Jessica asked: How can I remove a stain from the grout on my unsealed, natural stone floor in my bathroom? A bottle of blue window cleaner fell over on my bathroom floor. A bit of the cleaner spilled onto my natural stone floor. It made its way into the grout(which is unsealed). Now, I have light blue grout on a small section in my bathroom. How can I remove this stain?
Table of Contents:
Once unsealed grout gets dirty, and it will, there is no easy solution to remove the stain. Because grout is extremely porous, it will quickly take on the mess from dirt, debris, and spills, and it’s slow to relinquish the stain. In fact, the only way to completely remove some stains will be to start over with new grout. But before you take on the expense of replacing the grout, try one of these potential fixes. Remember, it is especially important to spot test when you’re working with unsealed floor surfaces.
You Will Need:
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Small brush (a toothbrush works well)
- Water
- Bleach
- Rubber gloves
- Eye protection
- Dry towel
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- Before you begin, make sure the floor is dry and free of dust, dirt and other loose debris.
- Test all cleaning products on a small, hidden area to ensure there are no adverse effects.
- Sprinkle baking soda over the stained area.
- Pour vinegar on top of the baking soda.
- The fizzing that results will work on the stain for you. Allow the fizzing to continue for a couple of minutes.
- Scrub the area with a small brush (toothbrush) to work it further into the porous grout.
- Rinse the entire area with clean water.
- Once you’ve removed as much of the stain as you can with the baking soda and vinegar, bleach can be used to remove any remaining stains. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves before you begin.
- Pour a small amount of bleach directly onto the grout. Again, make sure you spot test first!
- Wait a few moments before scrubbing with the brush.
- Rinse completely with clean water.
- Dry with a soft cloth, and allow the area to air dry completely.
Additional Tips and Advice
- If the stain remains, try a floor steam cleaner. If a home or rental version of the machine doesn’t do the trick, call in a professional to remove the stains.
- If at all possible, seal the grout once you’ve cleaned it. It’s much easier to seal it than it is to scrub every stain, and odds are great that there will be many.
