How Often Should You Clean Grout and Tile?

Tackling Floor Tile

Floor tile is more of a challenge. They take a lot of foot traffic, which naturally drags in dirt from the outdoors. Floor tile is usually textured, providing lots of nooks and crannies for dirt to gather in.

Plus, scrubbing floor tile is more of a drag. Most of us are not crazy about the idea of getting down on our hands and knees with a scrubbing brush once a week.

Steam cleaners and mops can help, but they still require a lot of elbow grease. Always use a tile cleaner that is suitable for your type of tile. For example, some tile could be damaged by cleaning products that are too acidic.

Tackling Mold

According to the EPA, humidity should be kept below 60% to keep mold at bay. Cooking and showering add to indoor humidity. The kitchen and bathroom are precisely the areas we love to use tile, making mold in grout tough to avoid.

Have you ever noticed that grout can develop a pink or orange color? This is often called pink mold, but it's not a true mold. It's an overgrowth of a bacterium called Serratia marcescens.

Although it's not as dangerous as black mold, it's still potentially harmful. It has been linked with urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, and septicemia.

How to Clean Grout

If you're reaching for the bleach, sorry, that's not the answer. It's damaging to both the tile and grout. It can cause grout to break down and makes tile lose its shine.

The most effective solution for cleaning grout is two parts baking soda mixed with one part water. Scrub this into the grout each week to prevent dirt and mold from building up. You can also buy specialist grout cleaners that are tough on stains but kind on grout.

However, even with regular grout cleaning, unsealed grout is tough to keep clean. 

How Pros Can Help

A professional tile and grout cleaning crew has the equipment, skills, and experience you need. They will do their best to restore the original look of your floors and walls.

Many professional cleaning companies offer tile and grout cleaning services. But there are advantages to choosing a company that specializes in grout and tile.

Firstly, they understand the different types of tile and grout and how to clean them. For example, travertine tile is made from natural stone. They require different care and cleaning than ceramic tile.

A professional tile and grout cleaning crew will take good care of your walls and floors. They'll use the right tools and chemicals for the job. 

Professional Advice

Professional tile cleaners can provide great tips for tile and grout maintenance. This may include using a squeegee after the last person has their shower every morning. Putting mats by every entrance can help reduce the amount of dust and dirt that people walk into the house.

They may also suggest grout sealing.

Grout sealing creates a clear barrier between the grout and anything that could discolor it. It makes cleaning tile and grout easier. You won't have to scrub as hard to keep it looking great.

The barrier is impermeable, so it can stop mold and mildew from developing. 

How Often Should You Clean Them?

This depends on several factors that affect how dirty your tile and grout will become. Think about:

• How many people live in your house?
• How many showers do you have?
• Do you cook each day?
• Do you have pets?
• Do you live in a dusty area?

For some homes, once a year may be enough. But if your tile and grout get a lot of wear, twice a year may be better.