I get asked all the time “How Often Should I Have Tile and Grout Cleaning?” it really depends on you and your living environment. Having your Tile and Grout Cleaned and Sealed should occur more often in the high traffic area and heavily used areas about once per year. I see kitchen being cleaned on an annual basis but Living Areas are typically every couple of years. Why is that? The Kitchen Area sees the most grease and dirt and is also the most mopped area in a home. Unfortunately most home owners use the wrong products and tools to clean their floors. What happens is that through using the wrong products and tools a residue starts to form on the floor and attracts dirt. Here is a link to an article I wrote regarding proper tile and grout floor maintenance tools and techniques.
How Often Should I have Kitchen Tile and Grout Cleaning?
I recommend cleaning the kitchen area professionally once per year. A good impregnating sealant will help keep the grout cleaner longer and allow for easier cleaning on an annual basis.
Should I Clean My Bathroom Tile and Grout Annually?
Yes, I recommend cleaning the inside of the shower and the floors professionally about once a year. Why? Because these areas get the most use and you could prevent mold and mildew through regular maintenance.
What About My Entry Way or Living Room?
I recommend Cleaning the Tile and Grout in these areas every couple of years or as necessary. The rule of thumb is every other cleaning to have the entry and living area cleaned. This all depends on your mopping technique and the area usage.
The Most Inclusive Tile and Grout Cleaning Service In Houston TX
At UpFront Home Services we provide the absolute most inclusive service in Houston TX for Tile and Grout Cleaning. We have a 9 Step Tile and Grout Cleaning Process and Include the Grout Sealant at No Extra Charge! We provide FREE In Home Estimates to go over all your floor care needs. Give us a Call or Text Us At (832)303-3546.
This is a great question. The answer is, it depends on the product you are using to seal the grout. Grout Sealers that have a really heavy mixture of Fluoropolymers will leave a residual like haze on the grout if the Grout is not totally dry. Some cleaning companies will use a solvent product to seal the grout while wet, this is a great way to apply a sealer as the solvents do a great job of penetrating through the moisture barrier.
A grout cleaning and sealing service can clean and seal the same day. Grout can be sealed immediately after the cleaning whether wet or dry if you use the right product.
For A FREE In Home Estimate For Tile and Grout Cleaning and Sealing give us a call at (832)303-3546. Check Out Our Tile and Grout Cleaning Process Here.
Professional Tile and Grout Cleaning vs Doing It Yourself, what’s the real difference? This is a great question. I hear all the time about how individuals have tried to clean their tile and grout themselves and it simply took too much time. Not only is time a factor but the actual cleaning an individual can do simply does not compare to what a true professional cleaning can do. So put down the toothbrush and see why you should pick up the phone and hire a professional today.
How is Professional Tile and Grout Cleaning different than what an individual might do on their own?
Professional Training and Years of Experience
Having a professional with experience working on your tile and grout sure beats amateur DIY methods. Experience just goes such a long way in all things in life. I mean you wouldn’t hire a mechanic that’s never worked on a car in their life right? Then why would you hire yourself to do something you’ve never done?
Super Powerful Grout Cleaning Equipment
A professional uses high powered equipment to thoroughly clean your tile and grout. 1200 psi and 220 degrees of steam cleaning is the difference between a professional cleaning and using a baking soda concoction you found on YouTube.
Professional Tile and Grout Cleaning Chemicals
A professional will utilize Alkaline Chemicals and Acidic Chemicals. Why? Because that’s what it takes to guarantee your tile and grout is as clean as it can possibly get. These chemicals aren’t available to the general public and are key to a awesome cleaning.
Why Choose UpFront Home Services To Clean Your Tile and Grout?
We not only clean your Tile and Grout we also include sealing of the Grout at no charge. That’s right FREE! What could be easier than having us out vs doing it yourself.
After having your Tile and Grout Cleaned the first question that is normally asked is “What do I use to clean my floors now?” After most cleanings homeowners toss out the Pinesol, Fabuloso, and Swiffer Wet Jets. But they need something to fill the cleaning void.
Tile and Grout Cleaning Everyday Maintenance Tips
Here is what I recommend to maintain your tile and grout
Steam Mop
I particularly love a good steam mop. My reasoning is that it’s chemical free and produces excellent best for naturally disinfecting your floors. The one thing you must always do is use distilled water when cleaning. The reason why you must use distilled water is it will keep the machine functioning properly and you won’t deposit minerals into your grout. Steam Mopping is what I call Dummy Proof maintenance. If you clean weekly your floors will need a deep cleaning less often.
Flat Head Microfiber Mop and Nuetral Floor Cleaner
A flat head microfiber mop and neutral floor cleaner will go a long way. It’s not especially convienent if you don’t get the Flat Head Mop with the tank on it. But you will find that this won’t leave the sticky residue behind that dirt loves to stick to.
Kitchen Tile and Grout Maintenance
Every couple months or so I recommend cleaning the kitchen area with an alkaline product to help breakdown the grease. After you mop with the alkaline make sure to mop again with just clear water. Realistically I only recommend doing this if you start to see some dirt take hold in the kitchen. Keep an eye on it and clean with an alkaline product as needed.
Shower Tile and Grout Maintenance
I highly recommend using an everyday shower cleaner. I am particularly fond of Method Daily Shower Cleaner because you can spray it after each shower and just walk away. I use method in conjunction with Australian Tea Tree Oil mixed with Peroxide in my Shower once a week. By having regular maintenance you will be able to keep the mold and mildew away.
Additional Cleaning Tools
I recommend picking up grout brushes for scrubbing when something spills on the floor and for shower cleaning maintenance. You should also have a couple spray bottles so that you can have some cleaning product mixed and ready for when you need to clean up stains quickly. I also like having a shop vac handy for this crazy off the wall spills like a bottle of barbecue sauce breaking on the floor (don’t ask me how I know)…
Whenever you’re ready to have you Tile and Grout Professionally Cleaned Give Us A Call or Send Us A Text To (832)303-3546.
At UpFront Home Services we are Houston, Richmond, Cypress, and Katy’s most inclusive Tile and Grout Cleaning experience. Our Grout Cleaning Service is thorough and will leave your floor looking its absolute best.
There are so many things to do when even thinking about putting your home on the market. De-cluttering is huge! But cleaning is a much bigger deal than so many of the other projects out there.
Here are 5 Things To Do Before You Put Your Home On The Market
Carpet Cleaning
I always recommend having the carpet cleaned prior to putting your home on the market. A clean and fresh smelling carpet will help your home sell faster and potential prevent the need to give a carpet allowance. At a minimum having the carpet cleaned beforehand will help present your home in a better light.
Tile and Grout Cleaning
Removing the dirt and build up from your tile and grout with a thorough cleaning helps to brighten your home. A lot of sellers miss this crucial detail when they begin to consider selling their home. Presenting your home with the absolute cleanest tile and grout will go a long way with potential buyers. The kitchen and master bathroom are the areas that buyers pay the most attention to, be sure to spruce up these areas as much as possible prior to selling.
Shower Cleaning and Caulking
I’ve seen many buyers turned off by a dirty shower. Let’s face it, soap scum, Mildew, and dirty grout happen. Having your Shower Tile and Grout Professionally Steam Cleaned and the Shower Re-Caulked is shockingly important to potential buyers. Don’t let your shower kill the sale of your home.
Carpet Stretching and Repair
Overtime wrinkles and rips in your carpet can happen. Having these wrinkles and rips fixed prior to putting your home on the market can save a potential carpet replacement or allowance to a buyer. Most buyers want to have a move in ready home vs a fixer upper. Having the little details in your home taken care of Before you put your home on the market will go a long way in selling your home quickly.
Pressure Washing
A dirty driveway, entrance, patio, or even mold and mildew on and around your home can substantially affect anyone even wanting to go view your home. Be sure to have these areas professionally pressure washed so that the curb appeal of your home is the absolute best it can possibly be.
At UpFront Home Services we offer Carpet Cleaning, Tile and Grout Cleaning, Shower Cleaning and Caulking, Carpet Stretching and Repair, and Pressure Washing. We are the make it ready experts!
To Schedule a Free In Home Estimate Call or Text (832)303-3546
Why do we love Katy? It’s all of the entertainment and great restaurants. It’s easy to drive places and you have Katy Mills Mall to enjoy a little shopping and get great prices. With it being so close to Texas A&M we also get to service a lot of our fellow Aggies. We service the entire Houston area. Want to learn more about the City of Katy Click Here
So you bought a new house, just moved into an older home, or you have a home with dirty grout and you regret never sealing it. The question remains, does grout need to be sealed?
Most of the time I find home owners blaming the builder for not dealing the grout and how it’s dirty now. Truthfully the grout isn’t dirty because it wasn’t sealed. Your grout gets dirty because you may be using the wrong tools and method to clean your floors.
Should Grout Be Sealed?
Yes, I highly recommend sealing your grout. It’s not because it’s going to keep your grout from getting dirty, because that’s not what Sealant does. The purpose of the Sealant is to make it easier to clean your grout and lower the likelihood of permanent stains. I see a lot of home owners making a big deal about whether the Sealant being applied is going to cause beading. The truth is that beading only takes place if the Sealant being used is hydrophobic and even if it does initially bead that affect dissipates.
Should I Seal The Grout Myself?
There nothing wrong with Sealing the grout yourself. But beware that it is labor intensive and requires hands and knees work to do the job properly. Some sealants that are sold in the big box stores will actually cause a haze like effect on your tile. It’s very important that you find a sealer that is easy to apply and will provide excellent protection. At UpFront Home Services our sealers are specifically made for professional use and are not available for resale, if they were available for your use I’d recommend one to you 🙂
Should You Hire A Professional To Seal Your Grout?
I highly recommend hiring a professional to Seal your grout. The reason why is sealing grout is labor intensive and requires the right knowledge of not only how to do it but what Sealant to actually use to do it. Unfortunately the sealers available to homeowners aren’t exactly the best quality sealers and can leave Haze on the tile. When having your grout sealed you are taking all of the guess work and labor out of it.
If this is a new construction home, now is the perfect time to seal. If this is an older home or previously live in home, I recommend having the tile and grout professionally cleaned before sealing.
At UpFront Home Services we provide Professional Tile and Grout Cleaning and Sealing Services In Katy and the entire Houston area! Check out our Tile and Grout Cleaning Service Here
Need An Honest UpFront Quote? Give us a call at (832)303-3546 for a FREE Estimate and to check availability
Why do love Katy? Because of El Jarritos! We LOVE The Beef Fajitas and Enchiladas! They have the absolute best Mexican Food in Katy and Houston. We service the entire Houston area. Want to learn more about the City of Katy Click Here
Want To Learn More About Grout Sealing? Click Here To Read An Article We Wrote On Whether You Should Seal Your Grout After Cleaning.
It happens, the caulk in your shower starts to look like a Rorschach test and you’re sick and tired of watching as it slowly spreads it’s way throughout the shower. So what do you do? You look up what to do, which got you here to this blog.
Here’s What You Need To Remove and Replace Caulking In A Shower
Razor Blade and Painters Knife
Mineral Spirits
Caulk Finishing Set
Blue Painters Tape
Paper Towels
Caulking Gun
Shop vac or a broom and dustpan
Patience because if it’s your first time it’s going to take a while
First Things First
Make sure the shower is clean and dry. I recommend thoroughly steam cleaning the shower and disinfecting prior to caulking. If you don’t have a vapor steamer or opt to not hire a pro for the tile and grout cleaning in the shower, then do a deep cleaning with bleach to prep.
Cut The Caulk
What I like to do is take the flat razor and start from the top of the caulk and work my way from left to right going up then down the entire line. Then I work from the bottom of the caulk by pushing the blade in and then out and working my way down the line. Clean up the area as best you can by removing as much of the remaining debris as possible with both the flat razor and the painters knife.
Vacuum The Area
Make sure to vacuum the area really well to get the chunks of caulk that are remaining. You don’t want to start caulking in an area that has debris remaining.
Make Sure Its Dry
Making sure that the area you’re caulking is dry is absolutely crucial. Sometimes water will continue to seep out of the walls for days after removing the caulk. It’s important for the area to be dry so that you can apply the fresh caulk or else the caulk simply won’t stick. Believe me it’s a mess when you mix water and caulk, don’t do it.
Treat The Area With Mineral Spirits
Once the caulk has been removed and the area vacuumed I like to treat the area with mineral spirits and a rag. The reason is it cleans the dust and debris and preps the surface for adhesion. If you’re having your shower cleaned as well we will treat the entire shower with an Australian Tea Tree Oil to naturally disinfect the shower before caulking the next day.
Tape Off The Area To Be Caulked
Apply your painters tape to the bottom and top of the seam line where you want your caulking to go. You don’t want them to be too close or too far apart, try to match the size of the bead that was previously in your shower. This is the most important part to make your shower look it’s very best. Some of the most experienced caulking professionals still tape off showers because it makes their job that much easier.
Cut The Tip and Apply The Caulk
Cutting the tip on the caulking tube is very important. You have to cut the tip at an angle and at an appropriate size. There are little hash marks on the head of the caulk tube, cut the smallest size and go larger if you feel the need to. From here you will put the caulk in the caulk gun and slowly apply to one area at a time.
Spread The Caulk
Take your caulk finishing set and slowly spread the caulk. I like to work by applying and spreading one line at a time so that the caulk doesn’t harden on me. After each swipe wipe your tool with a towel as to not spread unwanted caulk in the wrong areas.
No Showering
No Showering for at least 24 hours. Depending on the caulk you used it can take up to 72 hours to fully cure. It’s very important not to get the caulk wet while it cures or you could have a giant mess on your hands.
Bonus Tips
I’m personally a fan of Dap Quick Seal Ultra for white or other colors other than clear(it’s what I used in my own shower) it applies like an acrylic / latex based caulk but it is siliconized and has an anti-microbial built in. It’s very easy to work with and clean up if messes happen.
GE also makes a very good Clear and White 100% Silicone. 100% silicone I recommend only for professional use. The reason why I recommend silicone for professional use is because it is more difficult to work with and less forgiving than Dap Quick Seal Ultra. That said, if you are replacing clear caulk in the shower then GE Clear silicone is the best of the best. GEs white silicons is fantastic but I don’t recommend it for DIY use.
Sanded Caulk is also a great option in showers but this can be a DIY nightmare unless you tape off the shower before you caulk. The reason sanded caulk is used in some showers is it’s more aesthetically pleasing than just plain white or clear caulk. It’s not my favorite caulk because I don’t feel it protects from mildewing as well because there are more rough patches to stick to. But if you keep up with regular weekly shower cleanings and after shower treatments, this caulk will last a long time.
Why Use UpFront Home Services To Clean and Caulk Your Shower?
At UpFront Home Services we use a special blend of Australian Tea Tree Oil, Peroxide and Green Cleaning products to naturally disinfect your homes Shower Tile and Grout before our Caulking Service is started. This is important to eliminate the Mildew so that you’re not replacing your caulk every couple of months. Caulking should last years without replacement if you keep up with your showers maintenance. Other cleaners and handymen skimp on quality products because they simply don’t want or can’t afford to spend more money for specialty products. We don’t skimp and will provide you with the highest quality cleaning and caulking your homes Shower deserves.
At UpFront Home Services we provide Professional Shower Tile and Grout Cleaning and Caulking Services In Katy and the entire Houston area! Check out our Shower Caulking Service Here.
Do you want to have your shower tile and grout professionally prior to caulking yourself? We can do that too! Check out our Tile and Grout Cleaning Service to see our cleaning process.
Need An Honest UpFront Quote? Give us a call at (832)303-3546 for a FREE Estimate and to check availability
Why do love Katy? Because of Taco A Go Go! We LOVE The smoked brisket tacos and sugar cane sodas they serve! They have the absolute best Tacos in Katy and Houston (according to the Katy Fort Bend / Foodie Facebook Group)… We service the entire Houston area. Want to learn more about the City of Katy Click Here
Buying a new home is exciting. It’s like when you get a new car except with this car you get to live in it (in a good not sad way) and you get to show it off to your friends. I have personally been providing floor cleaning and polishing services to homes since 2003 (16 years and counting) and here are the not so Glamorous things to do before moving into your new home.
5 Things To Do Before Moving Into A New Construction Home
Grout Sealing Is A Must
A majority of builders do not include sealing your freshly installed Grout. This is for a variety of reasons that boil down to not wanting to be responsible or have any warranty calls regarding spills and stains. For the builder it makes total sense, for you the New Construction Home Owner it totally stinks.
It’s always best to Seal the Grout prior to moving in because its easier for the technicians to get to every inch. It also means you shouldn’t need to have a Professional Tile and Grout Cleaning prior to the sealing.
As far as the grade of Sealer is concerned I recommend using a Solvent Based Impregnating Grout Sealer for the Floors, Showers, Back splash, and basically any conceivable place there is Grout in the Home. I personally prefer this grade of sealer but it is for professional use only. I have seen many a DIY nightmare trying to Seal the Grout with the wrong Solvent Sealer. Using a water based grout sealer is an option as well. A water based grout sealer is great for Floor Grout but doesn’t provide the same coverage level in a shower that a Solvent will. I find cleaning and re-application with a water based grout sealant in the showers to be much more frequent than with a Solvent based sealer.
The Builder Usually Doesn’t Seal Your Granite or Marble Countertops… So You Should
Its a dirty secret that the builder avoids talking about or offering sealing of your Granite or Marble Countertops. Marble Counterops are especially susceptible to staining and etching, so providing a very thorough application of Impregnating Sealer is extremely important. I have seen many a Marble Counter that’s brand new and covered in etch marks. Bottomline is protect your investment by Sealing so that you don’t have to Polish to Restore.
Apply Carpet Stain Protector
Newly installed carpet has a form of Carpet Protection already in place fresh from the factory. The problem is that it’s not a very good one and it doesn’t protect from dyes. Having a carpet protector applied that contains acid dye blockers will help keep your carpet from getting permanent red stains.
It’s also important to apply Carpet Stain Protector because it will help fight against permanent traffic lane damage. Traffic lane damage is caused by inconsistent vacuuming and irregular cleanings. When your carpet is it’s newest is the time to take advantage and protect and consistently have it cleaned and re-protected after each cleaning.
Install A Water Softener
I highly recommend having a water softener installed in your new home prior to moving in. The reason why is because it will help keep your shower tile and grout, bathroom floors, and your shower glass from developing hard water stains. If you can’t afford a water softener right away, I recommend cleaning your shower once a week. If you keep up with consistently cleaning your shower tile and grout and shower glass, you will be amazed with how long it will look like new.
Start A Regular Maintenance Schedule
When you keep something clean from the beginning it keeps you from needing restoration services in the future. I recommend vacuuming the carpet at least 1 time per week, using a daily shower cleaner (method makes an awesome one) and deep cleaning once a week, utilizing a steam mop for the floors or a flat head mop with Zep Neutral Floor Cleaner weekly, wiping your granite or marble countertops down weekly with Crystal Clean by Stonepro, and of course steam cleaning the carpets at least 2 times per year.
Some of this maintenance schedule can be increased due to pets or kids, but the rule of thumb is to clean at a minimum of once per week. Consistent maintenance will keep your home looking as beautiful as it did the first day you moved in.
Why do we love Houston? The professional sports teams are just so good. Getting to catch a Rockets Game or go to minute maid and watch the Astros play is just awesome. As an Aggie there are just so many other Aggies here and that just makes you feel at home. Learn more about the City of Houston here
I get asked this question a lot after providing a Grout Cleaning Service. How Long Does Grout Sealer Last? The honest answer is that it truly varies by how you maintain your floors, how often you cook, and how much foot traffic your floors will receive. Typically Grout Sealer will last anywhere from 1 – 3 Years in ideal conditions.
Here’s How To Make Your Sealant Last Longer
Using Proper Cleaning Techniques
Using a mop and bucket just doesn’t cut it, it actually will make your tile and grout dirtier over time and affect the sealers ability to block out the dirt. Utilizing a Flat Head mop with a container to spray the product and clean the floor will keep your sealer in tact longer. Just be sure to wash your Flat Head Mops pad after every use. Another good piece of equipment to utilize is a Steam Mop. The main thing with using a steam mop is using distilled water and washing the microfiber pads after each use.
The Right Cleaning Product
Using proper chemistry is important to maintaining your Tile and Grout over the long term. I highly recommend using a Neutral Floor Cleaner such as Zep Neutral Floor Cleaner or Stone Pro’s Crystal Clean when cleaning your floors. These types of products won’t leave a residue and will make your investment in a Grout Cleaning Service be a little more worthwhile.
Consistent Maintenance
Consistently Maintaining your floors is crucial for making your sealant last longer. I recommend vacuuming, sweeping, and flat head mopping / steam mopping your floors at least once per week. By keeping the dirt off the floor you will have a much lower chance of creating a stain in your grout and destroying the Grout Sealer.
Why Choose UpFront Home Services For Your Grout Cleaning Service?
When you have UpFront Home Services clean your Tile and Grout we always include sealing of the Grout FREE! No other company does this! In fact most companies charge more to seal your grout after a Grout Cleaning Service. Not only do we include sealing of your grout, we also include both Alkaline and Acid rinses to properly clean your floors. Using both an alkaline and an acid guarantee that your floors are their absolute cleanest before we seal the grout.
Why do we love Katy? It’s the people. Katy, TX is full of phenomenal people. Everyone here is friendly and inviting and the food is fantastic. With it being so close to Texas A&M we also get to service a lot of our fellow Aggies. We service the entire Houston area. Want to learn more about the City of Katy Click Here
Should I Seal my grout after having my tile and grout professionally cleaned? The answer is a resounding yes. When having a Tile Cleaning Company out it is always important to Seal your Grout After they clean.
Here Is Why You Should Have Your Grout Sealed After Cleaning
Your Grout Is Most Vulnerable After Cleaning
After having your Tile and Grout professionally cleaned your grout is in its most vulnerable state. The reason why is because you have cleared away the dirt and a very thin layer of grout with the pressure and steam. Putting in the Sealant after the cleaning will help to protect your freshly cleaned grout from stains and dirt from penetrating your grouts pores.
Sealing Will Protect Your Investment
Floors are expensive, protecting your investment by applying Sealant just makes sense. Is Sealant going to keep your floors from getting dirty? No. But Sealing your grout will help keep your floors looking cleaner longer.
After Tile and Grout Cleaning Care
Every Tile Cleaning Company should leave some form of instructions for after the cleaning care. We always recommend switching over to a Neutral Floor Cleaner such as Zep Neutral Floor Cleaner or Crystal Clean by Stone Pro. Another great solution is using a Steam Mop with Distilled Water. It’s important to use distilled water when using a steam mop because regular tap water will cause an issue with your machine and will leave scale build up in your grout.
Why Choose UpFront Home Services To Clean Your Tile and Grout?
When you have us clean your Tile and Grout we include sealing of the Grout FREE! What could be easier than having us out vs having another company that clean for you that charges more to seal your grout. Not only do we include sealing of your grout we include both Alkaline and Acid rinsing for your floor as well. Using both an alkaline and an acid guarantee that your floors are their absolute cleanest before we seal the grout.
At UpFront Home Services we are Houston and Katy’s most inclusive Tile Cleaning Company! Check out our Tile and Grout Cleaning Service Here.
Need A Quote? Give us a call at (832)303-3546 for a FREE Estimate and to check availability
Why do we love Katy? It’s all of the entertainment and great restaurants. It’s easy to drive places and you have Katy Mills Mall to enjoy a little shopping and get great prices. With it being so close to Texas A&M we also get to service a lot of our fellow Aggies. We service the entire Houston area. Want to learn more about the City of Katy Click Here
