If you are searching for how to clean floor grout, read this blog to learn:
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- Tips for cleaning your floors.
- How you can make your tile look better.
- Who you can trust to get your grout clean again.
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Grout is the material that gives a continuous, smooth line between tiles. It fills the gaps left between each tile when it is attached to the wall or floor. As the grout dries, the surface ends up slightly lower than the face of the tile. That means it creates channels between them that can trap dirt, mold, and mildew over time.
How to clean grout is a popular question that almost anyone who’s ever had tile has asked at some point. It’s not always as easy as spraying on a cleaner and rinsing off. Grout is highly porous, making it ideal for grease, dirt, and grime to accumulate. New grout is often sealed to prevent staining and help preserve the color. As it ages, the seal wears off, and it tends to stain, absorb contaminants, or attract mold and mildew more easily.
Keeping your grout clean is also recommended for the health of your family. It gets rid of harmful bacteria, mildew, and mold, which could impact your family or friends, particularly people with asthma, severe allergies, or lung issues. The best strategy for keeping your grout and tile looking new is with periodic professional grout cleaning by Steamatic of Central Florida. However, in between professional cleanings, we have some tips for how to clean floor grout.
Tile Floor Cleaning Tips
Your floors take a beating. They withstand constant traffic, get things spilled on them, and have who knows what tracked on them from outdoors. Your floors set the stage for the rest of your decor. Unfortunately, accurately or not, they also say something about the cleanliness of the rest of your home.
Everyone with tile floors wants to know how to clean floor tile grout, so it looks clean. No matter how many times you sweep and mop your floors, grout tends to get even worse over time. That’s because of the porous nature of the cement-based grout. It ends up becoming a sponge for the dirty water that just cleaned off the surrounding tile.
To get your floor tile grout looking clean, try the following:
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- Start with the appropriate protective gear like gloves and eye protection, particularly when using strong cleaning solutions.
- Use a commercial tile and grout cleaner made specifically for floors. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Make sure your cleaner doesn’t contain acidic, waxy, or oil-based cleaners. Acids will break down the grout, and waxes and oils will soak in and attract more dirt.
- You can also make your own cleaner. Use 3/4 cup baking soda combined with 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide and one tablespoon dish soap and create a paste. Apply to the grout and scrub with a brush designed for grout cleaning.
- Rinse and dry the areas as you clean.
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The Best Way to Clean Tile Grout
When you have shiny, reflective tiles, it’s obvious they need to stay clean to look good. However, even tiles with a matte finish need cleaning to look their best. Most porcelain and ceramic tiles only need dish soap and warm water solution. However, professional steam cleaning is the best way to clean tile grout.
How To Clean Bathroom Grout
Bathroom tiles have an additional component to combat aside from surface dirt, dust, or debris; soap scum can build up and resist cleaning methods that work fine in the kitchen or other areas. The easiest way to get rid of soap scum is to spray the tile cleaner on the tiles then run hot water until it steams. After five minutes, turn off the water and wait 20 minutes before wiping down the surface with a clean, damp microfiber cloth.
Cleaning Tile Grout
Cleaning your bathroom or backsplash tile grout is similar to the best way to clean grout on tile floors. You may have traditional sand and cement grout or one of the more stain-resistant latex polymer grouts if you have a newer home or one that has been recently renovated. No matter what type you have, make sure you use only cleaners and brushes designed for use with grout. While it may be tempting to use a wire brush or acidic solutions for stubborn stains, you’ll only damage the grout and surrounding tile.
It’s always best to start with hot water and a grout brush. You may also want to try a commercial steam cleaner. After steaming according to instruction, brush the grout in circular motions to remove dirt and stains. Remember to rinse and pat dry with an absorbent cloth in sections as you clean.
Tile Grout Cleaning Services
Though you may be able to keep your tile and grout clean for a while, eventually, it will need more than what you can do to get it looking like new again. Professional tile and grout cleaners are experienced and updated on all the latest tools and techniques for removing stains, mold, and mildew without damaging it. A reputable, respected professional will be able to make your tile grout look new by following a process that includes:
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- Assessing – The first step is examining the surfaces for any damage and looking for areas that need special attention before cleaning.
- Vacuuming – Next, the area will be vacuumed to remove loose dirt or debris.
- Mopping – Mopping removes any lingering loose debris or stuck on contaminants.
- Steam Cleaning – Professionals have the knowledge, expertise, and budget to invest in the best equipment for the job. That includes a powerful steam cleaner that kills and removes bacteria and mold spores in even the tiniest crevices.
- Drying – Ensuring the tiles and grout are dried adequately prevents dirt from collecting in residual moisture or mildew from setting in. It also leaves the tile sparkling and spot-free.
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Some professional tile and grout cleaners may also offer services to seal your tile grout after cleaning. This step can help preserve the grout and prevent it from accumulating new stains. Understanding what a tile and grout cleaning service will provide before hiring them helps you know what to expect.
Steamatic of Central Florida Knows How To Clean Floor Grout
Grout should be a beautiful accent to tile – not a source of eyesores. It can highlight a tile design with a contrasting color or complement it by matching exactly. Even if you never think of or notice your grout normally, it quickly becomes all you can think of when it looks dirty or dingy. When you’ve tried our tips for how to clean floor grout and still aren’t happy, contact our experienced professional team at Steamatic of Florida. We’ll have it looking better than ever in no time!
Featured Image: Eugene Alexandrov/Shutterstock
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