If you’re in between cleans from Chem-Dry, Here are some helpful tips for keeping your tile looking good, and leaving you with clean grout.

Tile is beautiful, durable, and generally easy to clean, but cleaning grout? That’s a different story. Because of its (typically) light coloring and porous composition, grout is prone to staining. In a tiled entry or mudroom, dirt and grime are the usual culprits, while in the kitchen, spills are more likely to blame. Soap, mold, and mildew meanwhile make it difficult to maintain clean grout in bathrooms. Fortunately, white grout is possible using only common household products and a bit of elbow grease—and this complete guide for how to clean grout.

With any cleaning project, it’s always best to start off with the mildest cleaning solution. When in doubt about a grout cleaner, test it in a hidden spot—on the lines behind or under an appliance, for example.

The following suggestions for cleaning grout are ranked from the mildest to the strongest:

• The best way to begin is with plain water and a stiff-bristled brush. (If you don’t have one already, most home centers and hardware stores carry an assortment of brushes specifically designed for the purpose of cleaning grout.) Simply spray warm water on the grout lines and scrub in a circular motion, then let dry.

• For heavier dirt and mild stains, turn to vinegar, a trusty old standby for many household chores. Fill a spray bottle with a half-and-half solution of vinegar and warm water. Spray on the grout, let it stand for five minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush.

• To bring even more cleaning power to the party, cover grout lines with a paste of baking soda and water, then spray on the vinegar solution listed above. Once the mixture stops foaming, scrub with a brush and rinse with plain water.

• Moderate stains may require you to use hydrogen peroxide, which is available in most drug stores. You can use the product straight, or apply a paste made from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.

• For tougher stains and really grimy grout, use oxygen bleach as a grout cleaner. You’ll find this cleanser is most often sold in powdered form; best-selling brands include OxiClean, Clorox OxiMagic, and Biokleen Oxygen Bleach Plus. Whatever product you choose to clean grout, make sure the area is well-ventilated then carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for application. Generally, you will want to let the oxygen bleach solution work for 10 or 15 minutes before rinsing. Always rinse with clean water so that the dirt doesn’t resettle into the grout lines.

• Chlorine bleach and commercial cleansers can be used sparingly in extreme cases to clean grout. One of my go-to products when all else fails is Clorox Clean-Up spray. Long-term use of caustic cleaners will erode grout, though, so these products should be used on a limited basis.

• Steam cleaners can be an effective and environmentally-friendly method of cleaning grout—or, for that matter, many hard surfaces throughout the house. Bissell, Oreck, and Hoover all make steam cleaners for residential use.

To maintain your clean grout and keep it stain-free, it’s a good idea to spray it with vinegar and wipe it down once a week. You can also wipe grout with alcohol to keep mold and mildew at bay. In any case, just a few spritzes and wipes a week can save you a lot of time and effort cleaning, preserving the attractive appearance of your home in the process.

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The best way to clean  your ceramic tile?

The absolute best way to clean your ceramic tile and grout is getting ahold of your professionals at Chem-Dry of Stratford. We’ll have them sparking like new in no time! If you’re looking for a little pick me up in between professional cleanings, Here’s what you should do.

QUESTIONS ABOUT FLOOR CLEANING?

Besides their phenomenal beauty and versatility, porcelain tile floors have the advantage of being very low-maintenance. Ceramics are made of natural particles that are shaped and fired in a kiln at very high temperatures.

This process creates a durability and resiliency that is unmatched by most other flooring surfaces. When glazed, they also have a protective barrier from dirt, water, stains, and chemicals, making them even more impervious to the elements. Even while easy to maintain, there are some steps to take to ensure that it remains in optimal condition.

HOW SHOULD YOU CLEAN YOUR TILE FLOOR?

One of the most important aspects of cleaning your ceramic tile floor is making sure dirt and spills do not have a chance to get comfortable. These things happen; instead of banning everyone but yourself from walking on your floor, clean up spills or tracks as soon as possible.

This is easy enough to do with a mop or cloth, hot water, and a mild household detergent (be sure to do a spot test with any detergent before use and/or get recommendations from the italian tile manufacturer).

Regular maintenance is important as well. The easiest, quickest, and most effective step you can take is to regularly sweep, vacuum, and damp mop your bathroom, entryway, or kitchen tile floors.

A quick sweeping or vacuuming removes dirt and debris before it can become embedded in the ceramic tile or grout. Mopping with warm water and using a manufacturer-recommended cleaning product also enhances your ceramic tile’s gloss, shine, and color. One of the best floor cleaning products, though, is one that is readily available in your home. Water is effective in keeping your tile floor looking great.

You can also mix a cup of white vinegar with a gallon of water for a wonderfully effective, odor-eliminating cleanser. If you have children or pets, you may not want to use harsh chemicals, and this is a wonderful alternative.

Ceramic tiles are held in place by grout, which is typically white. Over time, and with exposure to the elements, this can become discolored and dingy. When this happens, it detracts from the beauty of your floor.

To keep this from happening, and to preserve both your tile and grout, it is important to take care of your grout as well. The best way to do this is to seal it after you have installed your tile. This will keep stains, dirt, and water from being able to penetrate the protective barrier. Experts recommend doing this about twice a year, though your tile manufacturer may recommend a different sealing schedule.

To clean grout that has become dirt, you can mix hydrogen peroxide and water in equal parts. Simply apply this with a toothbrush to remove the stains. You will find that even grout that is properly maintained is easier to clean and remove stains from than other surfaces, such as laminate. Among the best qualities of ceramic tiles are its resistance to stains, its hygienic qualities, and its ease of cleaning. Beauty can be low-maintenance.

CLEANING WOOD LOOK TILES

Dust tile that looks like wood regularly using a dust mop for flooring. This prevents dust from settling in layers in the grooves and making the tiles look dirty. It might be taken a degreaser with a percentage of buffered acid using a rough cloth with a floor polisher. This cleaning operation has to be done with energy and after that the floor has to be rinsed and to dry up perfectly with a microfiber cloth. These kind of cleaners can be used even for the normal cleaning used with water with a bigger percentage of water.

The trick to tile and grout cleaning…

Tile and grout cleaning is notoriously difficult. Every homeowner (and business owner!) knows that regular mopping, home tile cleaners and home grout cleaning methods just don’t do the trick, especially if you’re trying to eliminate stubborn dirt that has settled on tile surfaces or deep into grout lines. Call Chem-Dry of Stratford, and we’ll come to the rescue!Chem-Dry of Stratford’s professional Tile Cleaning and Grout Cleaning process will keep your tile surfaces, grout lines and countertops clean and fresh. We can boldly go where bottled cleaners and household mops have never gone before!

What makes tile cleaning and grout cleaning (including colored grout cleaning) so difficult? Dirt and contaminants build up over time, making your tiles look dull, and causing grout to darken and appear discolored. Home cleaning methods simply can’t get at the built-up, ground-in dirt that has settled in hard-to-reach places. Dirt trapped in the pores of tile and grout cleaning is especially difficult to with traditional cleaning solutions.

Thankfully, Chem-Dry of Stratford’s powerful cleaning system safely cleans floors, showers, and countertops by quickly removing dirt and contaminants. Our Tile and Grout Cleaning process uses heat, a specialized cleaning solution, and vacuum power to remove the dirt that homeowners can’t. We complete the job with a high-pressure rinse.

After your tile and grout cleaning, our professional technicians will apply a penetrating sealer to protect grout against mildew and staining. And basic Grout Cleaning isn’t the only service we provide. If you have colored grout in your kitchen or bathroom or between other tile surfaces, our special Grout Color Sealing process will protect it.

Chem-Dry of Stratford’s Tile Cleaning service will safely get ceramic and porcelain tiled surfaces sparkling again! And if your tile is made of natural material such as granite, marble, slate, travertine or Saltillo, no problem! Click Here to learn more!