443-973-6737
443-973-6737
Tiled floors and walls are also costly, attractive, durable, and easy to maintain, which makes them the most popular, especially for most homeowners. However, the gaps between tiles or grout lines that act as a connection between the tiles, which also turn into the tiles themselves, become the main spots for dirt accumulation, grime, and possible stains if they are not washed and cleaned. Discolored grout and tile affect the general appearance of your floors or walls and can also ruin your floor or walls in the long run if not cleaned well. Fortunately, there is some advice to follow to prevent future staining of tiles and grouts, which will keep your house fresh and clean-looking for years.
To better understand why tile and grout become stained and how to guard against it, read on to the next section of this article. Regardless of whether you are a homeowner who deals with a heavy traffic-filled kitchen or a calming bathroom space, these tips will ensure your tiles remain clean and your grout lines are accurate.
Tiles, specifically those made from certain materials, have holes or spaces that can catch dirt or fluids and may stain the surface. Even more problematic, however, is grout. Grout is a combination of cement, water, and sand; thus, it is easily permeated and can be easily soaked. This means that even with a wipe and suitable material put on it, it can effortlessly absorb water, dust, oil, and even mold.
In areas with high traffic levels, such as the kitchen and the bathroom, where liquids and other related substances are likely to be spilled or splashed around considerably, the risk factor associated with staining is greatly elevated. Grout lines are commonly slightly recessed, which, in simple terms, indicates that dust and water deposit on the surface of the grout lines, respectively, on the tiles. These aspects make regular maintenance and protection critical to maintaining your tile and grout in perfect condition.
As you already know about the weaknesses of tile and grout, it's high time to look at the five ways that might help protect these areas from future stains. All these tips will go a long way in maintaining your furniture surfaces and adding to their durability, making it cost-effective to invest in the right chairs for your home.
Sealing the grout is the number one rule of grout protection. Grout sealer prevents any kind of spillage, oil, or dirt from sourcing deep into the surface of the areas we deal with. This simple step can go a long way in determining how stain-resistant your grout will be. You need to seal the grout with a top-notch sealer annually, given the levels of traffic and exposure to moisture in the area. For places like a bathroom or a kitchen where activity levels are higher, and items are likely to crack more often, it may be better to reseal after six months. The procedure is very important but rather simple in order to keep your tiles looking as fresh as they should.
One of the simplest how-to's for preventing tile and grout stains is to make sure that any spilled food or beverages are cleaned immediately. This may sound like a no-brainer, but you'd think that people take the time to rush back into the kitchen before the spill sets in and stains the grout lines. From water to juice, wine to cooking oil - the quicker it is dealt with, the less chance it has of setting permanently. Wipe the area clean using a diluted cleaning solution, and ensure nothing is left standing on the surface.
Floors of halls, entries, and kitchens are particularly prone to traffic wear, and dirt and grit abrade both tile and grout surfaces. In such areas, it is advisable to lay rugs or mats that will give visitors a clean surface to wipe their shoes on to lessen the amount of grit and moisture that gets through to your floors and can stain them. It is a very basic step that will ensure your tile maintains its look for longer while also ensuring the grout that you use remains clean for longer. Also, a mat gives your area some aesthetics and a little extra softness.
If homeowners maintain their tiles and grout properly, then we understand that hiring a professional for a deep cleaning may be necessary. Slowly, solid grime may infiltrate the layer of grout, and even if you are using conventional products at home, the surface may not be as clean as needed at some time. At Hippo Carpet Cleaning Ellicott City, we specialize in tile and grout cleaning and will provide services that are beyond what you might be able to achieve using your standard cleaners. Our equipment and products are developed to deal with difficult-to-clean grout and tile staining and return it to its original color. One also finds that routine professional cleanings would assist in sealing and reapplied sealant should it be necessary to keep the surface protected.
There are cleaning agents that should never be used when cleaning the tiles and grout floors, so it's good to make sure that you use the right cleaners. Most regular cleaning chemicals are abrasive, and some, like bleach or ammonia, soften the grout and contribute to wearing out the sealer coat. Hence, you should settle for no-wax or mild cleaners that have nothing to do with the alkaline level of tiles and grout. These cleaners are safe on your surface or material but have a strong propensity to clean your dirty materials. In case of confusion on which products to employ, it is advisable to call specialized services such as Hippo Carpet Cleaning Ellicott City to recommend for you.
Maintaining a healthy floor surface such as tile and grout is one of the most important activities, and resealing its surface is one of the best ways to protect it, but how often should that be done? The frequency greatly depends on the amount of traffic as well as the amount of exposure to moisture within the area. In regions with average traffic density, it ought to be applied every 12-18 months. Nevertheless, depending on the number of people, frequency of cleaning, and exposure to different agents in various areas, resealing might be required every six to twelve months for areas such as the bathroom, kitchen, or entryway since they get dirty and moist more often and may have spills. In case your grout appears to be bland or has been holding water instead of repelling it, this is a clear indication that the sealing coat has all worn out and needs to be recoated.
If you are not quite sure if your grout is ready for resealing, release about three drops of water from the grout lines. When the water forms a droplet and remains as such on the surface of the sealer, you know that your sealer's work is still intact.
Each approach has its benefits. However, the best approach depends on the situation of your tile and grout and the individual's ability or skills in DIY projects.
If your tile and grout remain in decent shape, even the most ignorant attempts can be a cheap fix. After getting some information and materials, one can do some of the following without much help: sealing grout, cleaning up spills, and using appropriate products.
However, if your grout has some serious discoloration issues or the last time it received a sealant is forgettable, it may be time to call a professional who deals with such work as Hippos Carpet Cleaning Ellicott City. Our team can determine the state of your grout, clean it thoroughly, and apply the best sealant that will protect the grout for years. It has been proved that methods used by professional cleaning services are much more efficient in eliminating even the most difficult kind of stains.
Sealing tile and grout appears easy, but you can encounter some pitfalls that will hinder the process. Here are a few pitfalls to avoid:
Tile and grout are fabulous and attractive features in any home, but they need proper attention and sealants to last as they are supposed to. Keeping your tile and grout free of stain, later on, can be achieved if you consider the following: even if you decide to perform the maintenance yourself or hire others, such as Hippo Carpet Cleaning Ellicott City, it is worth putting effort into primary maintenance today to prevent significant botheration in the future.
Do not let stains get through or become permanent on your floor or wall tiles. Don't let stains settle deeper on tile or grout surfaces. Contact us at 443-973-6737 for professional cleaning services to keep your tile and grout safe for several years.
