Cleaning floor joints the best trick to keep them white

A lot of our focus is on washing and cleaning the floor correctly, but What about the forgotten ones together? It’s no secret that, as time goes by, stains and dirt accumulate in the joints of the floor, which means that no matter how much we mop the floor with how much floor cleaner we use, we can’t keep the floor cleaning, we find, do not end up looking impeccable.

Yes, it is a bit complicated to whiten and dirt lodges and embeds itself in this area if it is not cleaned properly and often. In view of how laborious it is and the incessant hassle it causes (especially for ceramic floors) we have prepared an article detailing how to whiten black floor joints with inexpensive and effective homemade tricks.

How to remove black joints from the floor?

Recovering the beauty and distinction of the floor and at the same time preventing the proliferation of bacteria, is a somewhat daunting task that never ends in the daily cleaning of a home, you know it, I know it and everyone knows it (even if they try to ignore it). So, stop spending hundreds of euros on products that take the shine off your floor and try some of these techniques to clean your floor joints and leave them sparkling.

The old reliable: sodium bicarbonate of soda

Our grandmothers used this element for everything from home remedies to relieve aches and pains to cleaning various places in the house. And although it may be hard to believe, it is also an excellent ally for cleaning various materials, one of them being the tiles and their joints in various rooms, including the bathroom and kitchen. By simply combining its effect with that of hot water, you will notice how the adhering dirt is loosened and it is free of stains and germs. These are the steps to clean the floor joints with and walls with baking soda:

1. Protect your hands with multipurpose gloves.
2. Wet and scrub the surface with plenty of hot water and add baking soda generously between the grooves.
3. With a toothbrush, clothes brush or sponge, scrub the joints vigorously until the dirt comes out.
4. Clean the sediments from the surface with a scouring pad soaked in warm water.
5. Finally, dry the entire area with a soft cloth.

An environmentally friendly disinfectant: White vinegar

Another award winner in this list is white vinegar, widely used for cleaning floors, bathrooms and kitchens together. In addition to being a powerful cleaner, it is a great ecological disinfectant, which is why it is recommended because it avoids the use of chemical products and is low cost. To use vinegar when cleaning floor joints, here is the procedure:

1. In a spray bottle, mix half a cup of warm water and 250 ml of white vinegar.
2. Spray the mixture into the grooves of the tiles or ceramics and let it act for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Scrub the joints vigorously with a toothbrush or sponge.
4. Finally, wash with hot water and detergent and dry well with a tissue.

A plus: For even more effective results, you can combine baking soda and vinegar to make a more powerful dirt-getting combination.

Powerful cleaner: Ammonia

Have you ever heard of ammonia? It is a colorless substance with a very intense odor, known for its great power to remove stains and kill bacteria without much effort. Here is the process for cleaning floor joints with ammonia in a couple of steps:

1. In addition to protective gloves, on this occasion you should also wear a mask, as the odor is quite strong.
2. In a large container filled with water, dilute 30 ml of ammonia and mix well.
3. Using a toothbrush or sponge, scrub the grooves with this mixture until the dirt is loosened and the stain is removed.
4. Wash with plenty of hot water and neutral soap and scrub to remove ammonia.

The queen of bleaching products: Bleach

Indeed, bleach is an unprecedented bleach and disinfectant, passed down from generation to generation, and is almost indispensable for deep cleaning and removal of stains, mold, mildew, grease, germs and bacteria in the home. However, it should be handled with special caution, as it has a strong odor and is very corrosive. Do not forget to wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself and avoid contact with skin or eyes.

1. In 1 liter of water, dissolve 30 ml of bleach.
2. Place the mixture in a spray container or apply the liquid directly to the joints with a sponge.
3. Rub energetically with a toothbrush or clothes brush.
4. Allow it to take effect for approximately 10 minutes.
5. Finally, wash with water and disinfectant and dry.

Warning, dangerous! never mix ammonia with bleach, it produces an aggressive toxic reaction.

Classic and safe: Etching

It is a chemical product frequently used in the toilet, since it softens and removes stains with remarkable efficiency. This is due to the nitric acid in its compound, which stains and disinfects heavily soiled areas.

Do not forget to wear gloves, a mask and, if possible, goggles, as this liquid is aggressive and can cause allergies. This is the procedure for cleaning joints with etching:

1. Scrub the floor, wall or surface to be cleaned with neutral soap and plenty of hot water.
2. Drain the water well and let it dry by itself for a few minutes.
3. Carefully pour the etchant into the joints (without soaking all the ceramic) and let it take effect for about 5 minutes.
4. When you start to notice bubbles and foam forming, it’s time to act! Rub joint by joint vigorously with the help of a toothbrush until all the dirt and stains are removed.
5. To finish, rinse the joints with a damp sponge and dry with a cloth the scattered remains to leave everything impeccable. It will be sparkling!

Remember: It is recommended to use this trick sporadically and only when the dirt adhered to the joints did not come off with any of the above mentioned. As its name suggests, it is very strong and can cause the ceramic or tile floor to deteriorate and become opaque.

And if nothing works: a coat of grout

If you have already tried all the methods and none of them works, there is nothing left to do but to whiten the joints with grout, yes, the same grout used to fix bricks and ceramics. Although it is a drastic and very effective alternative, there is no doubt that applying it can be somewhat difficult, which is why it should be implemented if the stain is impossible to remove and the deterioration is extreme, however, the floor will be as good as new and it will really be worth it. These are the steps to follow:

1. Using a small chisel (and being very careful not to damage the tiles) remove the old grout from the joints.
2. With a brush and shovel, collect the residue and dust generated when removing the grout from the joints.
3. Perform grout mixing according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the product packaging.
4. Apply a layer with a spatula on the joints and let it stand for one hour.
5. With a damp sponge and disinfectant, rinse to clean the tiles of debris.
6. Finally, finish with a protective sealant over the joints. Although this is an optional step, the grout will last longer and will be less messy.

Try any of these cleaning methods for joints and baseboards of ceramic tile floors in your home and remove all the dirt and stains stuck on them. Remember to clean the floor at least once a week so that the grooves do not accumulate too much dirt for a long time. Good luck!

How do you clean the joints in wood floors?

Wood floors are more sensitive to strong cleaning products, that’s why we must take care and protect them, here are some tips that will make cleaning them easier

• Cleaning by hand will allow you to more easily get between the cracks.
• Dip an old toothbrush into the cleaning solution and then scrub between the wood joints.
• Go over the area with the damp cleaning cloth one more time to remove any dislodged residue.
• Dry the floor by wiping the area with a clean, dry cloth.

Does vinegar ruin the grout?

Vinegar penetrates into the pores of the grout, further weakening the material. Over time, vinegar will deteriorate the condition of the grout by etching or abrading it. However, if you have sealed the grout regularly, vinegar will not be a problem.

Does toothpaste clean grout from tiles?

yes, toothpaste is an effective tile grout cleaner, to remove dirt and grime from the grout you can apply some white non-gel toothpaste on the grout and scrub with a toothbrush. This is a “grandma’s” tip and it won’t fix the whole problem, but you will notice a change and it will be cleaner.

What do professionals use to clean grout?

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 neutral Ph grout cleaners.

How to clean the ceramic joints?

Bleach is ideal for cleaning grout and tiles, leaving them spotless. Use a cleaning product that contains bleach, such as products from the Vim line, to ensure that the tiles and grout enhance the look and cleanliness of your bathroom.