If you have tile in your kitchen, bathroom, or any other part of your home, then you have probably wondered why your grout gets dirty so easily. You have also probably wondered how to remove this dirt in order to make your grout and tile look new again. It is important to understand what grout is before finding a cleaning remedy.
Understanding Grout
Grout is a fluid form of concrete used to fill gaps. Grout is generally a mixture of water, cement, and sand, and is employed in pressure grouting, embedding rebar in masonry walls, connecting sections of pre-cast concrete, filling voids, and sealing joints such as those between tiles. Some common uses for grout in the household include: filling in tiles of shower floors and kitchen tiles. It is often color sealed when it has to be kept visible, and sometimes includes fine gravel when being used to fill large spaces (such as the cores of concrete blocks). Unlike other structural pastes such as plaster or joint compound, correctly mixed and applied grout forms a waterproof seal.
Although both grout and its close relative mortar are applied as a thick emulsion and harden over time, grout is distinguished by its high viscosity and lack of lime (added to mortar for pliability); grout is thin so it flows readily into gaps, while mortar is thick enough to support not only its own weight, but also that of masonry placed above it.
Although ungrouted mosaics do exist, most have grout between the tiles. Tiling grout is also cement-based, and comes in sanded as well as unsanded varieties. The sanded variety contains finely ground silica sand; unsanded is finer and produces a non-gritty final surface.
Grout is a material that is applied between tiles in order to fill the spaces and hold the tiles together. It is a rough and porous material, which allows dirt and grime to adhere to it very easily. Furthermore, liquid substances can penetrate deep within the grout causing it to look discolored. This is evident with tile flooring.
One of the most common causes for discolored grout is dirty mop water. Rather than cleaning the tile, mop water spreads the dirt from the tile into the grout. Since the grout is the lowest part of the floor, the dirt and grime from the mop water settles into the grout. This can be very frustrating because your floors will look dirty, despite your many efforts to keep them clean. In addition, dirty grout is a source of bacteria, mold, and mildew.
Making Your Grout Look New Again
Once the grout is stained, it is very hard to remove the stains and restore the grout to its original color. It is important to use the proper cleaning methods when trying to clean your grout. Tile and grout cleaning services are an excellent way to ensure that your grout will be cleaned and restored to its original look. Professional grout cleaning is oftentimes necessary in order to effectively extract all of the dirt and stains from your grout. We can also apply a color seal to your grout to help reduce the amount of dirt that penetrates into the grout. This will help to retain the original look and color of the grout.
Tile floors withstand an enormous amount of traffic within a home. Every time someone walks on a tile floor with shoes on, they are transferring dirt and germs to the tile and grout. Therefore, it can be quite a daunting task to keep your floors looking clean. Nonetheless, your floor is one of the first things a visitor will notice when they enter your home. With the help of a professional, you can achieve the look of sparkling clean floors and feel confident that your home will be healthy and radiant.
