THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF TILE CLEANING

Unlike carpet that hides the dirt, grout lines show it. Grout lines are recessed and soil seeks the lowest surface. Grout lines are porous enough to hold dirt and change color.

GROUT LINES  SOIL DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT ROOMS

Kitchen grout lines get soiled around appliances like the refrigerator, the stove and especially in front of the sink. Grease can off gas in cooking areas and discolor grout lines. Television room traffic discolors grout lines in patches. Bathroom grout lines are likely to  hold moisture. Mildew and limescale discolor grout lines and create foul odors. Foyer and entrance way grout lines track with soil brought in from the outside, a good mat can help a lot.

QUESTION AND ANSWERS

Q.  Is mopping enough?

A.  Routine mopping on a weekly basis is essential however dirt penetrates the tiny grout pores mopping can't reach. Dirt is embedded in the grout pores 1/8 inch underneath. Steam cleaning pressure of 600 pounds per square inch penetrates the grout pores to rinse away the dirt embedded 1/8 inch underneath.

Q.  What about do it yourself methods?

A.  Do it yourself tile cleaning requires a lot of hand scrubbing. Most people find that scrubbing their own grout is hard on the knees. It may be necessary to use knee pads or a kneeling pad and cleaning is slow and takes days. A tile cleaning professional will  complete the same job for you in an hour.

Q. What is grout sealing?

A. Grout sealing is the best solution to keeping grout clean. Grout sealing adds a protective layer and stain barrier that's especially helpful to keep light colored grout lines clean. Grout sealing can prevent mildew from forming in the bathroom.

MAKE TILE FLOORS LAST, KEEP GROUT LINES CLEAN

Keeping grout lines clean is very important for lengthening the life of tiled areas. When the grout lines are dirty it doesn't matter how clean the tile is, the entire floor will have a dirty appearance. The porous nature of grout lines  means they are not easily maintainable. Professional steam cleaning at high pressure is the most effective way to keep grout lines attractive.