How to Clean Sanded Caulk on a Kitchen Backsplash

Sanded caulk is a form of standard caulking with sand added to increase the bulk of the material. This increase is necessary when filling in larger joints in between tiles. Cleaning sanded caulk is not that different from cleaning regular caulk, despite the addition, with the primary difference being the need to avoid abrasive or hard cleaning tools that could drag sand particles from the caulk and use them to scratch the tile. Cleaning the caulk on a backsplash can be a bit difficult, however, due to the angle of the surface and the reach required. To avoid damaging the backsplash, you’ll need to clean by hand. With a pH-neutral cleaner and a toothbrush though, you can remove all but the most ground-in dirt or grime, with any caulk remaining unclean likely ready for removal and replacement.

Tile cleaner
Sponge
Scrub brush
PH neutral cleaner
Soft toothbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Wash the backsplash tiles using a tile cleaner specifically formulated for your tile type. Use a sponge or scrub brush to remove dirt from the tile, using a back and forth motion from the top of the backsplash to the bottom to avoid moving dirt from a dirty section of tile to a clean one. Use a cleaner with a degreaser included if there are any grease stains present.
- 2
  Rinse the backsplash off with clean water, and then allow it to dry before concentrating on the grout alone. A dried surface ensures that no remaining water will dilute your cleaner when handling the grout.
- 3
  Dilute the pH-neutral cleaner with equal amounts of water for light soil or use it undiluted for heavier soil or oil deposits. Dip a soft toothbrush into the cleaner, and then use the bristles to scrub along the grout lies in a back and forth motion, from the top of the backsplash to the bottom. Clean the horizontal grout lines of a row first, and then clean the vertical line descending from the horizontal one.
- 4
  Rinse the backsplash off again with clean water, and then allow it to air dry overnight.

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