How to Clean Grout on Stoneware, Terracotta, or Ceramic Floors: Guide and Tips

Cleaning floor grout is often a challenge, especially when it comes to surfaces in stoneware, terracotta, or ceramic. People often rely on DIY remedies, such as baking soda or other generic cleaners, without achieving truly satisfactory long-term results. In this article, we want to explain why the mechanical action of brushes, combined with the use of the most suitable cleaner, makes the difference for effective and lasting cleaning.

1. Why does grout get dirty?

Grout is the junction line between tiles, made of porous material (such as grout or cement). Over time, dust, dirt, soap residue, and grease tend to accumulate in these spaces, making the floor unhygienic and visually less appealing.

2. Traditional methods: baking soda and cleaners

Among the most common methods for cleaning grout on stoneware, terracotta, or ceramic floors, we find:

• Baking soda: often recommended for its slightly abrasive and whitening action.
• Chemical or natural cleaners: various products on the market promise to dissolve dirt from grout.

However, although these remedies may help, they do not always effectively remove the most stubborn dirt. The main reason is that the mechanical action of Floorwash brushes and floor scrubbers is just as (if not more) important than the product used.

For truly effective cleaning, a targeted intervention on the grout is necessary, involving:

1. Vertical Counter-Rotating Brushes
   

   These brushes penetrate pores and grout, remove dirt, and, thanks to the flexible bristles and counter-rotation, channel it into the recovery tank. In contrast, floor scrubbers with horizontal brushes merely move the dirt before vacuuming it, offering a completely different cleaning approach with significantly inferior results.

2. Floor Scrubbers with Combined Action of Water (and/or Cleaner) and Brushes

   They exert constant pressure on the surface and, thanks to vertical counter-rotation, effectively remove even the most stubborn dirt.

Floorwash floor scrubbers leverage this principle: the combination of brushes with flexible bristles, mechanical action, and specific cleaner allows for dirt collection from grout without resorting to manual efforts that would damage the grout over time.

4. How to use the Floorwash floor scrubber to clean grout

1. Preparation: There is no need to remove or vacuum anything from the floor before using the Floorwash floor scrubber.
2. Choosing the cleaner: use a specific product for stoneware, terracotta, or ceramic like Deter Crost, which, thanks to its controlled acidity, removes dirt from grout, such as that from a construction site or a floor used over the years. On matte or waxed floors, Deter Dec is definitely the most suitable cleaner to respect the characteristics without damaging it.
3. Machine setup: fill the tank with clean water and position the tray in a semi-vertical position
4. Prepare the cleaning solution and spray it directly onto the grout to be treated.

NOTE: In most cases, the cleaner is dispensed by the floor scrubber, but in this specific case, to achieve a greater result, it is recommended to apply the cleaner directly onto the grout, so that the floor scrubber, together with the mechanical action of the vertical counter-rotating brushes, automatically performs the washing, completely extracting the dirt with the combined action of brushes and the cleaner and water previously inserted in the tank. In the final phase, reposition the tray horizontally, close the lid, and proceed with rinsing by adjusting the desired amount of water through the appropriate regulator.

1. Slow and precise passes: start the floor scrubber and proceed slowly (but not too slowly), allowing time for the brushes to work deeply into the grout.
2. Rinsing: depending on the floor scrubber model, you can perform a rinse with a wrung cloth effect or a complete dry using the DS series models.

5. The advantages of cleaning with mechanical action

• Time-saving: thanks to the floor scrubber, you won’t have to manually scrub each grout line.
• Greater hygiene: the brushes remove bacteria and dirt deeply.
• Long-lasting results: thorough mechanical cleaning keeps grout clean longer than traditional methods.
• Respect for surfaces: by choosing the right brushes and cleaner, you won’t risk damaging the floor.

6. Practical tips for optimal cleaning

• Do not overuse products: too much cleaner can leave streaks and residues that accumulate in the grout.
• Maintain a regular routine: use the floor scrubber or specific brushes regularly to prevent dirt from building up.

7. Conclusions

Do you want to clean the grout of your stoneware, terracotta, or ceramic floor? If you’ve been advised to use baking soda or other cleaners, remember that the real secret is the mechanical action of the brushes combined with the correct use of the most suitable product.

Floorwash floor scrubbers are designed to ensure deep and lasting cleaning, simplifying the task and ensuring professional results. Experience the difference of combined cleaning and enjoy floors and grout that finally shine!

Read our full article and discover all Floorwash floor scrubber models: you will find practical tips, detailed guides, and suggestions on the most effective cleaners for each surface. Cleaning your floor grout will no longer be a problem!