TikTokker discovers tile-cleaning technique by accident
We all know that the crevices between floor tiles are a major receptacle of dirt: it takes very little to see that the joints / grout slowly become darker and dirtier over time, especially if you do not dedicate yourself to carefully cleaning them at regular intervals.
Having a steam cleaner frees you from a lot of effort, but alternatively, there are many DIY remedies you can use (depending on the specific case), and which are often very effective. And then there is also a method discovered by chance by a TikTok user, which seems to be really fast and easy. We describe this method below:
Video tutorial via @livecomposed/TikTok
This is not about using baking soda, citric acid, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, toothpaste, or something similar (i.e. all the famous ingredients used for homemade cleaning remedies); nor will you have to spend a lot of time on your knees scrubbing each joint with special brushes (or old toothbrushes).
In fact, as @livecomposed describes in her video, an excellent surface degreaser can also work to tackle this chore.
This woman, in fact, happened to accidentally spill some degreaser on the floor, and when cleaning up the spill with the help of a simple mop, she saw that the joints between the tiles were spotless.
At that point, she put the "accidental" method to the test:
- First, she poured more liquid degreaser on the floor;
- With the help of a grout brush (but normal brushes are fine too) she distributed the product along the crevices to be cleaned, but without scrubbing.
- Shortly afterward, she mopped the floor (like a normal floor wash), removing the dirt from between the tiles as well.
Which degreaser can work? According to @livecomposed, the one used is a non-toxic type, which can be used without risk to one's own health or even that of animals and children. In the comments to the video, in fact, it is advised that using this method very often with powerful industrial degreasers, is harmful to one's health and also ends up ruining the floor's surface finish.
One person wrote: "Yes, it works temporarily, but it also removes the glossy finish from the tiles, and over time, also erodes the surface." Another commented: "Be careful, though, over time, the grout that joins the tiles begins to crack. I regretted using this method after a while."
Our advice, therefore, is to use degreasers that are not too aggressive, and to use this remedy only occasionally, when perhaps the dirt situation is more serious. For routine maintenance, we advise using the methods that they are usually employed, even if they are a little more laborious.
