Grout, a mortar-like compound of
water, sand and cement, is usually used as a plaster for finishing walls,
ceilings or flooring in household surfaces. It is most commonly found in bathrooms,
between the tiles. Keeping in consideration that your bath tub gets wet every
day when you shower, and your sink is left wet after you wash your hands, there
may be times when the bath tub or the sink does not dry completely, leaving
moisture in the grout. This can lead to the growth of mold near your bath tub,
sink or any other place that has been left wet, giving a grim look to your
bathroom.
To prevent mold from growing on to
grout, it is recommended that you wash the surfaces thoroughly at least once in
two weeks, and have as much air circulated in the bathroom as possible so that
it dries completely. However, if mold has already grown on grout, use one of
the methods outlined below to get rid of it. All you need are simple household
items. Always wear gloves, and test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous
area of the object before using it on the stain. If the solution damages the
object in any way, do not proceed with it.
Before you proceed, rinse the affected
area well with plain water, and scrub it using a stiff brush that has nylon or
plastic bristles. This will remove any loose mold that is present on the
surface.
Method One (Using Vinegar)
Things that you will require:
·
Vinegar
·
Bowl
·
Water
·
Stiff
brush
·
Paper
towels
Steps that you will need to take:
1.
To
make the cleaning solution for cleaning the grout, pour 1 part vinegar in a
bowl. Add an equal amount of water to the bowl, and mix.
2.
Dip
a soft, clean cloth in the solution, and apply a generous amount to the molded
area.
3.
Grab
a stiff brush, and start scrubbing the affected area. Do not use an old
toothbrush as it may be too soft or metal bristles as they may ruin the grout.
4.
Scrub
in a circular motion as it is more effective.
5.
Once
the mold has been removed after the scrubbing, rinse the affected area with
clear water.
6.
Let
the area dry completely. Use paper towels if required.
Tip:
Vinegar
is more effective on freshly grown mold. It may not work well on mold that has
been in place for a long time.
Method Two (Using Bleach)
Things that you will require:
·
Chlorine
bleach
·
A
container (preferable aluminum pan)
·
Paper
towels
·
Water
Steps that you will need to take:
1.
Grab
a bottle of chlorine bleach and a container in which you can pour the bleach,
preferably an aluminum pan. Avoid plastic containers. Pour some chlorine bleach
in the container.
2.
Take
a paper towel, dip it well in chlorine bleach, and place it in contact with the
mold on the grout. Use as many paper towels as required.
3.
Leave
the paper towels in place for a night.
4.
The
next day, remove them. If the mold is still visible, repeat the above steps.
5.
Rinse
the affected area well with plain water.
6.
Let
it dry completely. Turn the exhaust fan on, and leave the door open for air
circulation.
Tip:
Be careful while using bleach. Do not
splash it on your face or let it come in contact with your skin. Chlorine
bleach also has the tendency to discolor the tile. If chlorine bleach does so
after you have checked it on an inconspicuous area, use oxygen bleach instead.
Method Three (Using Hydrogen Peroxide)
Things that you will require:
·
3%
Hydrogen peroxide
·
Water
·
Bowl
·
Soft,
clean cloths
Steps that you will need to take:
1.
To
make your cleaning solution to remove the mold from grout, all you need is hydrogen
peroxide, water and a bowl. Pour ½ a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide in a bowl, and
add 1 cup of plain water to it. Mix it thoroughly.
2.
Dip
a soft, clean cloth in the solution, and apply the cloth to the moldy area.
3.
Leave
it in place for the night.
4.
The
next day, rinse the affected area with plain water.
5.
Leave
it to dry completely. Leave the door open, and turn on the exhaust fan. Your
bathroom should be back to its original appearance!
Tip:
Hydrogen
Peroxide works in the same way as bleach, and can be used as a substitute for
it.
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