Expert: Jan Hayner - 12/27/2008

Question
We recently put ceramic tile in our kitchen.  Yesterday I spilled a glass of grape fruit juice on the floor.  we tried washing the floor with clean water, but the grout is still stained.  Any suggestions on how we can clean the grout?

Thank you.

Answer
Hi Steven;
Anytime you get anything with a red base spilled on something, you have a problem. The stain just doesn't want to budget. Grape, having red in it, is a problem in itself.

I understand the problem that you are having with grout. I have tile on my bathroom floor and am in the process of doing a major cleaning and am then going to put a glaze over the grout itself. I have tried sealers, just to have them wear off by the amount of washing that I do. So, I am going for the heavy duty way of doing things.

Now, to answer your question;there are tons of chemicals on the market for cleaning grout and all of them are expensive and time consuming. This is one of those things that we dig in great grandmas book of tricks--clean it with vinegar and baking soda......

Simply pour or spray the vinegar into the grouted areas, let sit a few minutes, then simply sprinkle some baking soda on top of the vinegar.

You will get a chemical reaction that causes bubbling and foaming. Let sit for five minutes and then use a scrub brush or toothbrush to rub into the grout and rinse clean. Let dry thoroughly and then put a heavy coat of sealer on your grout. Use a brush to apply it, not an applicator, it never does a good enough job. If you have to coat it twice to make sure you haven't missed any spots.

It takes a little longer to do it this way, but once the job is done----it is done!!! You won't constantly be worrying about things getting spilled or dirt absorbing into the grout.
Happy Cleaning and spot removing,
Jan Hayner

Follow up:
Go with the recommended glaze for tiles, there are a few different brands but from what I understand from 'an expert' (he does it for a living), they all work the same. Spray on sealers are not the best because they don't put a heavy enough coat of sealer on the grout and they tend to go all over the tiles, causing more work. I used the glaze and a small 1 inch brush to apply and it worked great. I am planning on adding a second coat just to be on the safe side!
Jan