People don’t pay much attention to grout, yet it’s what keeps your tiled flooring looking wonderful. Sadly, in a lot of North Shore homes, grout lines get dirty quickly from muddy shoes, sand from outside, and food that spills. The good news? You can maintain your grout looking new and brilliant like it did when your tiles were first put in with only a few simple habits and equipment. More help!
First, you should clean or vacuum your tile floors on a regular basis. Dirt and grit left on the surface behave like sandpaper, progressively wearing down the tiles and grout. If you skip this procedure, dirt has greater possibilities to get deep into the grout lines. After you sweep, quickly clean the floor, but make sure the mop is only damp and not soaking wet. Grout can get weaker over time if you use too much water, so make sure to wring out your mop properly before you use it.
If your grout is already dirty, you can make a basic cleaning paste by mixing warm water with baking soda. Scrub it into the grout lines with a brush with strong bristles. A little work will get rid of most stains. If the dirt is extremely hard to get rid of, consider adding hydrogen peroxide and dish soap to the mix. Let it sit, then wipe it down and scrub it clean.
Avoid using vinegar or other acidic cleansers on grout a lot, especially if it isn’t sealed, because acids can break down the grout. This means that you need to seal your grout, which is a very important step. Sealing keeps grout from being stained and wet, which makes it easier to clean up spills and grime. It’s probably time to seal your grout again if you can’t remember the last time you did it. You should do it every year or two.
No matter what you do, some stains won’t come out. In some situations, expert tile and grout cleaners can really help. Their powerful steam cleaning gets deep into the grout, and many also offer re-sealing treatments, which is great for older North Shore homes with damaged grout.
Finally, mop up spills immediately away, especially wine or tomato sauce, to keep stains from staying. Regular fast cleanings keep the grout lines looking bright and new.
It’s not hard to take care of grout, but you have to do it all the time. If you do it well, your floors will stay clean, bright, and strong, ready for anything that happens in North Shore weather or life.
Ultra Brite Carpet & Tile Cleaning North Shore
79-83 Longueville Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066
(02) 8015 5143