Grout, in the first place, is essential for almost all the floorings, specifically the tile ones or constructions involving cement work, etc. Now while grout is an extremely crucial element, it comes with a bit of an undeniable dark side, i.e the fact that it is prone to accumulation and can start looking bad real soon.
Grout attracting dirt and buildup is quite a very common phenomenon and frankly could be called a by-product of the tile flooring. Even if it isn’t very obvious (visible) in the beginning, it’s meant to tend to look really unpleasant (certainly disgusting!) and you’re left with no option but to work on ways to get rid of it.
Is Hiring Professional Grout Cleaning Worth It?
As a mainstream statement, it definitely is! Because let’s admit that no one possibly is ready for spending on expensive chemicals (set aside the time for research, as well!) and carry out muscle-shattering scrubbing for hours on end. Besides, having it done the professional way is how you ensure the right treatment of your floor, without damaging it in any way.
Last but not least is the fact that the folks you get to hire for this purpose are efficient enough to get done with the entire procedure in a definitive time span. This ultimately will save the reasonable time of yours, as well and will effectively eliminate the likelihood of any damage or wastage, too.
You can, absolutely, do it yourself if you are a DIY lover, but that’s gonna require you to work in multiple dimensions!
What Do Professionals Use To Clean Grout?
The professional spirit and info taught during their training!
Humor apart, they make use of specialized cleaners with adequate pH levels (pH-balanced cleaners). Such cleaners are intended to deeply and thoroughly penetrate through all of the distinctive sorts of buildup and cut it down perfectly while removing all the stains, too.
What Is It That Professionals (Or You) Have To Deal With During The Grout Cleaning?
Whether your flooring has been installed recently or there’s been considerable time passed since it got fitted, it is always prone to accumulation and ultimately an unattractive appearance. Some of the major factors causing the debris include:
- Hard water stains
- Spills (dried liquid)
- Food particles (pet food too!)
- Hair
- Dirt and dust carried by foot traffic
- Microbes
- Aging damage
Can This Be Done The DIY Way?
For sure, you can ace this too, if you’re a lot into maintaining your place on your own and aren’t bothered by challenges. Just a little yet precise research, a few of the stuff at hand, a high-head and a patience-based spirit will easily get you through it. Not to mention the fact that you’ll be really proud of yourself for setting the sail on this interesting project!
Explore this simplest and mainstream best way to clean grout:
- You can use either vinegar and water mixture or combine baking soda along with Hydrogen Peroxide
- Go for a one glass water and 3 glass vinegar ratio for the vinegar solution. As for the other one, 1 cup baking soda, 3-4 drops Hydrogen Peroxide and 1-2 drops water are enough
- Mix either of the ingredients in a dish, container or spray bottle
- Spread it with the help of a spatula/Spray it
- Optional: You can make use of a grout brush for scrubbing
- Wipe off by mopping/cleaning with a damp cloth
How To Clean Floor Grout Without Scrubbing
This is a hustle-free and more physically convenient approach to achieving your desired results without, of course, indulging in a lot of effort. Nevertheless, a genuinely sincere suggestion of ours at this point is not to forget the fact that the situation could require you to have a bit of scrubbing and there’s never a 100% scrubbing-free way to do it. As long as doing it with perfection matters to you.
Follow these steps and you’ll be nailing your nearly-scrubbing-free floor grout cleaning:
- Start by mixing a cup of baking soda with 2-3 drops of water and 3-4 drops of Hydrogen Peroxide
- Stir it into a paste with enough consistency to be applied
- With the help of a spatula, spread the mixture evenly onto the affected area and let it sit maximally for 10 minutes AND NEVER MORE THAN THAT
- Finish off by wiping the applied paste with either a damp cloth or a sponge
P.S. This method works similarly for all the home-based ingredients and recipes used for cleaning tile and grout
The Professional Elements To Clean Grout
Cleaners used by professionals for eliminating accumulation and reviving the look of tile and grout are mostly dedicated pH neutral grout cleaners. And the rest of the cleaning techniques and elements include:
- High pH Caustic Cleaners (for travertine, limestone, marble, etc.)
- Ammonia
- Bleach Cleaners
- Oil Soap
- Hydrogen Peroxide
And even a mixture of hot water and vinegar within appropriate proportions. Nevertheless, hiring professional services in this regard are going to save you a lot from a number of factors (as many as you can think of!) and most importantly they come with peace of mind!
You May Need To Know
How Much It Cost To Remove Tile Flooring
Some Effective Homemade Recipes And Supplies
So when you’ve decided to do it yourself then all that is left to be done is to grab a few supplies from your kitchen, bathroom or wherever you’re habitual of storing them. Have high absolute high hopes and look for either/all of the following stuff
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Shampoo
- Water (of course!)
As for the containers and supplies, you’ll be needing:
- A grout brush (for best and effortless results)
- Dish or mixing container of some sort
- Spray bottle
- Mop
- A few cleaning cloths or sponges
A Quick Overview
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the tile and grout and cleaning both on your own and with professional aid.
[i2pc show_title=”true” title=”Professional Cleaning” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Gets accomplished in time
Ensures flawless outcomes
Saves you from exposure to harmful chemical or buildup
Is entirely effortless [/i2pros][i2cons]Can be costly if done on greater scale [/i2cons][/i2pc]
[i2pc show_title=”true” title=”DIY Cleaning” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Can be mastered with a little bit of practice
Involves everyday inexpensive home supplies
Comes with a sense of satisfaction
Can be done at anytime [/i2pros][i2cons]Is likely to get tiring
Will require you to deal with toxic accumulations
Can become too much time-taking
[/i2cons][/i2pc]
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How To Thoroughly Reach All The Grout Lines?
Experts recommend making use of a grout brush because it features a specific structure meant to do the job perfectly, timely and conveniently. That 1-inch wide and around 8-inch long brush comes with tapered bristles and will help you reach all the grout lines with ease, for effective cleaning.
Q:What’s One DIY Method Of Grout Cleaning?
One super effective recipe for homemade grout cleaners is to make a mixture of baking soda (around half a cup) and hydrogen peroxide (about ¼ cup). A bottle works best in terms of a container and makes usage easy during cleaning. The mixture will thoroughly remove all the dirt and buildup.
Q:What’s The Point Of Professional Tile Cleaning?
For sure, that saves you from a lot of trouble both physically and mentally. Professional tile and grout cleaning can significantly increase the lifespan as well as the functionality of your tiles, while also making them appear the tidiest. Besides, there is no risk of material or physical damage this way.
Q:Why Is DIY Grout Cleaning Harmful?
DIY Tile and Grout cleaning can give rise to serious consequences due to the fact that it requires your exposure to both heavy chemicals and toxic buildup (debris). These factors, while seeming unpleasant and nasty to you, can also cast harmful impacts on your skin, particularly if you’ve got a sensitive one.
Q:How Much Does It Cost To Have Professional Grout Cleaning?
In general, the cost of having professional tile and grout cleaning for your floors ranges between $0.75 to $3 per square foot ($100 to $300 per residence). Besides, this pricing does get affected by several factors such as the extent of buildup, existing conditions and material and additional services.
Q:How Do I Keep My Grout Looking New?
The appropriate and in-time use of quality grout cleaning products along with specified brushes is the first step to grout maintenance. This is because such products (cleaners) are meant to cut through all the buildup, even the toughest one, too and ensure the clean and sleek look of your tile flooring.
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