How to keep grout clean

Cleaning grout is not only hygienic, but it also helps to protect your tiles for longer meaning less intensive maintenance is needed over time. In this guide, we take you through how to keep grout clean as part of your regular cleaning routine.

The purpose of grout is to create a water-tight seal and prevent any debris and liquid from getting behind tiles. It is, however, generally made from cement and very porous in form, meaning it doesn’t take much to appear grubby.

One common cause of discoloured grout is dirty mop water, the used water can saturate the grout after you’ve cleaned your floor tiles. It’s important therefore to create a preventative routine as well as a cleaning routine.

We’d recommend Fila’s grout cleaning range which makes it easier to achieve a professional job at home.

Firstly, ensure you keep your tiles sealed as this is the main cause for damage to a tile’s surface. If the surface of the tile isn’t adequately protected, oils, dirt and grime can penetrate the tile’s surface and cause lasting marks and unsightly stains. You can see more advice on using sealers in our sealing guide

As well as sealing your tiles, ensure you protect your grout too with Grout Sealer.

As mentioned, grout is incredibly absorbent and open to stains, although not to the degree it would allow water damage. This means that the lighter your grout colour the more often you will need to upkeep it as it will look dirty quicker.

Sealing your grout will prevent the penetration of dirt, but first and foremost, it is important it is properly cleaned. You might think that vigorous scrubbing is an effective method, but this can actually damage grout and potentially your tiles too. Another one to avoid is bleach, you’ll only be bleaching any dirt build up on the surface of the grout and it will actually damage the grout’s structure as it’s too abrasive.

Instead, we’d recommend a professional deep clean to prevent the accumulation of stains, but with a detergent that won’t harm your grout or tiles in the process. The Fila Multi Surface Cleaner is an all-around specialist cleaner for both ceramic and porcelain tiles.

Additionally, their Grout Cleaner is a specialist cleaner for all cementitious grout, simply apply to the grout directly and leave for ten seconds before rinsing with water.

The more you do this as part of your regular cleaning routine, and by topping up your grout sealer, your grout will look newer for longer. And the secret to how to get grout white again? If your white grout is already badly stained, we’d recommend removing the grout and replacing it and protecting it properly. It’s extremely hard to get back to a crisp white without damaging the grout.

Once tiles and grout are clean, it’s nice to keep them this way, and so regular upkeep is important. We’d, therefore, recommend a fortnightly deep cleanse with a Fila detergent such as the Multi Surface Cleaner.

Rooms also subject to constant humidity and water, like the bathroom, should be cleaned once a week to maintain the appearance of grout and tiles.

For best results, start with Fila’s Grout Cleaner to prevent the spread of dirt before wiping your surfaces clean and sealing between any grout lines. Fila’s Grout Sealer spray is VOC free and environmentally friendly, meaning you can enjoy a guilt-free deep clean! Depending on room type and use, we’d recommend topping up your sealer every 2-3 months.

For more information on cleaning products, check out our handy product guide, the go-to on how to use these cleaning products for different cleaning requirements.