Property Maintenance: How to Clean Tile Grout | Real Estate and ...

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Maybe you gave your rental property?s bathroom a nice remodel a last year. Fact of the matter is, one tenant cycle later, you have yucky, discolored, or moldy grout on your hands. What?s the best way to get rid of it? Don?t let a grimy-looking kitchen or bathroom turn away prospective tenants. It?s time to put those gloves on, grab a (electric) toothbrush and start cleaning!

First off, grout is that solid, white mortar-like stuff around your tub and in between tile. Caulk is the rubbery, gummy stuff that might go around your sink or along the walls. Mold or grime can accumulate in both, and luckily, you can use the same cleaning strategies to take care of them. It?s important to make sure the tile and areas around your sinks, showers, and tubs are sealed so no water gets beneath the surface to damage your property. While you?re cleaning the grout, check for any cracks that need to be filled in.

Here are three homemade cleaning solutions you can try to clean your tile grout:

Hydrogen peroxide. Mix half a cup of drugstore hydrogen peroxide with one cup of water. Use a spray bottle and spray it on the grout. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing it off.

Vinegar. If the mold and grime buildup isn?t serious, scrubbing grout with vinegar might do the trick.

Baking soda. Use a 3:1 ratio of baking soda and water to form a paste. Apply it on the grout, wait a few minutes, rinse, and repeat as necessary.

Depending on how serious your mold and mildew problem is, ask the attendant at the hardware store for recommendations. Be careful about using bleach. Not only is it a harsh pollutant, it can also stain your grout yellow. Also double-check the ingredients you find in commercial cleaners for harsh chemicals, and wear gloves when using them to clean.

Stubborn stains? If all your scrubbing doesn?t make the discoloration go away, it might be time to purchase some grout stain from the home improvement store. Note that this won?t fix your problem, just cover it up.

If the mold and mildew continues to reappear quickly after it?s cleaned, it could be a sign that the mold is coming from underneath. If this is the case, you?ll need to remove the grout and replace it.

What is your tried-and-true solution for cleaning tile grout? Share with us below!

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/pro/2013-01-09/property-maintenance-how-to-clean-tile-grout/

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