Grout in doubt
BY HELOISE
Grout in Doubt
Dear Heloise: What can I do to make the GROUT on my bathroom floor look clean? Most of it looks gray, and I have not found a cleaner that will restore it. — Julia O’Connor, North Little Rock, Ark.
If the grout has been discolored for a long time or is just plain old, it may be harder to clean, and even bleach may not help, but here’s what to try: Mix 1 cup of household bleach with a gallon of water. Apply to grout and let it sit for 20 minutes. Use an old toothbrush (powered would work especially well) to scrub. Wear rubber gloves and old clothing in case the bleach splatters. Rinse with water, and when dry, see if the grout is lighter. If you own a steam cleaner, that would be a good tool to use also.
One of my assistants cleaned dirty grout in her kitchen when moving into a home that was eight years old. She added a good-quality floor cleaner to some water (check bottle directions), got on her hands and knees and scrubbed the grout with a scrub brush. She used an old towel to immediately wipe away the dirt and yuck. Do a small section at a time, so you don’t redeposit dirt back. It took time, but the result was a beautiful floor. — Heloise
P.S.: It may be time to re-grout or use a grout paint and sealer if it’s still gray after cleaning.
SEND A GREAT HINT TO:
Heloise
P.O. Box 795000
San Antonio, TX 78279-5000
Fax: 1-210-HELOISE
Email: Heloise(at)Heloise.com
COMFORTING BEVERAGE
Dear Heloise: Hot tea is one of my comforting and enjoyable beverages. I flavor it with solid, hard candy, such as butterscotch; usually I crush it in a plastic bag, using a rolling pin. This increases the rate at which it dissolves as you stir.
Sugar-free hard candies are low-calorie and beneficial to those who must be careful of their sugar intake. — Margarette Mattern, Temple, Texas
SUMMER TRAVEL HINTS
Dear Heloise: With this being the time for summer travel, here are two hints:
1. Lighten up your wallet and bag/purse. The thought of needing a warehouse-club, video-store or coffee card for your neighborhood shop is crazy. Leave only the important cards in your wallet, like driver’s license, medical, travel discount and a couple of credit cards.
2. I’ve traveled with only two or three credit cards. In case you lose your wallet or a suitcase goes missing that you’ve stashed all your receipts in, you’ve got fewer credit-card companies to notify.
— Sue Bibi, Pittsburgh
FIREPLACE GLOW
Dear Heloise: A friend has a terrific idea for using her candles. She has a fireplace with glass doors. She puts three or four candles in the fireplace and lights them. It gives the room a warm glow. This is good for those with allergies that candles bother. We’ll be moving into a house with a fireplace, and I plan to use this idea. — Faith, via email
(c)2011 by King Features Syndicate Inc.