by Houston Groutsmith | May 17, 2019 | Grout Cleaning Houston, Tile Cleaning Houston, Tile Cleaning Tips
Tile has become increasingly popular in homes. Surfaces including floors, fireplaces, backsplashes, countertops, showers, and more can all be tiled. And while tile can add beauty to your home, it also builds up layers of dirt and grime.
With so many tiled areas in your home, it’s important to keep them looking clean and new.
You might think that in cleaning your home, you are doing all you need for your tile. In reality, professional cleaning services can be a major benefit and even a necessity for your tile. Here are 7 reasons to consider hiring a professional for your grout and tile cleaning.
1. Professional Grout and Tile Cleanings Extend Tile Life
Over time, grime can fade the color of your tile, and unchecked stains can settle in, becoming more difficult or even impossible to remediate. Dirt and debris can scratch the surface of your tile. And without proper cleanings, your tile can experience dulling, cracking, and loosening.
Having a professional step in so you can effectively combat your dirt and grime with a grout and tile cleaning can help make your tile last longer and keep you from needing replacement tiles in the process.
2. Avoid Tedious Elbow Work
Mops and Swiffer® instruments are not the most effective cleaning tools for tile and grout. In fact, mops can spread dirt and bacteria from one tile to another or into grout. The best way to clean your tile is on your hands and knees with a nonabrasive rag or sponge.
Hiring professional cleaning services saves you from this tedious work. Professionals have equipment that is not available to the public, and this equipment helps them achieve a comprehensive cleaning that you simply cannot achieve yourself. They can also accomplish this in less time without as much sweat.
So, leave it to the pros!
3. DIY Grout Cleanings Aren’t Always Effective
Grout pores tend to harbor moisture and bacteria, which can produce mold growth. It can be extremely difficult to effectively clean the entirety of your grout and remove the built-up bacteria. And because of its porosity, grout is susceptible to stains, which can be extremely difficult to remove by hand.
Without proper grout cleanings, tiled surfaces become unsanitary, which in extreme cases can even affect your family’s health. And mold growth that is not remediated can cause tiles to lift and cracks, on top of health issues.
In order to get a deep clean into your grout, you should solicit the help of a professional. Their equipment, products, and expertise can help get into the crevices of your grout and effectively sanitize your tile.
4. Professionals Can Make Tile Look “Like New”
The dirtier your tile has become, the more essential a professional cleaning is for appearances’ sake. The buildup on tile and grout can make you feel embarrassed of your tiled surfaces, but professionals have the right equipment to get your tile looking like new again.
Their cleanings aren’t surface level, which can help transform the look of tile to what it was when it was new.
5. Make Your DIY Grout and Tile Cleanings Easier
Having a professional remove the built-up residue and stains from your tile and grout makes your self-cleanings easier. Rather than playing catchup with the mess, you can simply stay on top of the mess and keep major stains from setting in or heavy grime from building up.
Having a professional seal your tile after a cleaning can amplify the ease of care involved with your tile and provide better protection from scuffs and stains.
6. Save Yourself Time
You have plenty of projects to do as a homeowner. A professional grout and tile cleaning can save you valuable time. Cleaning grout and tile can be a tedious process that takes time for products to set in, time to scrub, and time to cure. It can take even longer if you are having your tile sealed.
Don’t waste your time. Hire a professional and utilize that extra time to catch up on other important projects or spend time relaxing with the family.
7. Professionals Protect Your Grout or Tile From More Damage
Grout and tile companies know the best methods for getting a deep clean, and they know what different types of tiles require. Certain acidic cleaning agents can harm natural stones, and certain store-bought or homemade cleaners may cause more damage when used improperly.
Have a professional come in for a deep cleaning to use safe and effective products and tools in the cleaning of your tile. They will best know what to use and what not to use on the specific materials in your home.
Beautiful Tile You Can Be Proud Of
You don’t have to be embarrassed by your grout and tile. The Houston Groutsmith team has helped thousands of homeowners in the south Houston metro area transform their tile through a safe, non-acidic cleaning process. See our grout and tile cleaning services to learn more about how we can safely and effectively take care of your tile.
Don’t put off your professional cleaning. Get a free estimate with our team today.
by Houston Groutsmith | Apr 5, 2019 | Grout Cleaning Houston, Tile Cleaning Houston, Tile Cleaning Tips
Tiled surfaces appear in many areas of a home. From flooring and showers to fireplaces, countertops, and backsplash, tile and its counterpart grout can be present in many rooms of your home. But as with any form of building material, both tile and grout come with their share of problems.
If you deal with tile issues, you are not alone. Having an idea of what issues can arise can keep you on top of proper maintenance and ahead of future problems. Here are some of the biggest issues homeowners face regarding grout and tile.
Floor Tiles
Scratches
Tiled surfaces get plenty of use, which can lead to scratches. Tracked-in dirt is the most common reason for tile scratches in a home. Tracked-in particles can scrape across your tiled surfaces and cause issues. Other reasons for scratches in tile can be:
- Heavy, dropped objects
- Pet nails
- Furniture movement
Put floor mats around your home’s entrances and place furniture pads on the bottom of your furniture’s legs. Have your tile routinely cleaned and sealed to prevent major scratches from occurring. Remember that surface scratches are much easier to fix than deep scratches.
Grout and Tile Cracks
The appearance of grout and tile cracks can sometimes be out of your control as a homeowner. One of the major causes of grout cracks is the shifting of a home’s foundation or subfloor, which will happen in every home. Most grout is rigid, while foundational concrete absorbs moisture and expands and contracts with temperature. This movement can cause grout and tile to crack.
Stains
Stains are especially common in naturally porous stone tiles like granite or marble and in grout. A porous substance will easily soak up spills, leaving behind pesky stains. It’s impossible to keep spills from occurring, so the easiest way to avoid these issues is with a professional grout and tile cleaning and sealing.
Loose Tile
One of the most common causes of loose tile is a lack of adhesive during installation. If not enough adhesive is used when laying the tile, it can begin to shift and loosen as time goes on. This can become a serious safety hazard and can lead to further issues with your tile.
If your tile sounds hollow, it has detached from the subflooring. If your floor moves as you walk, it has detached. Loosened tile can also occur from:
- The wrong adhesive being used for installation
- Excessive mold or mildew growth
- Subfloor movement
Grout Discoloration
The look of your grout plays a huge role in the overall look of your tile, so when your grout’s color is inconsistent, it drags down the entire tiled look. Grout discoloration can be caused during the installation phase when the grout is mixed with too much water.
A buildup of dirt and grease can also cause your grout to be discolored, as can using the wrong cleaning agents like bleach and ammonia. The continual usage of these products can cause inconsistencies to form in the color. Walking over your tile with your bare feet can cause natural oils and dirt to discolor your grout, especially if you own a pool and track in the chemicals.
Bathroom Tiles
Mineral Buildup
Tile that is exposed to water can experience mineral buildup. If you see a heavy, white haze covering your shower, bath, or pool tiles, mineral buildup is your problem. All water contains minerals. Certain types of water, such as well water, can contain higher levels. As the water coats your tile, so do the minerals. But as the water evaporates, the minerals are left behind, creating mineral buildup.
Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew are especially big issues in areas prone to moisture, including shower tile, bathroom floor tile, and backsplash around sinks. The grout surrounding your tile is porous and absorbs moisture, creating the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew (especially in a shower where soap scum is also present).
Learning how to spot mold and how to eradicate it can help keep it from spreading out of control.
Kitchen Countertop or Backsplash Tiles
Sanitation/Bacteria
It can be especially difficult to keep kitchen grout clean and sanitary. Because it is porous, grout likes to harbor bacteria, making surfaces unhygienic. While this can be an issue with any grout, this can especially be an issue for grouted countertops in the kitchen, where food preparation occurs. It is important to regularly seal and clean your grout to keep the germs from penetrating its surface.
Natural Stone Tiles
Etching
Natural stone can be prone to a process called etching. Most natural stones are porous. They are therefore sealed to keep from staining, as well as to bring out the natural vibrancy of the stone. However, without proper sealing, acidic substances that come in contact with the stones can seep into the pores and cause etching, which dulls the look of your stone tile. In some stone, it can even cause the texture of the stone to change.
Etching can occur in a variety of tile materials including ceramic or porcelain, but it is an extremely common issue for natural stone.
Overcome Your Grout and Tile Issues
Don’t retreat from issues with your grout and tile. Face them head-on. You can have control over these issues and keep them at bay by maintaining and routinely cleaning and sealing your tile. And with the help of a professional grout and tile cleaning company, you can eradicate problems that have already arisen while also treating your surfaces to make maintenance easier and more effective.
The Houston Groutsmith team uses only nonacidic cleaners and never uses harsh cleaning methods like high steam or carpet cleaners on your grout and tile. We want to protect the integrity of all tile surfaces in your home while providing you with easy to maintain tile. See our grout and tile cleaning services for more information on how our team can benefit your tile.
