In an age where do-it-yourself tutorials flood the web, there are still some household chores and projects that are best left to the professionals. Grout and tile cleaning and sealing fit in this category, mainly because there are many costly mistakes homeowners can make when trying to tackle these chores on their own.
But mistakes don’t just happen when cleaning—carelessness and inattentiveness can be just as costly to your grout and tile. Read on to see which three mistakes you should take great care to avoid with your grout and tile investment.
Using the Wrong Cleaning Techniques
The most common mistakes people make with their grout and tile involve using the wrong types of cleaners and cleaning techniques. Harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia can heavily damage grout and tile. And because grout is porous by nature, it has a tendency to absorb any liquid that is applied to it. This means your grout could easily take on the color of any colored cleaner. Acidic cleaning agents can then increase the porosity of your grout, making it more susceptible to collecting dirt and grime.
While using a vacuum may be the quickest and easiest way to remove dirt and dust from tile flooring, it can also cause permanent damage. Your vacuum’s wheels and any metal parts may leave marks on your tile, and can easily crack or weaken the grout. A brush or broom is a much more forgiving tool on tile flooring, but if you must use a vacuum, try using the handheld wand attachment rather than rolling the heavy unit across the tile.
The best way to ensure you don’t use the wrong cleaning technique or materials is by hiring a professional for your grout and tile cleaning and sealing. Certified experts will have all of the proper tools and cleaners to protect and preserve your tile floors.
Not Taking the Proper Precautions
Tile is one of the most durable flooring options you can have in your home, but there are still preventative measures you can take to ensure your furniture and other items don’t cause damage over time. Furniture protectors on the bottoms of tables, couches, and chairs can help to prevent scratching and cracking on your tile and grout.
If you have potted plants sitting directly on your tile, be sure to place a protective layer like a rug between the pot and the floor. Water and soil can damage grout and tile over time.
Ignoring Your Grout & Tile
Most of us hate tedious household chores and will put off the toughest tasks for as long as possible. Others may be fearful of making a costly mistake, and will just ignore their grout and tile instead. It may be obvious, but postponing your grout and tile maintenance is a mistake that will most likely cost you in the long run.
Since tile is most common in rooms like your bathrooms and kitchen, where water and moisture is common, mold and bacteria can easily grow and spread when grout is ignored. A professional, in-depth tile and grout cleaning can help protect your family from the effects of mold and mildew that can easily build up in grout.
In addition to staying healthy, regularly cleaning and sealing your grout can increase the lifespan of your tile. Grout is meant to keep your tile together, and without regular maintenance, it can become more susceptible to cracks or loosening, which can then affect the integrity of your tile. Properly cleaning your grout sounds better than replacing your entire floor before it would normally need it, right?
Contact the Professionals
If you want to avoid making these mistakes with the tile and grout in your Tulsa home, contact the professionals at Groutsmith Tulsa for a free in-home estimate and demonstration to see how their grout and tile cleaning services can help protect your investment.
