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Tile grout is more porous than most Monmouth County residents realize. It is the plaster that holds tile in place and fills in the space around the tiles protecting the edges from getting chipped. If you only ever use water and mops, you actually push more dirt into the grout than pulling it up. The correct way to treat a tiled floor, is to have it sealed, however you must first get any dirt and grime out of the grout and from under the tiles before you do so or the dirt will get sealed in as well. This is dangerous for the tile because the dirt can erode the grout & tile causing damage to both.
Most cleaning products for tile and grout are fairly harsh and damage them over time. Be careful that you use the mildest solution that will do the job. Note that the darker the grout is, the harder the build-up of dirt and other grime is to see. Dark grout is commonly used in floors and outdoor tiles areas.
Make sure you seal your grout if it is not already done. Before you do that, however, you need to get a steam cleaner for steam cleaning the grout. Steam cleaning only uses water (steam) so you get rid of the dirt without causing damage from acidic cleaning agents. After a thorough cleaning, seal the grout. Be sure that you do this 1-2 times per year. Also, it is important to reseal the grout after any repair is done to the tiles, or the tile is regrouted.
Huge improvements have been made to the steam cleaning process over the last ten years. There is no need to use chemicals to get the tiles or grout clean. Steam cleaners work by using a high pressure to increase the temperature of steam from 100 degrees to 180 degrees. At that point, the steam is known as dry steam.
There are several advantages of using dry steam:
1.     There is a low content of vapor (<5%). This means when the steam cleaning process is done, there will be very little vapor residing in the tiles or grout. This is beneficial because excess water will break them down.
2.     Since dry steam is so hot, it kills all sorts of bacteria, mites, germs, and mildew.
3.     It can pull dirt deep out of the tile. A sponge or mop just can’t do that.
Steam cleaners are rated by bars. A good level to get for grout cleaning is level 6 or higher. For best results contact your local Monmouth County steam cleaning professional.
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