Tag: grout cleaning

Keeping your tiles and grout looking clean can be a major hassle. Dirt, dust, oils, and debris can be embedded deep within tiles and grout, leading to staining and discoloration or causing them to constantly look dirty. In many cases, the only solution to overcome this type of issue is to have the tiles and grout professionally cleaned. Here, we’ll look at the common problems you can encounter and the signs that professional tile and grout cleaning is necessary.

Why Tiles & Grout Get Dirty Even With Regular Cleaning

Even if you keep up with mopping your floors regularly, you’ll often still experience issues with your tiles and grout looking dirty and dingy after a while. Dirty mop water can soak into grout, leading to staining and discoloration. Grout also soaks up moisture from wet feet and spills. These issues are especially common with cement-based grout if it’s not resealed regularly.

Another common problem is that many people don’t take the time to properly rinse tiles and grout after cleaning them. If you don’t fully rinse everything with clean water, the soap or cleaner leaves behind a sticky film. Although you can’t see the residue at first, it quickly starts trapping dirt, grease, and debris.

Tiles are fairly durable, but foot traffic can cause scuffs, small scratches, and abrasions. While you may not be able to see these types of damage without looking extremely closely, they can still result in the tiles looking dull and dingy. The scratches and scuffs create places where dirt can penetrate and get trapped within the tiles, resulting in them still looking somewhat dirty even after you clean them.

Signs Routine Mopping Is Not Enough

There are obvious signs that routine mopping isn’t enough. These include:

• Tiles that still look dirty, no matter how much you clean and rinse them.
• Visible signs of wear.
• A dull or cloudy appearance.
• Persistent grout stains that you can’t remove using a scrub brush.
• Visible mold and mildew growth.
• Unpleasant odors from bacteria growing within tiles and grout.
• Mopping only temporarily eliminates lingering odors.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s a sure indication that it’s time to schedule a professional deep cleaning.

When Grout Discoloration Becomes Hard to Remove

Grout is extremely porous, meaning that any type of liquid can easily soak deep down into it and cause dark staining and discoloration. When you clean grout with normal cleaning products and techniques, all you can really do is remove whatever is on the surface level. Eliminating everything that’s trapped deep within the pores requires special techniques and equipment.

Depending on the specific part of the house, it’s generally recommended to reseal grout at least every one to two years. The sealant makes the grout much less porous, which helps it to repel liquid and be more resistant to staining. The longer you go without resealing grout, the more issues you’ll encounter with discoloration and hard-to-remove stains.

Why Kitchens, Bathrooms & Entryways Need Extra Attention

Kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways all receive heavy foot traffic, making the tiles and grout in these areas more prone to staining and discoloration. Entryways are especially prone to issues that result from people walking in with dirty or wet shoes. In the kitchen, there’s also the issue of grease sticking to floors, countertops, and backsplashes, and then trapping dirt and debris.

Mineral deposits and hard water stains are another issue that commonly affects tile and grout in bathrooms and kitchens. Mold, mildew, and bacteria also commonly grow within the pores of grout in bathrooms and kitchens, resulting in dark spots that can only be removed with professional grout cleaning.

How Professional Tile Cleaning Helps Restore the Surface

Professionals have numerous tools and techniques that allow them to fully clean tiles and restore their surface. Steam or industrial rotary cleaners can break up and remove everything that’s trapped within the tiles. There are also treatments that can effectively remove mineral stains and hard water deposits without damaging the surface of the tiles. Polishing and buffing tiles can smooth out the finish of the tiles, eliminating scratches and abrasions so that the tiles again look shiny and new.

When Commercial Tile Floors Need Professional Cleaning

Commercial tile and grout cleaning is often required more frequently than residential cleaning, especially in high-traffic areas like lobbies and hallways. If you’re dealing with persistent stains and grout discoloration that can’t be removed by a normal janitorial service, it’s definitely time to schedule a professional deep clean. The more often you have your tiles professionally cleaned, the longer they will continue looking good.

Schedule Tile & Grout Cleaning in Cleveland

At Voda Cleaning & Restoration of Cleveland-Mentor, our certified technicians are always ready to help with your residential or commercial tile and grouting cleaning needs. We use the best industry-proven techniques and equipment to provide outstanding results every time, and we always back up our work with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.

To schedule a tile and grout cleaning service for your Cleveland-area home or business, contact Voda Cleaning & Restoration today.

FAQs

How do I know when tile and grout need professional cleaning?

The most obvious sign is if the tile and grout still look dirty after you’ve cleaned them or if they have persistent stains. Professional cleaning can also restore the surface of tiles so that they no longer look old and dingy.

Can professional cleaning remove dark grout stains?

Oftentimes, yes. Professionals can use industrial cleaning agents and methods like hot-water extraction and steam cleaning to remove most grout stains. However, things like coffee, hair dye, and certain chemicals can cause a chemical change in the grout that permanently alters its color.

Should I clean hardwood floors at the same time as tile?

Yes. If you have hardwood floors that look dirty or old and worn, it’s worth having them professionally cleaned at the same time as you’re getting your tiles cleaned. At Voda Cleaning & Restoration, we also provide thorough hardwood floor cleaning services.