How to Use Borax to Clean Grout

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Dirt and grime are not the only things that can build up in your grout. Toxins from paint, pesticides, cleaners, and other household chemicals can also be present in your grout. If you want to remove these toxins from your grout, many different options are available.

You can use home ingredients vinegar or baking soda ( common recipe) to clean it up, but one way that is often overlooked is cleaning grout with borax because many of us don’t know how effective borax is to clean grout.

Interested in learning how to use borax to clean grout?

How to Use Borax to Clean Grout

In this article, we’ll tell you the entire process. So scroll down and be with us.

Steps to Clean Grout Using Borax

Borax is a mineral that is naturally found in clay. It can be used to restore, whiten and keep the tile grout looking shiny and new. It does not work with aggressive chemicals like ammonia (bleach) as a cleanser, disinfectant, or detergent.

Borax can be used to clean grout because of its gentle cleaning properties. It has been found effective in removing dirt and removing stains to minimize its presence on your grout.

It is also an excellent absorbent of moisture, so it can easily remove dirt from the grout. So, how do you use borax to clean your grout?

Let’s know the equipment you will need for this cleaning process and the simple steps.

Equipment You Will Need

Borax, baking soda, Warm water, bowl, toothbrush, scrubber, microfiber cloth, hand gloves, face mask, goggles.

Cleaning Process

Here are the suggested steps.

Step One: Mixing all items

The first step will be making the solution. Take half a cup of baking soda and one-third of borax powder in a bowl. Now add warm water and gradually start mixing.

Keep adding warm water in little quantities and mixing until it turns into a smooth thick paste.

Step Two: Prepare for Cleaning

After making the paste, it’s time to prepare the grout for cleaning. Open the door and window to ventilate the area as much as possible.

Use a broom to remove excess dirt from the grout and do basic cleaning. Now check the paste we mix in step one; if it has become thicker, you can add two spoons of more warm water. Sometimes baking soda absorbs the water, and the paste becomes thicker.

Step Three: Time to Apply

Apply the borax paste on the grout with the help of a spoon or however you like. But make sure the grout is fully covered with paste.

Now leave the paste on the grout for fifteen to twenty minutes to absorb the dirt. If you want, you can keep it for a little more time; unlike chlorine bleach, borax is harmless.

Step Four: Scrubbing Time

After the time is up, use a toothbrush or scrubber and scrub the grout lines until all dirt is cleaned. Don’t scrub too harshly; either the grout will be scratched. Keep scrubbing gently and rinse away with hot water.

If some stains are still left on the grout line, pour some more paste and wait for another five minutes. Time is up, now take the toothbrush, scrub gently, and don’t forget to rinse with hot water.

Step Five: Remove Stains & Make Grout Shine

For better results, you can use another solution here. Take a spray bottle full of white vinegar, add a few drops of essential oil or lemon juice and spray a little.

Blot the stains and leave them for five minutes, and wipe away with a damp microfiber cloth or mop to clean the residue.

This process will not only remove the stains but will also make the grout shinier. You can say this is the easy way to clean and get back the shine.

FAQ

Is Borax Safe for Tile?

Borax is an excellent cleaner and it is safe for tile. The only caution you should take with borax is that if it gets on your skin, wash the area immediately with soap and water.

If you get borax in your eyes, rinse them immediately with clean water.

What Can I Use to Make My Grout White Again?

You can use bleach to make your grout white again. To do this, mix one part bleach with nine parts water and soak the affected area for about 10 minutes.

After soaking, wipe off the excess solution and allow it to dry before rinsing with clean water.

How Do You Clean Really Dirty Grout?

To clean really dirty grout, you should use a solution of vinegar and water.

1) Use a toothbrush to scrub the area with vinegar and water. 

2) Wipe the area with a wet cloth until it is clean. 

3) Apply a thin layer of baking soda on the grout then brush it off using your toothbrush again.

Does borax whiten grout?

Borax is a natural mineral that can be used to clean dirty grout, remove odors and disinfect hard surfaces.

Attention, It is a great product to clean the grout, but not to whiten the grout. To get whit grout you can use vinegar and lemon or vinegar and essential oil mixed solution.

Does Magic Eraser work on grout?

The answer to this question depends on what type of grout you have in your home.

Magic Eraser will work well on polished porcelain tiles and ceramic tiles with smooth surfaces because they don’t contain a lot of dirt particles that may clog up the sponge head.

Conclusion

There are various ways to clean grout, but the best way is to use borax. Borax can also be used for other purposes, such as laundry detergent and dishwashing detergent.

Dilute borax is also a naturally occurring mineral that can clean and disinfect hard surfaces like dirty grout. You can use it as sodium tetraborate, a white crystalline solid consisting of boron and the chemical element boron.

In this guide, we have told you how to use borax to clean grout. The recipe we made above is the best homemade tile grout cleaner anyone can make. It’s chemical-free, which means it won’t hurt the grout. Try once and let us know how it helps you.

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