Your floors, showers, countertops, back splashes and more are made the more beautiful when the tiles and shining and the grout is clean. To keep them pristine—preventing mold and mildew and cleaning away dirt, soap scum, lime scale and other nasty eyesores—you need to do some regular cleaning.
Here are some tips on what to avoid when doing this kind of cleaning at home. And keep in mind, if a lot of cleaning is demanded, or mold has already begun to take hold, then it’s a good idea to call in professional grout and tile cleaning help, like that offered by the experts at Groutsmith Tulsa.
Don’t Use Excessive Water
Using too much water on the mop or not wiping off spills can damage and stain your tile and grout. Grout is porous and the water can get into it and destroy its structure. And it can also get trapped under tiles, leading to mold and mildew.
Watch When Vacuuming
If you vacuum tile floors, don’t use your vacuum’s beater bar, which can scratch or dull your tile finish. Run the vacuum cleaner using suction only.
Avoid Harsh Cleaners
If you use harsh cleaners for grout and tile cleaning, you run the risk of damaging your tiles and decreasing their lifespan. Cleaners with a high acidic content or PH can also make your grout more porous and weaken it. It also makes the grout get dirty faster. A specially formulated grout cleaner is the best bet for this job.
Beware Using Colored Chemicals and Pure Bleach
If you use colored chemicals for grout and tile cleaning, you run the risk of changing the color of your grout. Also, it is dangerous to use undiluted bleach on dark, colored grout because it will eventually oxidize the grout.
However, it’s usually OK to dilute bleach with water (50/50 mix) and use it to clean your shower tile and grout.
Don’t Be Coarse
Using coarse scrubbers is not a good idea, because they can damage tiles and grout. Instead, you should opt for a soft nylon brush or pad or cloth.
Even so, no matter how much grout and tile cleaning you do, eventually it will start looking dirty and dingy. Then, if you want to have your tiles and grout returned to pristine condition, contact the experts at Groutsmith Tulsa for a free in-home demonstration and estimate. As the Tulsa area’s grout & tiling cleaning experts, we will use professional-grade products and our hard-won experience to beautify and restore your showers, floors, walls and countertops.
