Pinspired: Project Grout

I do believe that I've mentioned several times before that I'm continually shocked and amazed that my house isn't spotless at all times, given the urge to clean that seems to be with me all the time.  The urge started during pregnancy, and never left.

I realize that the truth behind my not-so-spotless house is that I enjoy spending his awake time playing with my boy, rather than cleaning.  And I have two dogs, who are a constant source of dirt and hair, but lovable nonetheless.

But there was one project that was nagging at me, in the back of my mind all the time, since back in the days before the nugget was born.  It was something that desperately needed to be done, but I just didn't know the best way to go about it, and so I put it off.  For a long time...

Then I saw a pin on Pinterest, and I knew what I had to do.  Get out the toothbrush, get down on my knees, and get to work.  (And now get your mind out of the gutter.)  

I'm talking about grout.

Friends, please don't judge me when I tell you that I haven't ever scrubbed that grout since I had the tile installed over four years ago.  I've mopped plenty of times, I've spot-cleaned tough spots on the tile, and I've even used (many) floor cleaning devices throughout the kitchen.  But I had never focused on just the grout, and after years of neglect, it was starting to show.

It hit me one day when I glanced into a corner where no one walks, and I noticed that the grout there was a completely different color than the grout in the main area of the floor.  And then I became disgusted.  You see, it's hard to notice the gradual darkening of the grout as it is occurring.  It takes that glance into the corner to realize how filthy the grout has become.  Okay, dirty grout, you get the picture.

SO, back to Pinterest.  Here is what started the nagging in my mind.

Source: accessorizeandorganize.blogspot.com via Betsey on Pinterest

I started out following the recipe as it was written- 3/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup bleach.  At one point, I recruited J's help.  He mixed way too much bleach in with the baking soda, and his mixture was much more soup than paste.  Turns out, this was a happy accident.  The mixture flowed more easily into the grout lines, but was still thick enough to stay put for the required ten minutes.  (Thanks, dear!)

SO, for the next two weeks (that's right, folks- two weeks!), I spent the nugget's nap time working on small sections of floor.  Mixing the baking soda and bleach, allowing to sit for ten minutes, then wiping up with hot water and scrubbing with the toothbrush.

Was this project quick?  Absolutely not.  Was it effective?  Indubitably.

See for yourself with the before and after.  (And again- please don't judge me...I am fully aware of how gross the before shot is.  Also, if all of you out there scrub your grout on a weekly basis, I will eat my left foot.)

End result- clean floor, happy mama.