Ah, home sweet home! You have perfectly polished wooden floors in the living room, a plush light carpet in your bedroom, and…a disaster area of grout and tile in the kitchen. While grout and tile are often supposed to be the easiest to clean in a multitude of situations, the truth is that many homeowners find tile cleaning and grout cleaning to be one of the most tedious aspects of home care.
It’s common enough to see tile that looks decent, but grout that is off-color or even moldy. Believe it or not, you don’t have to get on your hands and knees and use a toothbrush to scrub away grime from grout in order to get a sparkling floor. Here are some tips everyone should know when trying to keep your grout and tile in ship shape.

  • Get your grout professionally cleaned regularly. Professional cleaners are able to help improve the look of grout, and also are able to remove sealants that could be keeping dirt in the grout. They also will be able to offer valuable advice on how to maintain the grout and tile you have in your home.
  • Many cleaners that you might be using right now might actually be doing more harm than good. Grout is a very tricky material to clean. Wax-based cleaners, sealants, and oil-based detergents usually will end up harming tile and grout alike. Other important things to avoid using regularly include highly acidic or bleach heavy cleaners, as this can actually eat through grout and tile.
  • You *do* need to rinse after mopping. Rising helps remove the slimy or sticky residue that is left by cleaning agents. And, it also helps keep grout and tile looking great.
  • Do use products that are compatible with sealers and cleaning grout joints. If you are going to go out and buy products, make sure that they are good for your grout. It should say on the package that it’s tile and grout-friendly.
  • Vacuuming tile is not as crazy as it sounds. Sweeping and vacuuming helps get rid of the dust that can turn into grime when using cleaning agents. It’s a good idea to vacuum before you actually use cleaners or sealants on the tile.
  • Keep your tile and grout intact. Cracked or broken tile, as well as cracks in the grout, are one of the biggest causes of major damage in kitchen and bathrooms. Not only do these seemingly small issues have a huge impact on your ability to clean everything, but they also can cause mold and mildew damage to your home if not addressed. A regular inspection of the tile and grout in your home can help prevent major issues later on. If you find cracked tile or grout, you might want to call a contractor who is talented in grout repair and tile work to fix it as soon as possible.
  • Spot tests are mandatory. You really can never tell how a new product is going to end up behaving on tile. A small spot test will help you judge whether or not it’s worth using on your tile.

Tile maintenance isn’t easy, but the truth is that it’s rewarding. It not only keeps your home looking great, but also makes living there much more sanitary. When in doubt, call us at Jersey Steamer for a free consultation.

 

Our Services:

  • Commercial Carpet Cleaning – All jobs of all sizes
  • Tile & Grout Cleaning
  • Upholstery Cleaning
  • Drapery Cleaning
  • Area Rugs Cleaning
  • Natural stone & Marble resurfacing and restoration

We perform a free no obligation inspection and written audit before any work begins. Saturday and evening appointments are available.

We offer Scotchgard Carpet Protection, deodorizing, pet stain and odor removal, stretching and repair services. Special commercial rates available.

Ask about our Senior Citizen discounts.

Call for an appointment today!

1-800-816-6900

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