Professional cleaning for your grout and tile can restore them to like new conditions, a good thing to know when you want your home to look its best. The need for periodic maintenance is usually required less frequently when you know how to care for your tile and grout in between professional cleanings. Some practical tips from the experts at Gulf Coast Tile and Grout can help you know what to do and what to avoid.
Working on a Clean Surface
Sweeping or vacuuming your tile and grout clears away loose debris that can make cleaning more difficult. Dirt and mud as well as other foreign substances can invade porous material and make it harder to clean. Removing loose debris is the first step in maintaining your floors in between professional cleaning. It is easier to pick up loose debris when it is dry instead of wet, but removing it as soon as possible limits the damage that it can do. After using your vacuum or sweeper, damp mop your floors and let them dry so that you can work on a surface that is as clean as possible.
Choosing a Safe Cleaner
The contents of household cleaners are shown on the labels for a reason. Some cleaners may contain acid that can etch or discolor your tile and grout. By reading the label and observing the cautions that are provided by the manufacturer, you will know when to proceed with care. Take the time to research the types of cleaners that are appropriate for use on different kinds of tile.
Bleach can damage colored grout and discolor it or cause it to lose its color entirely. The time that you spent in carefully selecting a complementary grout for your tile is wasted when you use bleach on a colored surface, and the expense of replacing it is an outcome to avoid. Considering the strength that you associate with natural stone or granite, you may not realize that household cleaners can damage them. As solid formations in their natural state, granite and other natural stones are not subjected to the chemicals found in household cleaners. Prior to applying any cleaner to your floors, carefully research the ingredients on the internet to make sure that they are safe to use.
Proceeding with the Cleaning Process
After you find a cleaner that you have verified as acceptable for use on tile and grout, you are ready to proceed with your interim cleaning project. A still nylon brush is the best tool, and it requires you to work in close proximity to your floors. Observing precautions when you use chemicals can protect your hands and eyes, and it is always a good practice to use gloves and safety goggles.
Wearing gloves that are thick enough to resist chemicals can make your hand movements seem clumsy and awkward, but they protect your skin. Your hands, however, are probably much less sensitive than the delicate tissue in your eyes. A drop of a chemical that flicks into your eye can cause extreme damage that wearing safety goggles can prevent.
Preserving Your Work
Applying a penetrating seal to your grout helps preserve your cleaning efforts and reduce the frequency of maintenance by you or by your professional service providers. A sealer protects your grout from future stains or discoloration, and it locks out dirt that makes the need for cleaning more frequent. The high humidity and frequent rains in Southwest Florida make it necessary to take proper care of your tile and grout with periodic professional cleaning and home maintenance in the interim.
Gulf Coast Tile & Grout Renewal
1923 NW 28th Place
Cape Coral, FL 33993
239-283-1079