Grout is the powdered material that mostly comes in white color, and you have to add water for making a mixture. This mixture is helpful to fill the joints between the kitchen tiles to prevent the entry of dust and moisture.
Why is My Kitchen Grout Turning Yellow? Kitchen grout can turn yellow due to steam, which increases the moisture level and smoke while preparing food. In addition, using hard water during cleaning and making the mixture and high concentration of iron in tiles will cause this problem. The issue will also come due to exposure to body oils, oil and grease, air fresheners, and wax-based products. The use of low-quality cleaners, dirty water for mopping, poor cleanliness, and spillage of beverages and other liquid material in the kitchen can cause this problem.
It is better to stop the grout from turning yellow because it does not look good. Moreover, it does not give the furnished appearance to your walls.
Steam in kitchen
The steam is primarily present in the cooking area due to the preparation of different dishes. However, it will also come when you boil vegetables to prepare other recipes.
In addition, most people also boil water on their stoves for different purposes, producing more steam in the kitchen.
Moreover, more steam will start to accumulate if there is a poor ventilation system or no exhaust fan in the cooking area.
The steam will increase the humidity and cause the grout of the stove sidewall to turn yellow.
The yellowish-colored grout on the stove sidewall gives a bad look because of looking different from others.
You can reduce the steam level by providing the proper ventilation system. For example, you should open the doors and windows while cooking and boiling different foodstuffs.
You can also turn on your exhaust fan, so steam cannot accumulate in the interior for a long time and reduce the humidity.
Using hard water
The presence of iron will also cause the discoloration of the grout between the tiles. The iron comes when you treat your tiles with hard water, which contains more concentration of iron.
Many people clean their tiles by washing them with water and cannot dry the water from their surface, seeping into the cemented layer and changing the color.
In addition, some grout is powdered form, and you have to add water to it for application. Sometimes people do not test this water and add iron-containing ones to form a mixture.
The accumulated iron can form a deposit on the walls which oxidize and cause yellowish color.
This iron-containing mixture will cause discoloration after some years. The iron concentration will also depend upon the type of the tiles.
When you add white marbles type tiles containing more iron and bleed into the cemented area, oxidize and change shade.
You can resolve this issue by testing the water before making a mixture. You should also select the tiles appropriately which contain less concentration of iron.
Body oils
The body oils released from your skin cause the discoloration of your clothes and form yellowish stains on the walls and grout.
The body oils come on the tiles when sitting on the chairs while supporting the walls. The oil from your hair will also cause this problem.
These oils contain the contaminants that are the reason behind this issue. The body oils also come on the tiles when you stand while supporting the walls for a longer time.
You can resolve this issue by making a mixture of water and vinegar in the bucket; after making a solution take a clean cloth and apply this mixture on the walls.
Take another dry and clean cloth and wipe off the mixture from its surface.
Use of cleaning agents
People use different cleaning agents and detergents to wash the tiles and make them crystal clear.
Some of my friends complain that the grout color becomes yellow after a few months when they use these detergents.
The reason behind this issue is that they are using low-quality detergents and harsh chemicals on their surface.
These harsh chemicals will cause a change in their shade and decrease the beauty of the interior. Moreover, the issue will also occur when you cannot clean the detergents clearly after applying them on the tiles for washing purposes.
You can fix this issue by appropriately removing the detergents after applying them to the tiles. It is better to use good quality cleaning agents and those containing less toxic chemicals.
You can also fix this issue by avoiding the use of ammonia-based detergents because they contain bleach which is responsible for yellowish colors.
Quality and type of grout
The quality of grout and types will also be responsible for yellow stains on their surface. Using low-quality products will cause this issue and makes them look bad.
The type of grouts which are white epoxy ones are more susceptible to yellowing while other types. Therefore, their quality is the main factor when purchasing the new ones for refilling purposes.
Most of the time, the color of the grouts is sometimes off-white, which changes after some months due to the presence of dust and dirt.
You can fix this problem by checking the quality, color, and types of grouts while purchasing.
Oil and grease
The oil and grease mostly come on the surface during cooking and washing utensils. Therefore, the oil is most commonly used in the kitchen for different purposes.
During cooking, the oil evaporates and starts to accumulate on the walls. These oils also come on the grouted surfaces, oxidize there, and change their color.
Sometimes when you touch the walls after cooking and forget to clean the surface, it will also cause this problem.
Grease will accumulate on the kitchen walls if you do not clean them regularly. You can resolve this issue by appropriately cleaning the walls with warm water to remove the oil.
It is better to use the exhaust fan while cooking oily foods so the oil cannot accumulate on the tiles near the stove.
Moisture
The moisture level in the kitchen always remains high because of different reasons. Many people keep opening their doors and windows, increasing the dampness.
In addition, primarily, the kitchen windows are on the outer side that opens into the lawn side, which can cause more entry of moisture into the cooking area.
It will also increase because you can add water while cooking different foodstuffs. The problem of dampness will also occur because you can on the kitchen’s tap most of the time for washing utensils, fruits, and vegetables.
The excessive moisture will allow the molds and mildews to grow in the grouted area. These mildews are responsible for yellowish color.
You can remove the mildews by using suitable quality detergents for their cleaning purpose. You can also decrease the moisture level by closing the windows and doors when you are not working there.
Liquid spillage
The liquid spillage is common in kitchens and can get stuck between the grouted areas and cause their yellowish color.
Most often, the spillage of tea and coffee because of slippage of the cup from the tray or accidentally from your hands will cause this issue.
Moreover, the issue will also come during the preparation of tea and coffee and while serving them. You should avoid spillage of beverages on the floors.
When they accidentally spill on the surface, clean it with alcohol as soon as possible to reduce the problem.
Poor cleanliness
The poor cleanliness and maintenance is also the primary reason behind this issue. When you do not clean the tiles for a long time, it will cause this problem.
In addition, people do not maintain regular maintenance because of their hectic routines. Therefore, the accumulation of dust on the tiles and when you do not clean it from 5 to 6 months will cause discoloration of the grouted areas.
You can resolve this issue by maintaining good cleanliness after every week. In addition, you should use washing detergents specific for tiles on their surface to make them clear.
Use of wax-based products
Some people use wax-based products or cleaners on their tiles for their shiny and new look. The use of these wax-based products can accumulate in the corners, which after some time become yellowish.
These wax-based products help to maintain the original shine of the tiles. Many of my friends are also using this for its smooth and attractive appearance.
You can fix this problem by using non-wax-based products, which helps maintain their original look.
Use of air fresheners
Air fresheners can make your place refreshing and free of smell. Sometimes the smell is produced in the kitchen due to spoiled food items.
It irritates people, and they cannot stand there doing home chores. In this situation, people use air fresheners to remove the smell of burnt food items.
When they come in contact with kitchen walls, these air fresheners make the corners of the tiles yellow, which gives a bad appearance.
You can resolve this issue by using other products like scented candles rather than air fresheners. In addition, you can also fix this issue by opening the air vents.
Use of dirty mops for cleaning
Some people use dirty mops for cleaning the tiles, which can make the grout discolored. They cannot change the water when it gets dirty and repeatedly dips the mop in the same water.
When it seeps into the spaces between the tiles, this water with dust can cause an issue. In addition, it is also challenging to remove this dirty water from the corners.
You can reduce the discoloration by changing the bucket’s water when you mop the tiles to reduce the accumulation of dust.
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