What Grout Cleaner Should Be Used on Natural-Stone Flooring?

Grout lines are an important aspect of just about all tile installations, whether they’re used for flooring, decorative backsplash details, shower walls, or surrounds. Even though grouting work doesn’t really help much in terms of tile stability, there’s a very good reason for making sure at least some space is left between tiles: protecting the materials. It’s also important to make sure you keep your grout lines clean, because they’re bound to become dirty over time. If you aren’t sure how to clean grout between natural-stone tiles, continue reading. The Need to Keep Grout Lines Clean Invariably, grout lines need to be cleaned because they tend to easily trap dirt and grime residue. When grout cleaning is neglected, a stubborn film will eventually develop. The problem with this grout haze is that it’s very noticeable, particularly if you routinely clean your natural-stone tiles but continue to leave the grout cleaning for another day. The longer you wait to clean the grout lines, the more unsightly the contrast will become. Choosing the Right Grout Cleaning Product With ceramic tiles, there are quite a few products you can use to clean the grout lines, and it really doesn’t matter if the grouting material is traditional or silicone. However, if you have natural-stone tiles, you need to use a stone-safe grout cleaner such as Granite Gold Grout Cleaner®. The problem with the grout cleaners you commonly find at the supermarket is that they’re usually very abrasive or caustic, thus making them unsafe for the natural-stone tiles. There’s very little space between grout and tiles, and you don’t want to splash harsh cleaning substances that contain ammonia, bleach, or phosphates on your stone tiles. Here's a brief video explaining how to use Granite Gold Grout Cleaner®: How to Use Granite Gold Grout Cleaner® A 24-ounce bottle of Granite Gold Grout Cleaner® comes with a nylon bristle brush that won’t scratch your natural-stone tiles. Spray right along the grout lines and use the included brush to scrub out the grime or haze, then rinse with warm water when finished. If you notice the grout lines aren’t clean after the first scrubbing, spray again and let the cleaner sit for a 2-3 minutes before using the brush again. Once clean, it’s wise to seal grout lines to protect against soil buildup. Additional Grout Cleaning Tips Keep the use of water to a minimum when cleaning grout lines. A better strategy is to wipe the adjoining tiles clean with Granite Gold Daily Cleaner®. Since cleaning grout is part of a deep cleaning routine, you may want to seal both the grout and the stone after you’re finished. For more tips on cleaning grout as well as caring for natural stone such as granite, slate, travertine, and marble, get in touch with Granite Gold®. Call one of our Stone Care Experts today at 1-800-475-STONE (7866), and follow us on Instagram for even more tips to help you care for the natural stone in your home.