Unfortunately, many things can cause your lovely white grout to become discolored. More often than not, it's your use of harsh, abrasive cleansers that turn your white grout yellow. Try to avoid ingredients like bleach to prevent yellowing.
Moisture leads to mildew stains, which is the common cause of yellowing grout. To prevent dingy shower grout, run a squeegee over the tile after you're done showering. Opening a window, turning on the exhaust fan while showering, or leaving the door open will also reduce moisture.
Numerous grout types are prone to yellowing. For example, white epoxy grouts are notorious for turning yellow. Certain cleaners, especially those that contain dyes, can cause discoloration of grout. Household bleach commonly discolors grout.
Saturate the grout with lemon juice, a mild disinfectant that gets rid of grout stains naturally. You can also use white vinegar for chemical-free grout cleaning. Simply pour vinegar from the bottle into the cap and pour it over the dirty grout lines. Allow the lemon juice or vinegar to sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
White Grout
It will show stains and will be difficult to keep clean. Even with consistent cleaning it is nearly impossible to protect it from staining and discoloration over time. This is why Tile Wizards always recommends sealing your grout with an appropriate grout sealer.
Disadvantages. White is the color most susceptible to staining and discoloration. Grout is porous and even after being sealed will attract dirt and possible discoloration from dirt, water, and some cleaners. It may even yellow slightly over time.
Generally speaking, white or light grout isn't as forgiving of discolorations and staining, and ends up requiring extra upkeep to make it look good. Darker grouts, on the other hand, can hide typical stains better, but they're more likely to fade or stain from cleaners.
One of the most common causes for discolored grout is dirty mop water. Rather than cleaning the tile, mop water spreads the dirt from the tile into the grout. Since the grout is the lowest part of the floor, the dirt and grime from the mop water settles into the grout.
If you're set on white grout, you might consider using Epoxy Grout, which is stain-resistant. If you choose to go with Epoxy, make sure you work with an installer that is comfortable with the product, as it does set much more quickly than sanded grout.
Regularly sealing your grout can help preserve fresh white grout lines. Good to Know: Unsanded grout does not contain sand and is a less common choice in tile applications.
What do professionals use to clean grout? Whether you believe it or not, most professionals use a solution of white vinegar and water with a 1:1 ratio. This solution is often more effective than dedicated Ph-neutral grout cleaners.
White grout gives white tiles a fresh, bright, and seamless look. Just note that this will definitely result in your tile being the star of the show.
The most common and effective homemade grout cleaner is a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. Cream or tartar and lemon juice is the best all-natural solution for whitening. Avoid using highly-acidic solutions like vinegar because they can corrode grout.
How to Clean Grout With Chlorine Bleach. One traditional way to clean grout lines is using full-strength household chlorine bleach. Ordinary household chlorine bleach is an effective way to clean grout, but because you are using it at full strength, caution is required when using it.
Did you know that toothpaste makes an effective tile grout cleaner? To remove dirt and grime from tile grout: Dab some white, non-gel toothpaste onto the grout.
Causes of How Grout Turns Yellow
Hard water exposure is one of the main reasons why grout turns yellow. Constant exposure to minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron causes discoloration. A practical solution for this problem is to use water softeners to reduce the mineral content.
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Epoxy grout is stain resistant and water resistant because it isn't porous like cement grout. This means epoxy grout lasts longer than cement grout. It also makes epoxy grout the best choice for both indoor and outdoor settings, particularly in spaces where you can expect a lot of moisture.
Is staining grout a good idea? Grout stain can give discolored grout that's otherwise in good condition a new life. Plus, it can change up the look of your tile. For instance, you can pick a dark grout color to contrast with light tile.
That is another very important clue. Grout almost always appears darker when wet than when dry. New grout can take 24 or even 48 hours before it dries completely. It depends on the humidity and temperature in the room where the grout is installed.
Grey grout is a beautiful choice for white tiles as the slight contrast in color helps make the white tile pop. Once you add a color difference between your tile and grout, the shape of the tile is revealed more clearly, and the grout itself forms a pattern out of the negative space.
What color grout is easiest to keep clean? The grout color that's easiest to keep clean is likely to be a neutral shade such as a gray, or a tone of beige. These are super-practical choices for both kitchen and bathroom tile, and will demand less maintenance to stay looking good as new.
Acrylic Grout: Acrylic grout is a great option for wet areas like decks and showers. It's intended to be mildew-resistant and retains its color well. Epoxy Grout: Epoxy grout is less do-it-yourself-friendly than other types. It's a common choice for countertops due to its hardness.
Grey Grout
Softer than a dark grout but much more user-friendly than a white grout, grey is the perfect solution for a kitchen splashback as it will keep looking cleaner for longer. Large white tiles often look better with a grey grout as it will frame the tile.