With Spring finally here people are in the mood to do some serious spring cleaning. Cleaning carpets, drapes, the garage, and of course tile & grout. Yesterday I received a homemade cleaning recipe from someone on Facebook. The solution was White Distilled Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Baking Soda, and Water. Does this stuff actually work?

Vinegar and Lemon Juice are both considered acids. Vinegar is 2.4-3.4 on the pH scale making it a strong acid, lemon juice is not quite as acidic but none the less it is still an acid. Baking Soda is 9.0 on the pH scale making it a base (alkaline). What most people do not know is that baking soda is NOT a cleaning solution but a "water softner." For those of you who have a water softner in your home you know that you still need to use soap when you clean the dishes, laundry, etc., but it requires less soap because of the soft water. Since vinegar and lemon juice are both acids you should never use them to clean your tile and grout lines. The acid will break down the color of the grout and will literally eat the grout over time. It is important to note that Vinegar and Lemon Juice will ETCH natural stone. NEVER use acids on your natural stone. 

When you combine the above ingredients you get Sodium Acetate or what is commonly known as a "buffer." It is neither acid or base (alkaline). What you wind up with is a NUETERD Cleaning Product. I have done a little research on line to find out what people have to say when they try this homemade soup and they always mention how hard it is. The ones creating videos never mention how long it takes them to clean the floor, my guess would be days.

When cleaning tile and grout you want to use a high alkaline cleaning solution something that is in 10.0pH range or higher range (This does NOT include NATURAL STONE). You need a cleaning solution that also has a de-greaser in it, something that can break down the oils that are lodged in the grout lines. When you cook on the stove, use the oven, or use the microwave oils from the food are released into the atmosphere and land on the floor. As the lines grow darker the bacteria is also growing. You will also need a surfactant, something to loosen the surface tension between the dirt and the tile so that it can be removed from the tile and grout.

Before starting a daunting project like cleaning your tile and grout get some real advice and ask your local professional for advice. Just because it is on the internet doe not make it truth. I hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have questions please email me at paddle@frontiernet.net.

Michael Hull
Liberty Floor Solutions