re you tired of looking at ugly, brown, and discolored tile work in your home? Do you need to buy a tile and grout cleaning machine to get the job done right?
Here’s the good news: you can benefit from the experience of a professional tile and grout cleaning service today. This post contains trusted and proven advice used by companies that provide this service across the Sunshine Coast.
You can turn your anxiety and disappointment into relief and satisfaction if you follow the tricks from the pros in the sections below. Give yourself a productive five-minute break from scrubbing, read this article, and start working smarter, not harder.
DIY Cleaning Solutions
You can always purchase a solution from the hardware store, but it’s common to make your own. The advice on how to mix the best tile and grout cleaner always depends on the source. However, this doesn’t have to become a complicated part of the process.
Mix together the following:
- 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide
- 1 tablespoon of dish soap
If you prefer to keep things simple, you can also mix vinegar and baking soda together in a bowl until it becomes a paste.
Other options exist if you prefer to avoid chemicals completely. Warm water, mixed with vinegar if desired, and an electric toothbrush can go a long way. This may become more laborious, but it’s a solution that many people have chosen recently.
Do You Need Bleach?
Bleach is a natural addition to grout cleaning mixtures, but it’s an especially harsh chemical to use. With a pH balance of 12, this caustic chemical is toxic and can pollute the air in your home.
Some homeowners and professional grout cleaners find success using bleach by itself. If you choose to go this direction, you’ll want to follow a few simple directions to stay safe:
- Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaning solutions
- Wear rubber gloves while handling the chemical
- Keep the area well-ventilated and avoid inhaling fumes
Remember that if your bleach spills and finds its way to the sub floor, that can become a significant problem also. Unless you have a job that can only solve itself by using this chemical, it’s best to avoid it altogether.
What Types of Tools Do You Need?
The tools that you use depend on the size of the project and how much time you can invest. For example, an old toothbrush works for scrubbing, but a machine can do the same job much faster.
Consider purchasing one or more of the following:
- Electric toothbrush
- Spin scrubber
- Steam mop
- Vacuum cleaner
- Steam cleaner
You don’t need everything on this list at once, but each one offers its advantages and disadvantages. Automating the process with a spin scrubber alone can save you from several days of a sore wrist and arms.
Clean Showers Efficiently
Before you roll up your sleeves and start scrubbing, run the shower on its hottest setting for a few minutes. This loosens debris and makes the job ahead much easier.
Afterward, start spreading your mix over the grout. Cover every line and don’t forget to get into the corners also. Once you’re satisfied that the task is complete, give the solution around 15 minutes to settle. You may choose to do this one section at a time if desired.
Once you’ve waited an appropriate amount of time, you need to start scrubbing. Remember that the grout is porous, so you’ll want a brush with thin bristles. If repetitive tasks aren’t your favorite, you may want to have someone else complete this part for you.
After the scrubbing is finished, it’s time to wash everything away with water and watch the debris disappear down the drain.
How to Clean Floor Tiles
Start mixing together 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide with baking soda. Take safety precautions and wear gloves while completing this step.
Depending on the thickness of your mixture, you may want to apply it to the floor using an old toothbrush or spray bottle. After you have a section covered with your cleaning solution, do not start scrubbing right away. It’s critical to wait about 15 minutes before rolling up your sleeves to get to work.
With a bucket of warm water nearby, start scrubbing in circular motions with a toothbrush. Investing in a steam mop might work best for this type of tile and grout cleaning.
How to Clean Mold
While it may take a significant amount of work, the process of cleaning mold from grout is simple. Mildew anywhere in your home can lead to serious health issues, especially for those with respiratory diseases. If you have spores developing between tiles, you don’t want to procrastinate and risk serious problems that could have been avoided.
You may want to consider buying a mold removal product, but a DIY mixture does a solid job as well. Spray the area with a bottle while ensuring that you’re at least an arm’s length away. You don’t want to get any of the cleaning solution in your eyes.
After waiting 10 minutes or so, you can begin the scrubbing process.
You may want to follow the example of tile and grout cleaning services by choosing a stiffer type of brush for dealing with mold. Softer bristles may not work, or make this go much longer than necessary. Keep a hose or shower head handy to rinse the areas you’ve cleaned with lukewarm water.
Do You Need a Tile and Grout Cleaning Service?
Now that you have advice from the professionals, how do you feel about hiring a tile and grout cleaning service? It can take years to create best practices that keep this easy task from becoming too difficult, and you may only do this a few times!
Considering the amount of “elbow grease” this task requires for cleaning tiles alone, it can save your time, money, and back pain to hire professionals. Don’t let mold fester and contact us today to discuss our services!
