5 Fundamental Tips for Avoiding Damage When Cleaning Grout

Your grout is an essential component of your tile floors or walls. The seemingly brittle material actually forms a great bond between the tile, and it provides a barrier between water and debris and the materials beneath the tile, such as wood and drywall. Without the grout, you would have a problem with mold and rot very quickly.

Grout also makes a big impact on the look of the tile, and if it is dirty, the whole floor or wall can look dirty. You need to keep the grout clean to keep the area sanitary and to keep it looking good. However, your attempts at cleaning the grout can actually damage it if you’re not careful. Here are five fundamental tips for avoiding damage to your grout from natural stone cleaners in Phoenix:

Keep Water to a Minimum

Too much water can be damaging to just about any surface, but especially to grout. The sandy grout is porous, and the water can settle in and take a long time to dry out. In the meantime, the water can promote the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria. It can also mix with the dirt present and create staining.

Use only as much water as you need to remove the dirt or to mix with the cleaner. Then dry the area immediately, both with dry towels and with vents or fans.

Use a Soft-Bristled Brush

Grout may do a great job protecting your tile, but it can be delicate. If you start scrubbing away at it with a metal brush or other coarse scrubber, you may get the dirt out, but you are likely to wear down the grout or otherwise damage it.

You must use a soft-bristled brush to clean your grout. If you have to use something more heavy duty, or if you have to put a lot of elbow grease into it, you’re going to need to invest in professional tile and grout cleaning or restoration.

Use the Right Cleaners

You can easily damage your grout by using the wrong cleaners. You should entirely avoid bleach and ammonia – both of which can damage many materials other than your grout. But you should also avoid cleaners that have acidic ingredients, such as vinegar or citrus.

You need to use natural stone cleaners for your tile and cleaners specified for your grout. You can also use a mild, all-purpose cleanser. Again, if simple water and a mild cleaner isn’t enough to get the job done, you’re going to need professional help.

Keep the Grout Sealed

There are too many elements that can damage your grout and undermine its ability to protect your tile and your subdecking. The best thing you can do to protect the grout is to keep it sealed. The right sealant will act as a protective barrier against water, dirt, harsh chemicals, and even overzealous scrubbing.

Be sure to keep sealing your grout on schedule. It will need to be resealed about once every year or so.

Call in the Professionals

Once stains and dirt get set into your grout, you aren’t going to be able to get the grout clean yourself. Any attempts to do so will just damage the grout. You need to call in the grout cleaning professionals around the valley instead.

Professional cleaners have the right tools and know the right techniques to get your grout clean without damaging it. They can lift out years of dirt and make your grout and tile look as good as new. They’ll do it all with tools and cleaners that are eco-friendly and safe for the grout.

Your grout plays an important role in protecting your tile and your home. Care for it by keeping it clean and taking these steps to avoid damaging it. You’ll save yourself a lot of money on potential repairs in the long run.

Arizona Stone Care offers natural stone cleaning and professional tile and grout cleaning in Phoenix and the surrounding area. Our professionals are experts at natural stone restoration, and they can make your tile and grout look as good as new. They can lift out years of staining to restore the color and vitality of your stone. Call us in Phoenix today to make an appointment for service or to schedule a consultation.

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Arizona Stone Care

Phone: (559) 660-6002