Clean It Up

UK General Cleaning Forum => General Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: domestic bliss on February 07, 2007, 04:08:45 pm

Title: Discolouration of grout
Post by: domestic bliss on February 07, 2007, 04:08:45 pm

A customer of mine has discolouration of the grout between the tiles in his bathroom.  it's a kind of reddy brown staining.  i can only guess it probably some reaction between the limescale and the grout.  i have tried my usual limescale cleaner that always works on every bathroom i have used it on but this just won't shift.  Also a big problem is i cannot use bleach as they have a septic tank and obviously that will destroy the bacteria in the tank thats supposed to help break everything down.  Any suggestions????

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: trevor perry on February 07, 2007, 04:18:00 pm

have you tried a steam gun

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: Jan K on February 07, 2007, 06:01:03 pm

bleach (yes I know, no lectures please) or re-grouting :)

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: domestic bliss on February 07, 2007, 07:36:48 pm

Thanks for the advice. i will try a steam gun.  Unfortunatly jan as i mentioned in my thread cannot use bleach due to the clients being connected to a septic tank and not the main sewer system.

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: Jan K on February 07, 2007, 09:07:28 pm

soz dint read that bit  ;)

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: stu_thomson on February 07, 2007, 09:51:57 pm

WENT ROUND MY FATHERS 2DAY AND HES JUST SPRUCED UP HIS GROUTING WITH SOMETHING FROM EVOSTICK, GROUT REVIVOR.

Came in a tube with a foam applicator on the end which you sqeezed and spread over grout then washed off, seemed very effective and only £3.99 from a local store, not sure whether you can buy it anywhere though ???

stu

ps sorry about shouting at beginning :-[

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: wimbledonhandyman on February 07, 2007, 09:58:02 pm

Hi

I have used that too and got mine from Homebase. Bit labour intensive but works ok

Steve

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: ag on February 07, 2007, 10:40:57 pm

HI All

Bit of a dumb question - but why cant you use bleach with a septic tank?
many thanks
Agnes

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: pdl on February 08, 2007, 08:38:05 am

Septic Tanks use bugs in the tank to breakdown the "Lumps" to a slurry, then you get it sucked out by the man with a big sucking machine intio his lorry to be taken away and spread over the fields!

Bleach will kills the bugs and the septic tank won't work properly!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: Mike_Boxall on February 08, 2007, 02:12:26 pm

Hi

the video here shows how a steam gun can be used on grout - it is very impressive.....

http://www.express-cleaning-supplies.co.uk/oos/drysteamcleaners/550203.html

Regards

Mike

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: domestic bliss on February 08, 2007, 03:53:53 pm

Thanks pdl that explained it perfectly.
Thanks mike for the info on a steam cleaner.

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: paul bruce on February 08, 2007, 03:56:54 pm

I know by having this problem in my own shower cubicle that re-grouting is just short term solution as the discolouring problem returns after a month or so.
That evostick grout reviver sounds good i may give that a try.

 Paul  :)

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: heidi on February 08, 2007, 08:57:14 pm

hi the staining in between the tiles is a build up of body fat a clean in a gym and if the showers are left the grout goes p inky red, grout reviver does not stop it we scrub our walls every night with flash stops the staining comin back

Title: Re: Discolouration of grout
Post by: Jan K on February 09, 2007, 07:34:44 am

yep indeedy pink stuff is body fat, and again as said in a previous post Virasol, it costs about £6 for a 5 litre container and (if i remember rightly) is watered down 30 water to 1 virasol, so depending on what you are cleaning, it last a loooong time  :D