It’s important to maintain a clean home environment, and one of the most often neglected areas is grout between floor tiles. Grout is the thin line that can connect tiles, and it can trap dirt, stains, and mold. Cleaning of your grout can have your floors looking as new and fresh as possible. The question is—will you clean it yourself or use professional services? This article looks at DIY vs professional tile grout cleaning and will help you to make the best decision for your house.
Understanding Tile Grout
The filling material between tiles is called grout. Grout consists of a combination of cement, water, and sand. Grout can come in many colours, and it can become stained or discoloured as a result of spills, dust, and wear from foot traffic. Grout is also porous, which means that, unlike tile, it is able to absorb liquids easily and discolour as a result of staining. This is an important reason to care for the grout: to maintain its beauty and sanitary conditions.
Dirty grout is not attractive, and it can also be a conducive place for mold to grow. Since mold can lead to respiratory illness, allergies, and other health-associated issues, it is important to care for and clean the grout to prevent mold from forming and growing. Cleaning grout regularly with an effective floor tile grout cleaner is important to achieving this effect.
DIY Tile Grout Cleaning
You can save money by cleaning grout yourself using household items and store-bought cleaners. Most people prefer the DIY method for convenience and the ability to clean at their own pace.
Baking soda and vinegar is a popular DIY method. You can make a paste using the baking soda and water, apply it to the grout, and then spray vinegar over it. After a few minutes, scrubbing with a small brush easily removes dirt and stains in the grout lines. Another method to clean the grout is to use hydrogen peroxide, which can clear tough stains and discolouration on the grout surface.
Store-bought tile and grout cleaners are available. These types of cleaners are specifically made to aid in grime, mould, and mildew removal without damaging the tiles and/or grate. Most store-bought cleaners require scrubbing, which can be tiring and take a lot of time and energy, especially if the grout is heavily stained or the surface area to clean is large.
DIY cleaning is effective for light stains and small areas. Cleaning grout can provide a little satisfaction that you are addressing the maintenance of your home. However, on deep stains or stains that are not removed easily, the DIY cleaning process may not be effective. Continuing scrubbing over a long period without cleaning properly could also wear out the grout and shorten its lifespan.
Professional Tile Grout Cleaning
Another option is to hire a professional cleaning service. Professional cleaners have equipment, cleaning supplies, and expertise that the average homeowner does not have. They know how to clean grout thoroughly and can make it look almost as good as new.
Professional cleaning services will use high-pressure steam cleaners, speciality brushes, and industrial-grade floor tile grout cleaners to remove dirt and stains from your grout, which is not reachable with DIY methods. Using professionals helps to ensure the deep clean and that you are not damaging your tiles or grout. Professionals can also seal your grout after it is cleaned. Sealing the grout protects against future stains and ultimately is much easier to clean in the long run.
Using professionals can save you effort and time. You can relax while the professionals scrub and deep clean your floor, and you will not need to worry about potentially damaging your tiles by cleaning them improperly. Professional cleaning services are also a good option if the area to clean is large or heavily stained or coloured, or if your grout has been in place for many years with dirt and mould built up over time.
Comparing DIY and Professional Cleaning
When deciding on a DIY cleaning or professional cleaning, you may want to consider a few factors:
Cost: While DIY cleaning will be less expensive since you are only paying for the cleaners and tools, professional cleaning will carry a higher price tag, but you will have them do the legwork for you while ensuring a deep clean.
Effectiveness: While DIY cleaning can be effective for a simple, light cleaning, professional cleaning is typically the most effective and appropriate choice to remove long-standing stains, clean up mould, or clean large areas.
Time and Effort: You may also want to consider the time and effort involved. DIY cleaning typically requires time, effort, and scrubbing. Professional cleaning, for the most part, takes less from your side and typically takes less time.
Safety: Some cleaning solutions and methods can also be detrimental if not used correctly. Professionals understand how to safely and effectively use cleaners.
For small stains, minor cleaning, or small areas to clean, a DIY cleaner may be the route to go; however, if you are faced with the need for deep cleaning, mould, and/or large spaces for cleaning, usually, a professional will be the better choice when you can pay for the service.
Tips for Maintaining Clean Grout
Whether you choose DIY or professional cleaning, maintaining clean grout is important. Regular sweeping and mopping can prevent dirt from settling into grout. Using a mild tile and grout cleaner once in a while can help keep grout looking fresh.
Avoid harsh chemicals that can damage grout. Wipe up spills immediately to prevent staining. Sealing grout every year or two can also protect it from dirt, moisture, and mold.
Good maintenance reduces the need for deep cleaning and keeps your floors looking great for longer.
When to Call Professionals
There are some occasions in which professional cleaning is best. If your grout is old, heavily stained, or mouldy, getting a professional to clean it is preferable. Additionally, large homes, with many tiled areas, benefit from professional cleaning in respect to the time and effort saved. Professionals can repair damaged grout or reseal, which increases the longevity of your floors. Professionals give a deeper clean, along with longer-lasting results, than DIY cleaning methods.
Conclusion
Cleaning tile grout can be done either by you (DIY) or by a professional, and both approaches have their pros and cons. Cleaning tile grout yourself can be cheaper than hiring a professional and may work for small areas or light stains. Professional tile grout cleaning will likely be more effective for deep stains, large areas, or mold. Whether you take the DIY approach or hire a professional will depend on your budget, time, and the condition of your grout.
In the end, for a deep-down, quality clean, a professional tile grout cleaning will usually be the way to go. Professional floor tile grout cleaners have the appropriate tools, knowledge and experience to bring your tile grout to life and keep your floors looking fresh.
Whether you simply want expert tile and grout cleaning or if you want to learn more about the process, Cactus Carpet Care has you covered. With the most advanced floor tile/grout cleaners and proven techniques, the experts at Cactus Carpet Care will restore beauty to your floors while saving you time and energy.
