The gray-dyed mortar can make even the dust room seem more pristine as if it hadn’t been cured for years. But when the cleaning error occurs and you are ready to handle that damned grout, you will need the right tools.
Check out the following mortar cleaning tools and products, then Home Cleaning Kenmore has some simple instructions for making and using completely natural do-it-yourself mortar cleaners.
Effective mortar cleaning tools
Most of the grout cleaning tools are fairly inexpensive and many of the products you need can be found in your home. These are some of the most popular options.
Tools:
- A brush for cleaning grout: you can find it in almost all hardware stores.
- An old toothbrush: During the house cleaning process it will work if you are determined to start, but you don’t have a brush to clean the grout. You can speed up the process with an electric model.
- A small chisel tool: For house cleaning you need these plastic hand tools that can save you a lot of time and even your manicure. They are also cheap.
- Vaporizer – Vaporizers are probably the easiest method of lighting mortar. All you have to do is vaporize and remove the residue with a microfiber cloth. Since this tool is the most fluid, it is a good option for tenants who deal with security deposits.
Products
Here are some DIY products you can get started with:
Vinegar and water: when house cleaning, mix one part of vinegar with one part of water in a spray bottle and voila you will get a simple do-it-yourself detergent. (This should not be used if you have stone walls, floors or tiles in the shower or bathroom.)
Baking soda and liquid detergent: when house cleaning, increase the dirty mortar with a paste made with 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of dish detergent. (Add more dishwashing liquid if the paste starts to dry.)
Baking soda and water: Skip the detergent and mix two parts of baking soda with one part of water to form a paste.
How to clean the mortar
The following instructions can be used with any of the do-it-yourself cleaning solutions above.
- Apply the do-it-yourself cleaner on the mortar.
- Let the solution sit. The vinegar should stay on for about 30 minutes, while the baking soda cleaning solutions will only take 10-15 minutes.
- Gently rub the mortar lines with the mortar cleaning brush, toothbrush or chisel tool.
- After cleaning as much as possible, rinse away any residue with water.
- If the mortar is still dirty, you may need to switch to a more intense cleaning method of the mortar.
These methods can help lighten the matte mortar, but for true deep cleaning you will need a professional.