Tile Grout Cleaning – Give Your Floor a Clean and Even Appearance
Tiles come in many different forms, both natural and hand-made, each with different qualities and suitable for different locations.A� There are man-made ceramic tiles with a glossy finish, although some have a rough finish and are made to replicate the finish of natural stone.A� Stone and slate tiles are also common types of tile used for flooring and in general there is a perception that a tile floor is easier to keep clean and maintain than a wooden floor or carpet.
At first glance a tiled floor does seem to be wipe-cleanable and these types of flooring will, if professionally installed, often score highly in terms of cost durability.A� They do have one other characteristic in common which is the tile grout used to fill the spaces between the tiles.A� It can often be more important to pay attention to the grout than the tiles themselves when considering maintenance and keeping your floor clean.
Grout is a construction material consisting of a mixture of sand, cement and water and is as a result a highly porous material susceptible to staining.A� If grout does get marked, it can often lead to an uneven and unsatisfactory appearance for the flooring and can be very difficult to clean.A� It is very important to begin with that the grout is correctly applied, in the case of slate and natural stone, you should consider having a professional do it.
If you take a look at your tiles you may notice that the grout is often recessed lower than the surface level of the tiles, so if there is a spillage, it is here that the liquid will flow.A� As tiles are often located in areas such as wash-rooms or kitchens where spillages are likely, it means your maintenance efforts are especially important.
You should start by applying a good sealer.A� A sealer can be applied to both the tiles and the grout, or special sealers just for the grout.A� A sealer will provide an extra layer of protection making the grout less permeable and therefore less susceptible to staining.A� A company which deals with tile grout cleaning will be able to recommend an appropriate sealer.
To aid your maintenance efforts, regular sweeping and vacuuming followed by washing, with warm water and maybe a little detergent, will help to keep the floor clean. A�Spillages should be cleaned up immediately – and if there is a marking on the grout, there are some specialist products available but many people actually try using shaving cream.