Few homeowners look forward to spending a few hours cleaning their tile or their grout. Homeowners can follow a few tips that will make their cleaning experience easier. However, hiring a professional for tile cleaning Atlanta residents will appreciate allows busy homeowners to save both time and focus their attention on more important priorities.

Cleaning Tile Using Oxygen Bleach

Many homeowners have a positive experience cleaning their tiles with a mix of water and oxygen bleach. Oxygen bleach is a combination of hydrogen peroxide and soda ash. Oxygen bleach provides some of the cleaning power of chlorine bleach without the harmful chemicals and strong odors that come with using chlorine bleach. In addition, oxygen bleach will not destroy colored grout.

For general everyday mopping, homeowners can add one cup of oxygen bleach to one gallon of hot water. After applying the mixture with a mop, leave the solution on the floor for 30 minutes before mopping up with clean water. Always wear gloves when using oxygen bleach.

For grout that is especially dirty, apply the oxygen bleach solution and wait for 30 minutes. Keep applying new solution as the old solution evaporates or soaks into the tile. When 30 minutes have passed, scrub the grout with a nylon bristled brush, keeping the brush and grout moistened with oxygen bleach solution throughout the scrubbing process. Then, rinse the floor with clean water and repeat the process until the grout is clean.

Cleaning Grout Using Chlorine Bleach

This solution should only be used on white grout because bleach will destroy the coloring of tinted grout. Before working with bleach, homeowners should dress in old clothes because bleach may permanently harm colored clothing. Also, homeowners should make sure that their work area is well ventilated and that they wear protective gloves.

Mix 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach and one cup of baking soda in a small bucket. Mix the ingredients with a wooden paint stirrer to form a paste. Using a toothbrush, apply the paste to grout and scrub until the dirt is gone. The bleach paste may be left on the grout for 15 minutes and then removed with clean water.

Cleaning Grout with a Steam Cleaner

When neither oxygen bleach nor chlorine bleach does the job, homeowners can try a steam cleaning machine. Steam cleaning machines may be purchased or rented from a home improvement store. Choose a nylon bristled brush or a metal scrubbing brush for the steam cleaner depending on the durability of the tile floor.

Start by assembling the steam hose, steam nozzle, the extension tubes and the detail brush. Then, fill the reservoir with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When the water has heated to the appropriate temperature, clean the tile, moving the machine forward and not side-to-side. Any excess water or residue can be removed with a towel or with a mop.

Sealing Grout

Sealing your grout after a deep cleaning and then continuing to reseal it at least every three to five years will keep your grout looking as good as new. The North American Tile Cleaning Association recommends sealing shower grout every year because wet grout provides a perfect environment for mold and mildew growth. NATCA also recommends sealing your grout when the temperature is not too hot and avoiding sealing grout in direct sunlight.

Homeowners can apply grout sealant with either a roller wheel applicator or a brush tipped applicator. The brush tipped applicator works best for sealing vertical areas and for small joints. The roller wheel applicator bottle will store more sealant and will work well for applying sealant to a large area.

Apply a liberal amount of grout sealer to your grout and keep the area saturated with sealer throughout the process. Cover one small area at a time and don’t worry about sealer getting onto the tile; it is easy to clean up and wipe away. Use a wad of paper towels to wipe off the excess sealer after the sealer has been on the grout for at least 10 minutes. Check the tile at different angles to make sure that all sealer is cleaned up and that there is no remaining “sealer haze.” If sealer haze does remain, then simply apply sealer to hazy areas and wipe down with paper towels until the hazy areas are gone.

Hiring a Professional Tile Cleaner

Many homeowners do not have the time or the desire to do detailed work on their tile and grout. Fortunately, a reputable tile cleaning company can steam clean and seal grout to ensure a professional result. Homeowners may ultimately save money if do the job themselves, but they may not be as pleased with the results.

To choose the best tile cleaner, ask friends and family to provide referrals. Also, check websites like Angie’s List, Google Places and Yelp! to see what kind of reviews people have given related to the work of companies in the area. Checking with the Better Business Bureau will let homeowners know if the company has a complaint history and if they resolve their complaints to the customer’s satisfaction.

Tile cleaners should provide a written estimate for their work and should be able to explain every charge on the estimate in detail. Remember that the cheapest cleaner isn’t always the best cleaner; in many cases, homeowners get what they pay for. Cleaners should use professional-grade equipment and should be friendly and courteous at all times.

Deciding Whether or Not to Do It Yourself

Some homeowners find a great deal of pleasure in handling all of their maintenance tasks on their own. Other homeowners would prefer not to spend an entire weekend on their hands and knees both scrubbing and sealing grout. Steam cleaning machines are bulky and difficult to store, and operating the machine can be tricky for people who are inexperienced. Sealing grout is a lengthy task that may consume an entire day.

Tile cleaning Atlanta residents may choose to do themselves will save money. However, homeowners should consider the tradeoff between saving money and getting high-quality professional work. A beautiful tile floor is an investment that will last throughout the life of a home. Smart homeowners will treat that investment well by employing a top-notch tile cleaning company.