If you’ve had enough of dirty grout, we’ve got the solution! Choose from one of these 5 grout-cleaning recipes that are sure to get your grout looking good as new! Using only basic household ingredients, these recipes are great for people looking for a cheap and easy solution to cleaning their grout.

Recipe #1:

This recipe is mild, and can be used on all tile surfaces. You can also use it to remove stains from natural stone.

– 3 cups baking soda

– 1 cup water

Mix the baking soda until it forms a paste and apply it to the grout. Leave it to work for 10 minutes and rinse it clean.

Recipe #2:

Since this recipe uses vinegar, don’t use it on marble, limestone, or travertine.

– 1/4 cup salt

– 1/4 cup baking soda

– 1/4 cup vinegar

Mix the ingredients and apply it to the grout. Leave it for 20 minutes and make sure it doesn’t dry out. After the 20 minutes are up, give the grout a good scrub and rinse.

Recipe #3:

Use this recipe on light colored or white grout.

– 1/4 cup bleach

– 3/4 cup baking soda

Mix and apply to dirty grout. If you want to dilute the bleach, you can add water. The longer you leave the solution on, the brighter your grout will be.

Recipe #4:

This recipe works with all tile, except limestone or travertine.

– lemon juice

– baking soda

Mix into a paste and apply to dirty grout. Leave it for 20 minutes, then scrub and rinse.

Recipe #5:

Don’t use this bleach on colored grout, and test it first on marble surfaces.

– 3 parts baking soda

– 1 part hydrogen peroxide

Mix into a paste and apply it to your grout. Leave it to sit for 20 minutes and scrub well. Rinse with warm water. This mixture can also be used on poultice and natural stone.

Photos: Flooring Hunt, Deco Bizz, Skroutz On Deck.

The right mop is what will decide if your floors are going to be left sparkling or not. Choosing the right one is important if you want to get your floors clean, and make them stay that way for as long as possible. Using the wrong mop only cleans the surface grime, making dirt accumulate much faster, but the right mop will get all the way down to the floor and scrub away any trace of grease or dirt.

Everyone should have at least 2 mops:

1. Wet mop – to clean up spills and wash hard-surface floors.

2. Dry mop – to collect dry dust, dirt, and pet hair.

When you choose a mop for wet cleaning, remember its purpose. Not only should it dissolve dirt, but it must remove it from the floor. For this reason, avoid string mops. They’re too heavy to lift when wet and impossible to rinse clean. Instead, get yourself a large-headed wet mop with a swivel base and removable terry covers. This mop will do dual duty; a dry cover quickly picks up spilled liquids, while a cover immersed in cleaning solution dissolves and lifts dirt easily. When the cover gets dirty, simply wash it and replace it.

Sponge mops are also efficient in cleaning spills and floors. Larger cleaning heads get the job done faster, and make sure you get one made of metal – a plastic one can’t stand up to the tough job and can break.

Dry mops come in many forms. Small disposable mops slide easily into tight corners, but they’re flimsy and replacement pads are too expensive. Microfibre mops are a great choice because they’re inexpensive, and can be washed, dried, and reused. Use them to pick up dry soil and crumbs in the kitchen. As with the wet mop, make sure you get one made of metal, and with a swivel base.

Photos: Housekeeping.about, Cleaning Services College Station, North Tryon.