LESLIE: Linda in Alabama finds The Money Pit on WVNN and we’re helping you clean something today. What can we do for you?
LINDA: Hi. I have floor tile in my bathroom that needs the grout cleaned.
TOM: OK.
LINDA: And I am a chemical sensitive patient and cannot just use the great ordinary products.
TOM: Oh, boy.
LINDA: So I was wondering if you had some idea to help me to clean the grout naturally.
LESLIE: Yeah. Well, we’ve got a couple ideas. There’s something that you can use which you’ve got in the house – totally sensitive for you to use – is baking soda. If you take baking soda and add a little bit of water so it becomes a paste almost, you can sit that on top of the grout areas and then use an old toothbrush or a new toothbrush that you’re just never, ever going to again use on your teeth. And really give it a good scrubbing and that should work. Even if you have to do it one, two, three times; depending on how dirty. Considering this is floor it could be pretty dirty. And then once you get it clean you can have someone seal that grout so that you don’t have to do it again.
Lemon juice is also a natural whitener. But I mean, being that it’s on the floor it could be super dirty.
TOM: Yeah, but having said that, Linda, we have to tell you that these natural products aren’t going to be nearly as effective as a chemical product. And I’m wondering is there a way to isolate this bathroom for this process and have somebody else do it for you? Even if …
LINDA: Yes.
TOM: Even if it involved sort of depressurizing that area by adding fans and pulling all the air in there outside so it doesn’t sort of mix with house air. Had you not said that you’re a chemical sensitive we would have probably told you to use a grout stripper which is the most effective way of trying to bring the grout back to its original color. And then again, once you’re done with that, then you would add the grout sealer and that will stop it from getting dirty again.
LINDA: OK, great. I’ll try those ideas, OK?
TOM: OK.
LINDA: I love your show. Thank you.
TOM: Oh, thank you, Linda. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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