Cleaning tile grout - advice needed please

Lemony

Hi. I am about to start decorating my kitchen which needs a LOT doing to it. It has plain white tiles covering some parts of the walls which are in good condition but a bit grubby. I want to start my project by cleaning the white grout between the tiles. I am thinking of using bleach and an old toothbrush. Does anybody know if this method actually works? I have some Cilit Bang in the shed which I could use if that would work better, although I really hate harsh chemicals! Can anybody recommend something that will really work and bring back the white? Thanks in advance.

googler

Tile brush from Lakeland and mild cleaning products sorted the tile grout in our shower quite well..... the tile brush is easier to handle than a toothbrush.

Lirin

Yep, old toothbrush, but try a general cleaner maybe before bleach.

keystone

If its that bad you should rake it all out and regrout. 'Tis the only proper solution.

Cheers

Lemony

Hmmm. It's not too bad but it's kind of grimey from cooking fat in the air if you know what I mean, and grease can be difficult to shift. When you say use a general cleaner before bleach do you mean something like washing up liquid? Would I have to put it on neat and leave it for a while before giving it a good scrub? I have considered removing all the grout and starting again, but I have a disability which is going to make decorating difficult enough so I'd rather manage with what I've got where possible. Would neat bleach damage the tiles if I used that? My tiles are just basic shiny white ones. Thanks.

keystone

If you've got grease etc soaked into the grout it won't come off with bleach or anything else. TBH. replace it is really the best solution. Get someone (friend/family) to do it for you.

Cheers

Lemony

If only, lol!

I will still try to clean it first, but if it fails I might have to remove the grout. How do you get the grout out without damaging the tiles?

macman

Use a grout removing tool to rake it out,

dander

bleach always used to work on the grout when I had a tiled kitchen worktop. Came up sparkling white.

cajef

Try this http://www.homecareessentials.co.uk/acatalog/Grout_Cleaner.html

Also available at Lakeland & Homebase

gravitytolls

I thought you could get grout paint, kind of like tippex, you just run te tube/botle along the grout? Various colours too. It's in amongst the tile paint in DIY shops.

http://www.groutrevive.com/grout-paint/