Secrets Behind Effective Grout Cleaning
The tile floors in your bathroom and your kitchen may seem like they're impressively resilient and incredibly low maintenance, but you may be surprised to learn that there's a little more to your tile and grout floors than meets the eye.
Although tile flooring may provide an easy surface to keep clean from spills and dirt — when compared to carpet and wood flooring — the truth is that these types of flooring also need regular pro cleanings to keep a healthy home looking its best.
Here at One of a Kind Pros, we believe in setting our customers up for success. That's why we've chosen to write this article so that you have the understanding you need to properly care for your tile floors and grout fillings.
What to Avoid
First, let's start off with products that you should absolutely avoid.
Did you know that bleach, ammonia, and other harsh chemicals can actually worsen the state of your grout? These cleaning agents can slowly eat away and break down the grout material, causing the life span and integrity of the grout to be reduced significantly.
Additionally, some of these chemicals can permanently stain and discolor grouting, leaving you with a patchy, uneven grout tone.
What you may think the Pros use, but we don't ...
When it comes to cleaning tile floors, the most common assumption is that we use rough sponges or some sort of scrubbing brushes — especially for those areas that seem to pack in dirt and grime — and that therefore, you should use scrubbing brushes too between professional cleanings.
Before you resort to using scouring tools, chemical grout cleaners, or lots of elbow grease; let's take a moment to consider what that does to your grout.
You may be surprised to discover that these dense scrubbing utensils actually wear down your grout. Repeated cleanings with heavy-duty scrubbing brushes can be too strenuous on the grout itself. Instead of providing an effective clean, small chunks of grout will be removed, with time, causing the integrity of your grout to become compromised.
In addition to the likelihood of these products slowly breaking down your grout, the unfortunate truth is that most of these products and other home remedies do not actually clean your grout. Generic tile cleaners can even make the problem worse by pushing dirt from the tiles into the pores of the grout.
What we (One Of A Kind Pros) actually use ...
So — if almost everything we would think to use is off limits, then what does that actually leave us to use?
It's very simple: we use pure water! Yes, professional tile cleaners will employ the use of pure, very hot water and compressed steam using specialized equipment to clear out dirt particles, germs, and bacteria from the porous surface of your grout.
Not only is this method of cleaning environmentally friendly — it's also the safest and most effective cleaning solution for grout. It may also be reassuring for households who have family members or pets with chemical sensitivities that you want to keep from being exposed to harsh cleaning products.
What you can use to clean your grout ...
While regular professional cleanings are important, what about maintaining your tile and grout between pro cleanings?
For best results, start using a soft sponge or rag daily to remove dirt and buildup. Additionally, understand that your grout picks up the dirt around it, so keeping your floors and surrounding tile walls clean can help significantly.
Here are the things that we recommend having on hand to clean your grout between professional cleanings.
Solutions:
Half cup of baking soda
Quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide
One teaspoon of clear dish soap
Hot Water
Tools:
A spoon
Soft scrubbing brush
A clean white rag or towel
How to Clean Your Grout
1. Remove the surface dirt with a little hot water and a clean white rag.
2. Combine the baking soda, the hydrogen peroxide, and the clear dish soap and mix well.
3. Spoon the mixture onto your grout lines, and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
4. Scrub the grout lines with a brush. Grout cleaning tip: Make sure to scrub hard to agitate the grout and cleaning solution and break up any really stuck dirt.
5. Wipe clean.
Maintaining the grout of your tile floors yourself between professional cleanings is mandatory to keep your home healthy and looking clean home.
Periodically, One of a Kind Pros can deep clean and remove bacteria and common allergens in your grout by using our state-of-the-art cleaning equipment.
We also provide professional tile and grout sealing in Richmond and Houston areas to ensure that your tile floors look and hold up as if they were brand new with that showroom shine.
Know when to call the professionals
When it's all said and done, it's important to know when to call the professionals. If you've found that your tile and grout just look dull and dirty, feel free to schedule an appointment with us. At One of a Kind Pros, we're always here and happy to help you keep your home clean and healthy. Give us a call for all of your carpet, upholstery, rugs, and tile cleaning needs.
To arrange for a professional tile cleaning, contact us today for a free estimate.
832-581-5555
We're here to help!
Thank you for reading our article.
We hope you find it to be helpful.
If you have any questions about this article, or suggestions for another article — anything related to cleaning carpet, upholstery, tile and grout, and maintaining a healthy home — please feel free to contact us.
