Servicemaster Restore

At the end of the day, some household areas are simply more likely to receive regular attention when it comes to your cleaning regimen. From your kitchen counters to your coffee table or other spaces of frequent family activity, the surfaces that you most often see and come into contact with are the ones that will get hit with the sanitizer first.

But what about the small details? When was the last time you looked down at your tile grout?

Why Does Grout Get So Dirty?

Grout can easily become dirty due to its porous texture. That is, tile grout is most often made of a blend of cement, sand, pigments, and/or other additives, making the composition relatively grainy and prone to staining or cracks if not properly overlaid with a sealant.

Additionally, grout is initially mixed and applied as a liquid adhesive between tiles, left to gradually dry and harden once the installation is completed. However, during this process, small ridges or pockets may form in the grout, becoming likely spaces for dirt, bacteria, and other contaminants to fall into.

What Lingers In Grout?

How dirty your grout becomes over time — as well as what type of pollution is likely to occur — is largely dependent on your day-to-day activities and cleaning habits. For example, tile grout in or around your shower is the most likely to grow mold or mildew. This is because your bathroom will often undergo periods of heavy moisture and humidity and, if your grout is cracked or improperly sealed, the small crevices become the ideal environment for mold spores to proliferate within.

Otherwise, general debris will fall into the rough grout surfaces as you go about your day, particularly in areas of your home that see a high volume of foot traffic. For instance, the grout near your front door may grow darker as dirt and pollen are tracked in from your family’s shoes, or the grout in your kitchen may grow other forms of mold and bacteria from food particles that fall and become trapped.

How Do I Clean My Grout?

“It is better to clean grout with an alkaline cleaner (Spic and Span, Mr. Clean, etc.) than an acid-based cleaner,” according to the Tile Council of North America (TCNA). “There are also specialty cleaners available at most tile retailers that are designed for tile and grout.”

That being said, excessively dingy, dirty, or stained grout may require a professional touch to restore and clean fully. Additionally, if you simply do not know how to clean your tile grout without accidentally damaging it, you can always call ServiceMaster Restoration of First Coast to complete the job with skill, precision, and safety!

Whether you’re seeking locally-trusted professionals to attend to the grout in your home or commercial business, our team will be there to assist you according to the highest of industry standards. If you have further questions or are ready to schedule your grout cleaning, contact our team today by calling (904) 219-0635!