Grout cleaning mistake experts warn is causing expensive damage

Experts have warned our quest for clean grout is leading to expensive damage that can cause bigger problems down the track.

Both Bryony Conlan, business development manager at The Grout Guy and Sara Allan, professional cleaner and owner of Housekeeping Heroes name harsh cleaning products as the biggest mistake people make with their grout.

“Things like bleach and vinegar, while they make us feel good because we associate them with cleanliness, they’re actually really harsh and what they’re actually doing is eating away at the grout itself and they’re causing more instances of mould and grout deterioration,” Conlan told nine.com.au.

Allan added that “abrasive scrubbers and tools” also do more harm than good.

“If grout is deteriorating or has chunks missing and not re-grouted, this will cause water proofing and mould issues, which will cost thousands to rectify the longer it is left untreated,” Allan explained. 

It seems a lot of us are waiting for the grout to get dirty and discoloured before we clean it,  and because we’ve let it get so bad we end up scrubbing hard with acidic cleaning products.

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Instead, the experts recommend cleaning grout regularly to keep it looking good for as long as possible.

“A lot of people will watch my grout cleaning tutorials [on social media] using safe products to clean and remove stains from grout. However, they’ll often complain that the process hasn’t worked for them and when I speak with them, it turns out they have never cleaned their grout previously,” Allan says.

“So, it’s not a product issue and is instead a neglect issue as most cleaning tasks that are put off or not ever done will eventually cause permanent damage, hence why maintenance is key.”

According to Conlan, regular grout cleaning is as simple as using a pH-neutral cleaning product and a microfibre cloth. 

But that’s not all you can do to keep grout in top condition, with leaving grout wet after a shower another big mistake the experts see.

“After we have a shower, we close the bathroom door and there’s all that steam in there, and you get all the moisture sitting on the walls and that moisture is just sitting there and encouraging mould growth,” Conlan says.

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“So one of the things that I usually recommend as well is after your shower if you can leave the area well ventilated and then with a squeegee or even a chamois just to dry that area down so that you’re reducing mould build-up.”

Another common mistake ruining grout is neglecting to seal it. 

Using a sealer not only makes grout easier to clean, it also keeps it in good condition for longer. They come in spray and paint on forms.

“Unsealed grout traps dirt and debris immediately, hence why people are cleaning grout every few weeks and repeating the cleaning process over and over,” Allan says.

“Once they seal the grout they will get away with only cleaning their grout every couple of years. 

“You don’t need a professional to do this as it is an easy DIY with purchasing a grout sealer from a hardware store and sealing it yourself for under $50.”