The Fastest Way to Peel Garlic Follow me on Pinterest So are you ready to FINALLY get your tile floors and grout lines cleaned?  I have tried a few different products over the years, ranging from homemade mixes that I found on the internet to expensive grout cleaners.  All of them worked a little bit, but I always found something I didn't like about them.  Some were very expensive and you needed several bottles to complete one floor, some had a very strong odor, and others required a lot of time and scrubbing.  In the end, I always wound up only completing a small section of the floor before I got totally bored.  One day, while desperate to clean my shower and having nothing on hand I thought i try the only cleaner I had in the house; Clorox toilet bowl cleaner with bleach.  Too my surprise it worked quite well on the shower and gave it an instant cleaning.  I then started to think "well, what else can this stuff clean".  I immediately thought of the dirty grout lines on my tile floor in the kitchen. 

I tested it on a small section and couldn't believe how fast and easy it cleaned the disgusting grout lines in my kitchen. So gather your supplies and lets begin! There really is no trick to doing this.  I simply took my Clorox cleaner (its a gel, so it poured perfectly into the grout lines) and started to pour the cleaner onto about a 3 foot by 3 foot section of tile floor.  I then let the gel cleaner sit on the grout lines for approximately 10 minutes.  I then took my hard plastic bristle brush and lightly scrubbed the cleaner into the grout lines.  I found that it really didn't take a lot of effort, the cleaner really did most of the work.  I then let the scrubbed in cleaner sit for approximately another 5 minutes.  Next I took a wet mop and cleaned up the cleaner.  I then moved onto the next section and repeated the above steps.  The only warning I would give is to say be very careful while walking on the floor until you mop up the solution.  The floor will be very slippery! 

I was scared at first thinking that the floor was going to stay slippery, but once I mopped the whole floor when I was done and it dried the floor was perfectly fine.  The original color of my kitchen grout lines were a very light sanded gray.  I also did my bathroom tile which has bright white sanded grout lines (I wish I took before and after pics because the difference in there was unbelievable).  Sorry I do not have dark grout lines anywhere in my house, so I cannot tell you how the Clorox cleaner will work on those. So that's really it.  One bottle of Clorox gel cleaner, one plastic hard bristle brush and a couple of hours and you will have professionally cleaned tile floor and grout lines! Do you think the International Olympics Committee appropriately handled the recent events with Ryan Lochte? How would you react if an earthquake devastated your hometown? How do you think the United States is succeeding or failing in addressing the threat of Zika in the US?

Who will you be voting for this election and why? What is your opinion of the purchase of Yahoo for $4.8 Billion by Verizon?The right product and technique can cut cleaning time by 30 percent. We'll show you how to remove tough stains in toilets, sinks and showers. We'll also show you the easiest ways to remove rust, lime and scum. Even if you've neglected detailed cleaning for months (or longer!), you can remove stubborn stains with these tips. The right product and technique can cut cleaning time by 30 percent. Toilet Wax Ring Toxic The right product and technique can cut cleaning timeHouse For Sale Sheppard And Weston If you're prone to bathroom neglect—or you have stubborn stains seemingly beyond your control—don't throw in the towel. Houses For Sale Rodanthe Nc

We'll show you how to dissolve three frustrating, yet common, water-caused deposits: rust stains and mineral buildup in the toilet bowl, hardened mineral deposits on faucets, and layered soap scum on shower wall tile. The key to removing tough stains is selecting the right cleaner. See “Cleaners that Work” for a general guide. You won't have to do much scrubbing; the cleaner will do the work. We'll show you how to remove stains on china (toilets), metal, tile and grout. Read the product labels, however, when cleaning fiberglass, stone or other plastic surfaces. Use products specifically recommended for those surfaces. If you want to save hours of cleaning time per month, check out “Tips That Reduce Cleaning Time.” To begin, save time by keeping all bathroom cleaning tools and products in one bucket. Store it in or near the bathroom and out of children's reach. Stock the bucket with chemical-resistant rubber gloves, non-scratch nylon scrubber brush, grout brush, old toothbrush, clean soft rag, large sponge, glass cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner and one all-purpose soap scum/mildew/lime deposit cleaner.

The cause of these bathroom-cleaning challenges is the natural abundant minerals found in hard water, particularly calcium, magnesium and iron. The particles attach to and form a hard scale on practically every surface. And despite filters/systems that “soften” water by removing a majority of these particles, 9 out of 10 homes host some degree of hard water. Rust-colored stains form when air combines with iron particles. That's why you see stains below dripping faucets. White crusty scale on faucet spouts and screens is a common buildup of calcium and magnesium. Gray scum layers in the shower area result when soap combines with calcium and magnesium salts and body oil to form a sticky soap curd. Remove rust from toilet To make your toilet bowl clean again, start with a dry bowl so water won't dilute the cleaner. To tackle difficult rust stains, skip your discount-store toilet bowl cleaner and head to the hardware store for a product containing diluted hydrochloric acid (also listed on product labels as hydrogen chloride, HCL or muriatic acid).

This is a common active ingredient in such brands as The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner and Santeen De-Limer & Toilet Bowl Cleaner. And make sure you don't use a bleach containing product on rust—it will set the stain. Be sure to use a toilet brush with stiff nylon bristles in a plastic base. Those old wire brushes scratch the bowl. Once the bowl surface becomes scratched or worn, stain removal becomes next to impossible. Two cautions when cleaning with diluted hydrochloric acid. First, if you use an in-tank cleaner that contains bleach, remove it and flush multiple times to remove bleach residue. A combination of bleach-containing and acid containing products (toilet cleaners) produces deadly vapors. Second caution: Scrub slowly because droplets that splatter outside the bowl can harm carpet, tile, vinyl and your skin. Keep a rag and a bucket of water handy to wipe up spatters. Same goes for setting the bottle down on these surfaces—don't. And make sure you flush and rinse the bowl immediately.

Tips That Reduce Cleaning Time Clean heavily used bathrooms once a week (less dirt = quicker clean) Take 10 seconds each day and brush the entire toilet bowl. You don't have to apply a cleaner (zero stain growth = fast and easy weekly clean) Close lid before flushing (keeps mist of bowl contents from exiting the bowl) Take a moment to squeegee water off walls after each shower (less scum and mildew buildup) Blot water off fixtures with soft cloth (fewer water spots) Switch to Zest, Ivory or any liquid soap to reduce soap scum formation Once a day, wipe water off faucet, sink and mirror with soft cloth (fewer water spots) Make cleaning your bathroom faster and easier Before cleaning, turn on vent fan and/or open window and put on chemical-resistant rubber gloves and eye protection. Remove faucet scale deposits To remove tough mineral scale buildup on chrome faucets, use a product such as Lime-A-Way according to label directions.

For weekly cleaning, an all-purpose cleaner such as Comet Bathroom or Scrubbing Bubbles will work fine. To ensure your crusty faucet will shine again, aside from giving it a vigorous toothbrush scrubbing, Apply and remove the proper cleaner as directed on its label. If scrubbing doesn't remove hardened mineral deposits on the aerator screen, unscrew the spout tip by turning it counterclockwise. Soak it overnight in vinegar, then scrub it with the toothbrush and flush with water before reinstalling. There are five basic types of cleaning chemicals: surfactants, alkalis, acids, solvents and disinfectants. Develop a basic understanding of these and you can pick the right cleaner for any job. Surfactants, found in almost every cleaning product, help carry the ingredients into tiny cracks and pores. They also help loosen, emulsify (disperse in water) and suspend soils for removal. Alkalis, which have a pH higher than 7, are best at removing (neutralizing) acidic soils, which have a pH less than 7.

Alkalis chew up acidic fats and oils (from hamburger grease to body oil to plain old mud), breaking them into smaller particles that can be washed away. Alkaline cleaners range from mild liquid dishwashing detergent and glass cleaner to strong lye (sodium hydroxide) drain openers and degreasers. Acids work best on neutralizing alkaline soils (tough water stains), such as lime scale, soap deposits, rust and more. Acids break stains into small particles to be washed away. Acidic cleaners range from mild (vinegar, lemon juice) to heavier cleaners such as phosphoric acid (found in toilet bowl and tub/tile cleaners) and hydrochloric or sulfuric acids (found in toilet bowl cleaners). Solvents such as mineral spirits work by dissolving soils rather than neutralizing them like alkalis or acids. They're distilled from petroleum or plant products and are mostly used on oily and greasy soils. Disinfectants, such as quaternary ammonium or pine oil, are added to cleaners that tout antibacterial power.

They kill germs that smell, cause disease, stain clothes and spoil food. Read and follow the label to make sure the cleaner is safe to use on both the faucet surface and the tub, tile or sink surfaces. Do not use abrasive cleaners. Do not use all-purpose cleaners on marble or other natural stone surfaces. Buy a special stone cleaner. Remove soap scum from tile Numerous cleaners are available to remove soap scum from tile. But if you face layers of soap scum buildup, stick with an effective bleach-containing, nonabrasive product (see list below). Scum cleaners commonly contain bleach (sodium hypochlorite),which effectively cuts through soap scum and kills mildew. Be sure to read the product label and match it to the material (tile, fiberglass, etc.) being cleaned. Here are a few examples of recommended effective products based on our research and experience. Granted, there are many products available and you may have your own favorites or remedies. Santeen De-Limer & Toilet Bowl Cleaner