down the wall surfaces of your shower area after every single use. If you would rather not do that, then you can leave the curtain and bathroom door open to better let it air circulate. Switching on a bathroom fan will also help to draw humidity from the area. Scrubbing is Necessary Chlorine bleach is one of the most typical ingredients employed to lighten up items, so there's a chance you're convinced that it can be used to whiten grout. While bleach will do a good job of eliminating mold spores, just putting it on is not really sufficient to eliminate mold for good. The crud within your tile grout is generally located behind a coating of soap scum which in most cases is not easily apparent. Remember that many of these cleaning responses take place at a molecular level, so a thin coating of soap residue a hundredth of an inch thick can easily stop the bleach from making contact with the grime under the layer of soap residue. For this reason physical scrubbing as well as utilization of acidic substances, such as the phosphoric acid solution present in toilet bowl solutions, can break up this soap layer. However, one of many complications of using these chemical substances, besides the ecological and skin contact problems, is the harmful consequences to the grout itself. Grouts are made from cement and can be worn away by acidic ingredients. Bleach however is less harmful to the grout than any acid solution; however you will need to do some scrubbing for that to work. Eco-Friendly Alternatives for Grout Cleaning If you would rather not use any chemicals at all, which is much better for health purposes, then one particular choice would be to install a darker shade of grout. Lighter grouts are definitely more difficult to keep looking nice than a darker shade. If installing new grout is not for you, below are a few alternate options to bleach and hazardous chemical substances: - Borax
- Steam Cleaners
- Oxygen Bleach Powder
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar
- Blend of Baking Soda and Vinegar
- Organic All-Purpose Clean with Beneficial Microorganisms
Scrubbing is required for most of these alternatives. * * * Clifford Woods is the CEO of Effective Environmental Services and Organic Environmental Technology.
We brew Beneficial Microorganisms and offer Natural Organic Solutions
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