Grout cleaning

Grout lines darken faster than the tiles around them. In bathrooms they pick up limescale and soap, in kitchens grease, and the corners of a shower often grow mould. Grout cleaning brings the colour back without raking out or regrouting, as long as the joints are still sound.

The tradesperson checks the grout on site and picks a cleaner for the type of dirt: limescale, grease or mould each need something different. The price is set per running metre of joint.

What the cleaning covers

• checking whether the grout can be cleaned or needs replacing;
• choosing a cleaner and testing it on a hidden spot;
• scrubbing the joints with a brush or a steam cleaner;
• rinsing and drying the surface;
• sealing the grout on request, so it stays clean for longer.

When cleaning is no longer enough

If the grout crumbles, has gaps or the mould has gone deep into the joint, cleaning only helps for a short while. In that case the tradesperson will suggest raking out the old grout and regrouting, and in a shower area often replacing the silicone in the corners as well.

What to prepare

Clear toiletries off shelves and worktops near the walls, take a close-up photo of the grout and note in the request roughly how many metres of joint need cleaning. For a kitchen, say whether it is the splashback or the floor.

Common questions