Next, choose your sealer based on the type of tile you have and its location. No one sealer is best suited for all situations. When you’re finished cleaning the grout, allow the area to dry for 45 minutes before sealing. (Switch to a 50-50 vinegar and warm water solution if you’re trying to eradicate stains.) Tackle one grout line at a time. Scrub away as much of the grime as possible using a toothbrush dipped in soapy water. Otherwise, you’ll seal in dirt and damaged seams. For best results, have your terracotta tile or saltillo sealed and use a neutral stone cleaner such as StoneTech Stone and Tile Cleaner.Photo: STEP 1: Clean and repair grout.īefore applying a sealer, be sure to clean your grout thoroughly and repair any cracks or crumbles in the grout lines. Saltillo tile has particular characteristics that demand special treatment. This type of tile is created by mixing clay and water, leaving it to dry naturally and then baking it in a kiln. Terracotta tile or Saltillo tile is one of the oldest ceramic materials made by man. For best results, have your ceramic tile and grout sealed and use a neutral stone cleaner such as StoneTech Stone and Tile Cleaner. Many of the new ceramic tiles in today's market are manufactured to look like real stone. It is the glaze itself that gives the tile its excellent protection and resistance to the absorption of dirt. Glazed ceramic tile does not normally require any protective treatment. Ceramic Tile & GroutĬeramic tile and grout is man-made clay fired material. Advantage Steam recommends use of a neutral floor cleaner such as StoneTech Stone Cleaner. Since all stone is made up of minerals, these types of cleaners will dissolve and cause streaks over prolonged use. This agent breaks down and dissolves minerals in hard water. Many cleaners have what is called a chelating agent in them. Worse yet, many cleaning products, including those that contain lemon, vinegar, bleach or ammonia can etch away the polish, discolor the surface, or even scratch your stone. These can breakdown the sealer, thereby removing its protective properties, thus making the stone and tile grout susceptible to stains. General cleaners not specifically formulated for natural stone or tiles are never recommended. If you have a natural stone we will now seal that as well. Seal (optional): Last we will seal your grout using high quality grout sealers.Post Inspection: We now will inspect floor results.Dry: The floor is then dried using turbo dryers.No worries the pressured water is self contained and will stay on your floor only. Pressure Wash and Extract: Using our specially designed hard surface tools we will pressure wash your floor at 1000 psi 275+ degrees.Hand Scrub Grout Joints: Now we will use a grout brush to scrub all grout joints to further loosen the soil.Pre-Spray: Next we apply a specially designed tile & grout cleaning agent to help loosen the embedded soil.Protect Any Delicate Furnishings: We will tape and or tarp off any delicate furnishings for protection.Dry Soil Removal: Next we will thoroughly sweep or vacuum your entire floor that we are to clean.Then give you an idea of expected results. Pre-inspection: We will evaluate the condition of your floor and point out any damaged or broken areas.Trust Advantage Steam for all those difficult and unpopular projects. The solution to difficult ceramic tile and grout cleaning is just a phone call away. Your tile and grout will look very much as it did the day it was installed.Īt Advantage Steam we are dedicated to helping you keep your home healthy, clean, and always looking its best. Whether your tile is in your kitchen, bathroom, or some other area of your home, those stubborn stains, embedded bacteria, and germs don’t stand a chance. The cleaning results speak for themselves. Heating purified water to over 275+ degrees, we then pressure wash your tile at 1000+ lbs of pressure utilizing very specific tools and attachments, without causing any damage. The good news is Advantage Steam can make short work of this task, using only earth-safe products that won’t harm your family, your pets, or this world we share.Īdvantage Steam skillfully accomplishes the proper cleaning of all tile floors, including natural stone. Most of us would rather rearrange our sock drawer. No one is anxious to re-live the terrible memories of scrubbing each tile and grout line for hours with a small brush, using those irritating, harsh, and unsafe chemicals.

Ceramic and Porcelain tile are the most abused and overlooked floor and wall surfaces in the home, simply because of the care involved in cleaning them.

Sealing tiled floors