Content

• Steps
• Advice

Liquid mortar (a mixture of water, sand and the cement used to attach the tiles) is often difficult to keep clean. Brick slots are prone to dirt and stains, and before you know it, the grout has turned from white to black. You can learn how to clean the tile slots for them to shine again and maintain them so you don't have to clean them as often.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Use vinegar and ammonia

1. 

   Preliminary cleaning. Before using the deep cleaning methods, you need to clean the entire surface of the tile. Clean counters or sweep and mop floors as usual. This removes the dirt from the surface and makes your job a little easier.

2. 

   
   
   Make a cleaning solution. Mix 7 cups water, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup ammonia, and 1/4 cup white vinegar in a large bucket or bowl. Stir the ingredients until the baking soda dissolves.

3. 

   Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. You should keep the solution in a spray bottle to make it easier to target the dirtiest places and to store. Pour the entire solution into the spray bottle and shake well.

4. 

   
   
   Spray into the brick slots. You should start spraying on a small area of ​​about 0.1 - 0.2 square meters. Spray the solution over the tile slots until evenly wet. Let the solution soak for about 3-5 minutes.

5. 

   Start scouring. Use the brush of your choice to scrub - a hard brush, a toothbrush or the magic sponge are all good options. You need to use strength when brushing to dislodge dirt in the slot.

6. 

   
   
   Wipe off dirty water. After you brush, dirty puddles will appear on the tile surface. Use a damp rag to wipe away the dirty water and squeeze it into a separate bucket. This will make the tile surface cleaner after being scoured.

7. 

   Complete cleaning of the slot. Repeat the above process for the remaining parts and scrub thoroughly. Focus on knocking off the dirt and black spots in the tile slots to return the natural white below.

8. 

   Clean it one last time. When you find the slots are clean, rinse the entire surface of the tile again. Use multi-purpose cleaning spray and rag to clean counter or bathroom surfaces. With floor tiles, you can wipe with a mop and wipe with a dry rag. advertisement

Method 2 of 4: Use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda

1. 

   Clean the tiles. Before you focus on scrubbing your tiles, you'll need to basically clean the surface of the tile with a detergent that you would like to use. If you plan to clean your floor tile, sweep and wipe the floor. With kitchen and bathroom counters, you can spray your usual cleaning water and wipe it off.

2. 

   Mix the dough mixture. Mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda to make a paste. The proportions between these two ingredients may vary depending on the consistency you want.

3. 

   Spread the mixture on the slots. Use your finger or toothbrush to apply the paste to the tiles. You should start with a small area of ​​no more than 0.1-0.2 square meters. Maintain the consistency of the mixture and cover the crevices. Wait for the mixture to soak for about 5-10 minutes.

4. 

   Start scouring. You can use a small brush like a toothbrush to scrub the grooves (electric brush is fine). Press hard on small areas to remove dirt and stains. If the tiles are still dirty, apply more mixture and scrub again after letting it soak for a few minutes.

5. 

   Complete the entire area to be scoured. Continue to apply the mixture on the slots and clean brush. Work slowly to ensure complete cleaning of the tile slots.

6. 

   Clean the tiles. Use a damp rag to wipe off the remaining dough on the tile. Finish by wiping the tile surface as usual with a multi-purpose counter cleaner, or mop and floor soap. advertisement

Method 3 of 4: Use oxygen bleach

1. 

   Wipe off the tiles. Wipe the tile surface to remove any debris and dirt that could make cleaning the crevices more difficult. Follow the usual cleaning routine by sweeping and mopping the floor or spraying with detergent and wiping the counters.

2. 

   Prepare your solution. Oxygen detergent is a safe compound that helps to dissolve dirt and bacteria, and bleaches crevices. Mix 1: 1 oxygen bleach with warm water and stir to dissolve.

3. 

   Pour the mixture onto the bricks. Choose an area as small as 0.1-0.2 m2 to start scouring and pouring the cleaning solution over. Make sure the solution covers all the slot; You can use a spray bottle to make this step easier. Wait for the solution to take effect for about 15-20 minutes.

4. 

   Start scouring. Once the bleach has been in enough time, you can start scrubbing the slots to remove dirt and stains. Use a small brush like a toothbrush to scrub the crevices. You can add more bleach to keep it moist and continue the cleaning process.

5. 

   Wipe off dirty water. Use a dry rag to remove any stagnant water that has formed on the tile surface when you are done cleaning. Squeeze the water occasionally when the rag is wet. This will make the cleaning process easier to complete.

6. 

   Continue to wash the slot. Repeat the process of spraying bleach into the slot and scouring until you have completed the entire tiled area. For particularly stubborn stains, wait for an hour or more for the bleach to soak. The longer you soak, the easier it will be to scrub off the stain.

7. 

   Complete the cleaning. Wipe it up one last time using a rinse like you normally would. This step will remove the remaining bleach and dirt, giving the tiles a new shine. advertisement

Method 4 of 4: Keep tile slots clean

1. 

   Clean up as soon as liquid spills on tiles. Juices like cranberries or orange juice are sure to create stains if they stay in the crevices for a few hours. As soon as the liquid spills onto the floor, wipe off any dirt with a wet rag.
   • If there are stains, you can pour a little bit of hydrogen peroxide, wait 1 minute for it to soak, and wipe with a clean rag.
   • Dropping dry material can also stain the tile slots if left on the floor for a long time. You should wipe off coffee grounds, sandy soil, and other solids immediately after spills.

2. 

   Treat small stains regularly. To avoid too often deep cleaning, treat small stains as soon as they appear. You will also use the same cleaning solutions as for deep cleaning, but use a spray bottle to handle the small area you want to clean. You can also use alternative methods to remove small stains:
   • Use a baking soda mixture. Mix baking soda with a little water to make a paste and rub the dirt in the tile. Let it sit for a few minutes, then use an old toothbrush to clean it.
   • Use a white toothpaste. Squeeze a bit of toothpaste into the stained tile slot, using it with your finger. After a few minutes, you can use an old toothbrush to scrub the dirt. Wipe with a clean, damp rag.
   • Use a pencil eraser. Small stains can be treated with pencil eraser with very surprising results. Choose white bleach instead of color bleaching so that the mortar color in the brick slot does not turn into the color of the bleach.

3. 

   Maintain ventilation. Mold often affects bathroom tile slots because it often gets wet and bloated for many hours. You should turn on the exhaust fan after showering or taking a bath and dry the tiles to prevent the crevices from getting mold.

4. 

   Use glue to seal the tiles. Once a year, you should seal the tile slots with sealant to prevent the spilled liquid from quickly seeping into the tiny holes in the tile slots, while also preventing mold in the bathroom. You can choose to buy tile sealant at a building materials store and use it according to the manufacturer's instructions.

5. 

   Color the tile slot into another color. Sometimes it is difficult to keep the tile whitening in practice. If you often dye your hair or the kids in the house like to color in the kitchen, or simply don't want to spend a lot of effort keeping the tiles white, consider buying a mortar dye to dye the slots. You can choose a color that matches the brick color or a completely different color to create a contrasting effect.

6. 

   Know when to replace the tile mortar. The old tiled mortar will begin to crack and become brittle, and the condition worsens as moisture seeps into the property and gradually degrades. It is desirable to replace the tiled mortar when necessary, as it will be easier for you to clean, while also preventing mold from forming. advertisement

Advice

• Remember to open windows and ventilate the room when cleaning tiles.
• Home improvement and repair materials stores also sell phosphoric acid for cleaning tile slots. Remember to follow the instructions and be careful when using it.