Some grout cleaning machines look and behave a lot like a carpet cleaning machine. These machines work on the principle of steam cleaning. Steam is expelled out of the machine under high pressure and penetrates deep into the grout. Then a powerful vacuum uses suction to pull the dirty water into a basin in the machine. Steam cleaning grout can be very effective if the grout is not too stained and you clean it regularly. Steam alone will not work very well on tough stains or stains caused by mildew.

Other grout cleaning tools uses brushes to help get the job done. The most popular models have a circular bottom. There are usually one or two outlets for high pressure streams of hot water. The water streams are enclosed in a circular curtain brush. The water comes out hot and with a lot of force. The brushes then scrub the grout in the curtain. With these types of grout cleaning machines, you usually apply a cleaner to the floor first so that the hot water can activate oxygen bleach or other cleaning chemical. These machines usually require a water source and a tank to collect the dirty water. That is why they are most often used by professional grout cleaning services and are hooked up to a truck like in this video.

The best place to try to find grout cleaning machines for your own use is online. This type of cleaning equipment is not typically sold in home supply stores or to the public. It is fairly specialized and usually is bought by businesses. Another good place to buy equipment like this is from cleaning services that are going out of business. Cleaning companies will be looking to liquidate their assets and might be willing to sell you their used equipment at a good price.

The first tip is that the best grout cleaners know the easiest way to clean grout is to do it often. If you spend ten to fifteen minutes a week cleaning the shower tile grout, then you will never get that black build up of mildew or mold that takes intense scrubbing and extremely harsh chemicals to fade. Get into a routine where you spend a little bit of time at a certain hour every week so that the grout cleaning becomes part of your routine. Once you get into that routine it will seem like you always did it, and you will never have to rent expensive equipment or spend hours doing marathon grout cleaning sessions again.

A second tip is that you should use the gentlest grout cleaner possible to get the job done. Some grout cleaning products are quite abrasive and using heavy duty chemicals could slowly erode or damage your grout. Cleaning grout with vinegar is one of the least harmful ways to achieve clean grout. Use a one to one solution of vinegar and water. Never use a professional strength grout cleaner when a more mild option will work. Remember that the best grout cleaner is the one that gets your grout clean, not the most expensive or most intense.

Another tip to remember when you clean grout yourself is that you do not have to do it all with a grout cleaning brush. A grout cleaning machine can make the job go a lot more quickly and efficiently. You can rent grout cleaning equipment from floor cleaning companies or you could even hire them to come in with the equipment and have a professional grout cleaning service. You need to weigh the value of your time against the cost of professional grout cleaning. Just remember that you usually get what you pay for when you hire someone to clean grout. If you want to be absolutely assured of the quality of the work, then you should clean the grout yourself.