Mopping Tile and Grout the Right Way.

Using microfiber mopping regularly will keep bucket mopping your tile and grout to a minimum. But eventually you will need to break out the mop and bucket to clean your tile and grout.

When cleaning dirty grout and tile you start with clean hot water with a neutral floor detergent mixed EXACTLY to label directions. More IS NOT better. If it says 2 oz per gallon and you have a 3 gallon bucket you use 6 oz. If you add more you just make it harder to rinse.

The floor should be either vacuumed or gone over with a dry microfiber mop to get up loose dirt. Better to get it when its dry then after its turned to mud. Its important to be thorough getting the dry dirt up as it will want to seep into the grout when you mop.

The Proper Way to Mop: Dip the mop completely in the mop bucket then raise the mop out of the bucket, holding it over the bucket until it slows to a drip. Then put the mop on the center of the floor and work it slowly to the edges. You should leave the area wet for a little while to let the detergent work. If the grout is very dirty you can use a brush to raise the dirt that has penetrated into the grout.

Now wring out the mop and mop up the detergent. Rinsing often is important to keep the mop absorbing and not spreading dirt. Twisting the mop head in the wringer before wringing will get your mop the driest. The dryer the mop is the more it will absorb. Once you've completely dried the floor you have completed step one.

Now go change the bucket for clean hot water and repeat the mopping process. This clearwater rinse will help your tile and grout stay clean longer by eliminating residue buildup.

Daily Tile and Grout Cleaning Made Easy.

The best tool for any maintenance job is the one that makes it the easiest. When you make something easy it gets done more often. This in turn makes it easier still. For hard floors like tile and grout, marble, travertine, terrazzo, vinyl composite tile or VCT, and wood floor the right tool is the Microfiber Mop System. This flat bar mop is very effective at dry dusting and can clean a greasy floor with just water. I know it sounds too good to be true, but it is.

Microfiber is made from a very fine blend of polyester and nylon. When the fibers rub against each other they create a static charge that draws dust too it. This will pull dust almost as well as a vacuum with MUCH less effort. Just remember to change out the heads when they load up with soil.

the microfibers are triangular shaped and cut and lift greases and oils with out detergents when the mops are used wet. Just wet the mop head and wring it out. Then use a trigger sprayer full of water to mist the area you are going to clean and then mop with the microfiber. Again, just change out the heads as they get dirty. I like to have one head for every 100-300 feet I'm cleaning

When your microfiber mops get dirty just throw them in the washer. Just do not fabric softener or wash with terry cloth towels.

Also try microfiber towels for dusting and general household cleaning chores and start reducing the amount of detergents you use.

The Floor Cleaning Experts gives a free microfiber mop set to customers that sign up for our on-line news letter and have us come out and do work for them.

Why Seal Grout From the Floor Cleaning Experts Tampa St Petersburg Clearwater

I'm always asked, Why does my grout get dirty so fast? Why can't I keep in clean? The answer is always the same: Your grout wasn't sealed or the sealer has broken down due to time, sun light, or chemical action.

Grout is a concrete sponge. Its strength comes from the capillaries that form when it cures. This is also what makes it so hard to keep clean. When the floor is mopped the water suspends dirt and detergent and then seeps into the capillaries drawing the dirt and detergent deep into the grout. Once it gets that deep it takes a lot of scrubbing and rinsing to get it out.

There are two main types of sealers: Topical and Penetrating. Grout should be sealed with a penetrating sealer. The sealer changes the chemistry of the grout, increasing the surface tension so that water thinks its too big of a bubble to squeeze into the capillaries of the grout. It also keeps grease and oil from sticking to the surface. This makes the grout water resistant not water proof. Pooling water, water with a chemical surfactant (reduces surface tension), and pressure will push water through a penetrating sealer.

Most penetrating grout sealers fill the pours of the grout and break down under UV light, strong detergents, and time. These Flouro-chemical sealers generally last 3-5 years.

Drytreat Makes a penetrating sealer that actually bonds to the molecular structure of the grout and permanently seals the grout. This product comes with a 15 year warranty.

For more information on sealing grout contact the Floor Cleaning Experts 727-399-8803