So you’ve gone to the trouble of having your grout and tiles thoroughly cleaned, transforming the look and feel of your kitchen or bathroom. But you know that through regular use, your grout and tile will be faced with the staining ravages of water; mildew, mold and food residue.
Following are some tips on how to keep that clean feeling going. But keep in mind, for the most thorough tile and grout cleaning – done with the right tools, cleaners and expertise –you need the services of professionals, like the ones at Groutsmith in Tulsa.
Rinse vs. Non-Rinse
People are always looking for faster ways to clean tile and grout. The non-rinse option is particularly attractive to the time-strapped. Break out a bucket and sponge, clean the tiles and grout with the non-rinse cleaner, and then walk away. Easy.
But like all things in life that sound too good to be true, this is too good to be true. Because you don’t rinse, the dirt particles are still there, but spread around more so things look marginally better. The clean fix you get will be reduced over time as the gunk builds up.
No, it is better to bite the bullet. Use a commercial rinse cleaner and then rinse it with a clean mop and water. And then, to make sure that all residue is removed, dry the tiles with a towel. It may add extras steps to your tile and grout cleaning, but the results are worth the pain.
Regular Grout Maintenance
Grout is porous, so it can easily stain. It’s a good idea, then, to give it special attention on an ongoing basis. Start by getting a hard-bristled brush and warm water, and then just scrubbing the grout in circular motions.
For heavier stains mix water and vinegar in equal parts and spray on the affected areas. Scrub after letting sit for a few minutes. You can also apply a baking soda-water mix to the grout before spraying the vinegar solution. For more stubborn stains, apply some hydrogen peroxide, either straight or as a paste in the baking soda-water mixture.
There are, of course, a variety of bleaches and strong commercial cleaning solutions you can use for truly hard-to-remove residue. But a couple of words of caution are needed here. First, cover your hands with rubber gloves when using these products, and make sure that your work space is well ventilated, so harmful fumes don’t gather.
Also, some of these cleaners are so corrosive that they may damage your grout over time.
The easiest way to clean tile and grout is to turn to professional help. Schedule a FREE tile and grout cleaning demonstration and quote. As Tulsa area’s grout cleaning specialist, we are dedicated to making your home more beautiful.
