How to Keep Your Ceramic Tile Clean, Beautiful and Healthy?(3/20/2012)

Ceramic tile can be a beautiful choice of flooring for many areas of a home. Not only does it look nice, but it is durable and functional especially in hot areas of the country like Arizona where the temperatures can hover above 100 degrees for 6 months out of the year.

Since ceramic tile is impervious and does not absorb liquids or soil it is relatively easy to clean. However, the grout lines are another story altogether. Tile grout is normally made up of a cement, water, and sand. Once cured, this concrete like material becomes very porous and will absorb like a sponge.

In many homes ceramic tile is used in areas where water is present like kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms. Because of the proximity to liquids and other stain causing materials the grout can rapidly become heavily soiled.

It only takes one attempt at manually cleaning grout to realize that is can be an extremely frustrating and difficult process to improve its appearance. Mopping can improve the look of the tile but will do almost nothing to clean the grout. It takes a strong cleaning solution, tough scrubbing, and very hot pressurized water to do a thorough grout cleaning.

Most home owners do not have the proper tools or cleaning solutions to thoroughly restore the beauty of their grout. When it comes to cleaning heavily soiled grout, calling a professional is usually a good idea.

It can be tricky finding a qualified professional grout cleaner. There are many cleaners that claim to possess the skills to clean tile and grout, but lack the training and certification to do so in a proper and safe manner. Your best bet is to find a professional that is certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

The IICRC is the organization in the United States that provides testing and certification for professional cleaners in the following areas: carpet cleaning, stone and tile cleaning, and upholstery cleaning. You can search for a certified stone and tile cleaner in your area by going to the IICRC website at www.certifiedcleaners.org/locator.shtml.

When you arrive at their website you will need to type in your zip code and choose Hard Surface Cleaning in the Service Required box. Click the Search Now button and a new page will come up with a list of the professionals in your area that are certified to clean stone and tile.

Now you will need to call at least a few of the professionals to interview them and decide which one you want to get an estimate from. Over the phone you also need to verify that they have business liability insurance, are licensed in your state and what their service guarantee covers.

When they come to provide an estimate, they will be looking at your tile for the following things: level of soiling, condition of the tile and grout (is it chipped, does it have cracked or loose grout), and the amount of tile to be cleaned. Once they have looked over the tile and asked you a few questions they should have enough information to provide you with a written quote to complete the work.

One of the most effective ways to keep your grout looking its best is to have it sealed with a quality penetrating sealer. This needs to be done shortly after it has been thoroughly cleaned. The sealer will not change the appearance of the grout but will penetrate all of the cracks and crevices and help prevent soil from adhering to it.

Ceramic tile is a beautiful flooring choice and can last for many years as long as it is maintained properly. Having it professionally cleaned and sealed on a regular schedule can keep it looking good throughout its life.

(Author Mosaic and Tile, China Leiyuan 3/20/2012)

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