Though Travertine is very resilient, it is still recommended to do regular cleaning and maintenance in order to extend its lifetime and protect your investment. The proper types of products and methods must be used to do so, as some solutions can react with the stone and cause harm. To obtain and sustain an immaculate condition, having your tiles sealed before installation and after professional cleanings is recommended. This will prevent damage as the tiles are porous enough to allow for penetration of mold or staining. A low quality or improper sealant can be just as harmful as not having a sealant at all. A good sealer will prevent the accumulation of dust and dirt and extend the life of your floors.

Travertine does not do well against acidic solutions as they can be damaging. Testing your products beforehand is the best way to asses whether or not what you are planning is safe to use. At EuroArts Tile and Grout Cleaning, we have extensive experience with all types of flooring tiles, and we know exactly what to use and when to apply it. After an initial pre-cleaning assessment, we will be able to recommend the best products to clean your Travertine as well as your grout.

What Not To Use

The basic elements of grout are cement, water, and sand. Many home cleaning solutions include acidic ingredients such as vinegar, which we do not recommend using, while many store-bought cleaners can contain highly alkaline ingredients such as bleach, which we also advise against using on grout or tile. The ideal solution is water, which has a neutral pH level of 7, mixed with a little bit of dish soap for adequate grout cleaning. 

For Stained Grout

If you have grout that still looks dull after a good scrubbing then try a Magic Eraser on the stubborn stain. If the stain is there because of mildew then you will need to use a solution other than bleach, as it does not work effectively on porous surfaces like caulk, drywall, wood, and grout. Alternatively, you can use mildew specific cleaner and try to prohibit the development of mildew by using a bathroom fan during showers or opening windows which will reduce humidity. 

Preventing Discoloration of Grout

Beyond using measures to reduce humidity you can also prevent discoloration by applying grout sealant. Grout sealers prevent grime, grit, and mold from infiltrating the grout’s pores. EuroArts offers services for both grout cleaning and sealant application. Find out how we can help you with your tile and grout cleaning needs!

Regrouting requires the correct tools and materials, and can take anywhere from 2-6 hours depending on the size of the space. The larger the area, or the smaller the tiles, the more grout is required. With grouting, you have several options including colour and sealant type. Generally, it is a two-step process that first begins with the removal of the old grout. This aged grout will be hard and will require the proper tools, scraping, and force to be removed.

What sort of tools are required for grout removal? An oscillating tool has a blade that rotates quickly and when held close to the edges of the tile, slightly touch the old grout and allow it to crumble away. Do not force the grinding – difficult areas can be manually chipped away with a flat head screwdriver or a utility blade. Once all the grout has been removed, it’s time to vacuum the dust and debris away.

Now with the dust gone, you will be able to wipe off the tiles and start the new grout application. Grout is available in both dry powder and premixed semi-liquid paste that come in tubs of different sizes. For dry grout, mix a little water (half the recommended amount) in a plastic bucket with about half of the powder. Once mixed, add the remaining water and powder a little at a time, stirring as you go until all the water and powder has been added. Then, take your grout paste and begin applying it using a triangular trowel. For premixed grout, you can skip to the application right away in most cases.

Once the grout is applied, use a rubber float at a 60-degree angle to spread and even the grout until the seams are fully sealed. Then, remove the excess grout, wipe, and complete the job by sealing the grout lines according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

CLEANING GROUT NATURALLY:

You can use a little elbow grease and a mixture of 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar and a little lemon juice to naturally lighten the grout. It also works well to get rid of surface stains and works on all colors of grout. Here is what you need:

LEMON GROUT CLEANER

• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• lemon juice

Just mix it all up in a little jar or glass until it becomes pasty like runny toothpaste. Then dab some of the paste on a cleaning brush and scrub away. You will need to rinse and wipe a few times but it will look cleaner.

Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner:

You can also try putting some hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and then spraying it on white grout to kill mildew and mold. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then scrub and rinse.

CLEANING TILE NATURALLY:

A great way to keep tiles clean every week is to use a steam cleaner. There are many different kinds and for basic cleaning, any of them should do the job. Steam cleaning is simply hot water that removes dirt swiftly and easily. Before using a steam cleaner it’s a good idea to do a quick sweeping or vacuuming of the area you are about to steam clean for the best outcome.

If you would like to create a natural cleaning solution with essential oils for extra freshness and a sweet aroma then you can use the following recipe and just pour it into your steam cleaner. The lemon and peppermint essential oil mix makes any room smell and feel great! You can also put the mixture into a spray bottle and use whenever desired by spraying on the floor or even counters.

LEMON AND PEPPERMINT TILE CLEANER:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup of warm water
• 5 drops lemon essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil

These are some great tile cleaning tips for weekly use but when you are ready for a deep clean then do call us!

Please note: Do not use vinegar or lemon if you have marble, granite, or travertine tile because the acid will erode the stone. For those types of tiles just use pure water in a steam cleaner machine or hot water and a cleaning brush.

If you are tired of having dirty tile and grout in your home and you’ve tried but been able to get it as clean as you would like then give us a call. We use professional cleaning solutions that are not only environmentally friendly but also safe for tile and grout. To make your tile and grout look and new again we first remove oil and grease. Then the entire surface is scrubbed with our high-grade machine. With this, we can extract all the dirty water while also rinsing your floor clean. Results are seen immediately!

One of our primary services is regrouting that replaces your existing grout and replacing it with fresh new grout which enhances the appearance of the tile. Regrouting is a cost-effective way to achieve a new look in your space whether it’s a kitchen or bathroom. If you are unsure about what the best options are for you we are happy to provide our professional recommendations.

Professional tile cleaning has a plethora of benefits that will leave you free to do other things around the house and alleviate the stress of cracked, dingy or smudged tile walls and flooring.

Here are some of the benefits of professional tile cleaning:

1. You don’t have to search for the perfect cleaning products anymore.

Eliminate wasted time searching for cleaners at stores or online. Professionals have the cleaners, tools and updated methods needed to remove stains from tile and grout work, so you can stop spinning your wheels. Plus, they will deep clean the tile based on its surface and other components, which usually means they will clean dirt on the tile and grout you can’t even see.

2. The mold, especially with tile near damp places in your home, will be eliminated.

Due to higher humidity levels and variants in lighting in different areas of your house, mold can settle on the tile and grout. Professional tile cleaning products get rid of the allergens that cause coughing, breathing problems or other health issues.

3. Over time, you will save money.

While professional tile cleaning is an up-front expense, it’s one that will having a lasting effect on your home’s value. Your tile floors, walls and other areas will last longer. You won’t have to have a wide array of cleaners, mops, sponges, etc. Professional tile cleaners glaze the tile and replace cracked and old grout. This ensures that the tile in your home will have a longer lifespan and withstand more spills, stains and foot traffic.

4. It’s a fast way to get your home looking like new.

Professional tile cleaning takes a fraction of the time it would take you to clean the tiles on your own. You can spend your time doing something productive or relaxing. You don’t have to put off tile cleaning anymore — just call a professional.

5. It doesn’t damage your tile.

Professional tile cleaners know what’s best for your tile, whether it’s ceramic, granite, stone or something else. This decreases the chances that you could use the wrong cleaner and make a permanent mistake with your tile and grout.

Schedule a professional tile cleaning today to get your tile and grout looking like new.

Resources

https://groutsmithdallas.com/top-5-benefits-using-professional-tile-grout-cleaning-service/

http://www.groutrhino.com/benefits-of-professional-grout-cleaning/

Improves the indoor air quality of your home: mold spores can be very dangerous to breathe in and as your tiles get worse, this can often lead to extensive mold buildup in your shower. By regularly cleaning mold out of the grout and shower tiles, you can breathe easier and enjoy a much more comfortable environment for your friends or family.

It preserves the look of your tiles: As mold and soap scum build up over time, it takes just a short while before the look of your tiles really start to be compromised as well. Rather than a shower full of tiles that don\’t look like they match your decor anymore, regular cleaning can help to preserve the original vibrancy of your shower tiles. If you have colored tiles or even a bright white interior tile color pattern, you need to make sure that the look of your home can be well preserved for the future.

It creates a cleaner/safer environment: Dirty tiles can pick up lots of bacteria so starting from scratch with professionally cleaned tiles can cut down on the total amount of bacteria that can be found inside your shower. By showering in environment that isn’t regularly cleaned you could be exposing yourself to a variety of hazards including the potential for athletes foot, rashes and more. Through a regularly cleaned shower environment you can protect yourself and your family.

It makes your bathroom look more professional: A tub or tile wall pattern for your shower that looks extremely clean will help to make your home look more professional and really help you to show off the design scheme that you have for your bathroom. Without regular cleaning you can start to see problems with your tiles as well as ice huge detraction from the look of your shower. Making your home look professional is especially important if you\’re going to be having guests or if you\’re going to be potentially selling your home.

Regular cleaning makes sanitizing easier: if you regularly maintain the look of your tiles and clean them every few days or every week with a mild cleaner you can go longer between deep cleaning appointments. The problem with elements of showers like soap scum, calcium build up and mold is that they can continue to grow over time and they often become more difficult to eradicate after they have been left over a few weeks. Through regular cleaning you can make sure that your routine is upheld and that you may not have to spend an extensive amount of time cleaning the bathroom every few months. With the help of a professional deep cleaning service for shower tiles, you can have an extremely clean starting point so that you can continue the maintenance and upkeep on your shower tiles. After a professional steam cleaning for example you may need to only go over your tiles with a light duty cleaner every few days to keep them looking as vibrant.

When your grout and tiles no longer match: if your tiles have faded over time due to exposure to sunlight or exposure to dirt and grime, it could be a very good idea to consider changing out the grout color over time. Sometimes you may not be able to actually lighten the look of grout to match the tiles once again. Trying professional steam cleaning however will give you the best chance at matching lightened tiles and lightly revitalized grout.

When mold buildup occurs: If your grout has begun to take on a number of darker patches or even a greenish hue, you should strongly consider using a steam cleaner or some type of professional chemical solution to remove the buildup and make tile look its best. Mold buildup can be natural especially if you don\’t regularly steam clean or use cleansers on the grout specifically. Taking the time to change grout color by getting a professional steam cleaner will help to eliminate mold and improve the indoor air quality within your home. Look for signs of mold buildup in a shower first.

When it absorbs grease in your kitchen: kitchen backslashes are a hotspot for dirt and grease buildup. If you are tired of looking at grout that has discolored significantly it could be a good idea to consider changing the color of your grout and making sure that you can steam clean it. Professional steam cleaning solutions will help you to change the color of your grout and they need to be carried out regularly throughout your kitchen area. Grease and kitchen messes can be particularly difficult to work with especially if you have lighter colored grout. With professional steam cleaning and chemical cleaning it\’s possible to bring your grout back to its original color.

After construction: If you have just had a construction project in your home or office, there\’s a good chance that you could have extensive dirt and dust buildup in your grout and tiles. Sometimes a professional cleanup of grout and tiles can help you to recover after a construction project has taken place in your home. This is quite well recommended if you have just completed a bathroom renovation, kitchen renovation or another major renovation throughout your home.

During spring cleaning: regular cleaning of your grout is an important idea and you may not have the chance to scrub out all pieces of your grout every few months. Instead it could be a very good idea to consider the idea of scrubbing out your grout with the help of a steam cleaner. By picking a day within spring cleaning and changing the color of your grout, you can appropriately change the color of your grout and preserve the look of your grout for the future.

When there is a major stain: Grout can sometimes become extremely well stained if there is a major food stain or another serious stain from pets, accidents and more. Sometimes traditional cleaners will not be able to remove some of the heavy stains that can be found in grout so it can be a much better idea to consider the idea of clearing out a major stain with the help of a professional grout cleaning service.

Keep some of these top ideas in mind for the best time to change out your grout color.

It can revitalize your kitchen: cleaning grout and tile can be an excellent way that you can breathe new life into your kitchen as well as help your kitchen look at absolute best. Rather than presenting a drab or dirty kitchen to guests, you can look the absolute best by making sure that all of your grout and tiles are in the best condition.

Improve the look of bathrooms: making sure the bathrooms are as clean as possible is usually best done by professionals. With professional steam cleaning and chemical treatments you can have access to completely clean grout and tiles which are ready for guests to stay over the holidays.

Improving health: it can be fairly easy for mold and other types of toxins or contaminants to grow into tiles as well as into grout. Making sure that you remove some of these items to improve the indoor air quality within your home is important. Your guests can often breathe easier as well as experience much better health in your home when you have professionals clean your tiles.

It can save you time: Rather than having to spend many backbreaking hours cleaning your tiles, you can enjoy simply having the entire process done for you by a professional cleaner.

Keep some of these top reasons in mind and more for why you should consider having a professional clean your grout and tiles for the holidays.