We specialize in restoration and cleaning services for natural stone, man-made tile, and deeply stained grout lines for the peeps in Phoenix, AZ.
If You Live in Phoenix, AZ You May Find That Keeping Your Tile Clean Is a ChallengeTile and grout are made from a variety of different materials, these materials are often very porous. This means that your floor may be absorbing every ounce of grease and grime along with the germs that come with it. Some man-made tile materials such as porcelain or ceramic could also be partially porous depending on its texture, but usually not. Regardless, dirt may find its way into your home and settle on the surface of your tile despite its non-porous properties. States like Arizona make all types of flooring very difficult to clean, and keep clean over time.
What Makes Keeping Your Tile Clean in Arizona More Difficult Than Other Areas?By nature Arizona is very dusty and dirt is more prevalent than other areas around the world. If you live in a large city like Phoenix, it may even add to the issue by allowing oils to mix with fine dust particles and heavy dirt from outside. This is a result of a higher than usual population and ends up causing a mixture of grease and grime that can turn a beautiful tile completely black within less than one year, yikes. How We Resolve Dark, Stained, and Dirty TileIf you’ve tried tile cleaning in your home by yourself, you’ll totally understand what we’re describing in this article. Stubborn residues are almost impossible to remove when they contain oils from the city streets and grocery stores nearby. Mopping is almost never a means of recovery from instances like this, so our process is quite a bit different. Our tile cleaning service varies slightly depending on a few different factors such as tile material and whether or not it needs a full restoration or just a maintenance cleaning. We’re able to determine this by performing a small test area and finding out if the grout and/or tile has been sealed in the past. If cleanliness is easily obtained then we usually recommend a basic level maintenance cleaning. Our maintenance tile cleaning service includes pretreating alkaline 5:1, pressure washing, extraction, evap, and sealing (optional). However, if our customer is not only concerned with sanitization but is also looking for more aesthetic appeal, then we recommend a more in depth service. Our restorative level cleaning process includes pretreating either alkaline or acid (whichever is most effective), pressure washing, extraction, evap, and color sealing the grouted areas. This results in more aesthetic appeal and almost always makes both natural stones and man made tile look new once again. Preserving Your Tile and Grout Once It’s CleanedNo matter what condition your tile is in, we always recommend doing your best to preserve it, especially if you've gone through the effort of cleaning or have paid for a professional cleaning. You can do this by installing a clear solvent sealer, natural look solvent sealer, acrylic color sealer, and/or enhancing sealer. Misconceptions Regarding Sealer and Other Preservative CompoundsThere are many different types of sealers, they’re usually made with the intention of sealing a specific type of tile and/or grout. For example, a natural stone such as travertine should be sealed with a natural look solvent impregnating sealer or an enhancing solvent. *Enhancer will darken your tile, use with caution. This is of course one of many examples and you should always ask a professional what sealer is best fit for your specific needs, or you can read more about how color sealing works. The most common misconception is that sealer will prevent your tile from becoming dirty. While it's very far from the truth, this is still something many service companies claim to this day. The fact is everything gets dirty over an extended period of time, the only difference is that sealer will make tile and grout easier to clean in the future and will prevent grease and grime from settling into its pores. This is true for both grouted areas and porous natural stones like travertine, marble, flagstone, and slate. Sealers are usually made with hydrophobic compounds that act very similarly to Rain-X on the windshield of your car. An example would be if you dropped a glass of wine on your travertine or marble floor, and rather than the wine staining your tile it would bead/roll until you were able to wipe it away from the surfaces. How Often Should You Maintain Your Tile Floor?Maintenance cycle is determined by a few different factors, such as what material your tile is made from and what sealer was used to preserve it. And maintaining a tile floor where its grout has been color sealed looks a little different than your everyday cleaning. This is because acrylic colorants may respond negatively to certain chemicals and use of high pressure. Ultimately you can determine what your maintenance cleaning schedule should look like based on manufacturer specifications of the sealer that is used to seal your floor. If two separate sealers are used (one for the grout and one for the tile surfaces) then you should base your maintenance schedule on the sealer that lasts the least amount of time. This method will prevent one or the other from diminishing faster than its counterpart. A great rule of thumb is to clean and seal no less than once every two years and no more than once every six months. If your grout is color sealed, do not exceed 500 PSI if you’re using a steam cleaning unit or pressure washer. If you hire a professional service provider to conduct the services for you, then we recommend disclosing the grout colorant right away and asking for a warranty as well. Seeking Professional HelpOur goal is to always educate our readers as much as possible, and we do encourage DIY projects for people that would rather save the money. But the fact is, there is a steep learning curve involved with understanding the chemistry behind releasing grease/grime from different tile materials, additionally the proper equipment can be very hard to obtain. Depending on the area that you reside, you may be able to lease equipment but consumer available equipment may not get you the result that you’ve hoped for. So we always recommend seeking professional help regardless of whether or not you intend to hire a pro. This is because the wrong chemical could completely ruin your floor depending on its material, and we hope to prevent as much of that as possible. Feel free to contact us on Google if you have any questions regarding your project, or if you would like to receive a free no obligation estimate for your next tile and grout cleaning project.
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Grout Can Become Stained and Discolored Over Time
Throughout time, inevitably as grout grows older it will become discolored, develop stains, and dirt will build up in its pores. Usually this happens as a side effect of foot traffic and mopping as it pushes grease and grime into the grout. As residues from mopping settle into the grout it can become very hard to fully remove later on into the future. Starting With Small Steps Buildup and staining is a common problem with the majority of grout mixtures, and it's almost impossible to prevent it from happening as time progresses. We recommend remediating your old grout by starting with a basic level cleaning, using a legitimate steam cleaning and extraction method. Like most people, you may not have tools like this on hand, however you can find many service providers in Phoenix that will offer this method very affordably. If you’ve already tried this or don’t believe you may receive the results you’re looking for, then you may need to consider other options that are available to you. Most of the time, traditional grout and tile steam cleaning methods do not get that “new floor look” most people want so badly. The Surefire Fix Despite the low probability of making your grout look new with basic cleaning services, we still recommend trying it beforehand because you will eventually have to clean it no matter what. When it comes to fully restoring the look of your grout, you can have more confidence in color sealing compared to cleaning by itself. Color sealing is often referred to as grout recoloring or grout coloring. This is a process that uses an acrylic topical sealer with colorant additives. It varies from clear solvent sealers because it fully incases the old grout with an all new color. This results in sealing the grout from foreign bodies and providing a robust, uniform color throughout the entire tile floor. The Two Main Types of Color Sealers: The more affordable concrete stain – The first color sealer is a concrete or deck seal from Home Depot or your local hardware store. Many paint manufacturers offer this product, and all in all it will get the job done. The downside to lower quality sealers like this is its short life cycle. Because of its one size fits all approach, it is a thinner compound when compared to the second option and you can only expect to get a few years out of it. Beside from its downsides, its low viscosity does allow for much easier and less time consuming application. We recommend this option for lighter grout colors or grout that is not extremely discolored and just needs to be refreshed. In addition, its low cost and ability to cover a large square footage with minimal investment may be an attractive feature. The longer lasting acrylic sealers – This includes brand names like Spectrum or Color Fast. These colorants are generally thicker and provide more coverage to the desired area, which can be better for severely stained or dirty grout. Unfortunately, some downfalls are that it is more expensive and will take more time to apply than generic concrete stains. We usually recommend specialty color sealing services like this, because it will typically last much longer and create a more rich look. Two Common Ways to Apply the Sealer: A toothbrush shaped tool – Colorants may last longer when applied with a toothbrush tool as the scrubbing back-and-forth motion massages the sealer product into the pores of the grout, thus the product adheres more effectively. This procedure will last you sometimes up to 10 years of use. The only downside to scrub induced application, is the seal may vary in shade. This is because of the thin coating associated with scrubbing instead of applying in a thicker fashion. An angled paint brush – Your second, and arguably more effective method is using a paint brush for application. The paint brush method works most ideally for an older grout, as it extends more coverage to the area with a thicker coat of color seal. Ultimately this offers a more uniform look all together due to its thorough coverage. However, the cons of using a paintbrush include durability. With a thicker coat of acrylic, you’ll find that areas may chip or lift away from the grout. Problems like this can be fixed with a few simple touch ups every four to five years. Why We Don’t Recommend DIY: Professional grade acid and/or alkaline solution must be used to open up the pores of your grout, before installing the color seal. If this chemical is not used the color seal will not last very long due to underlying residues and grout haze. Inappropriate installation may result in longevity of up to one year, with a fraction of the potential quality. We never recommend that an untrained person use acid, as it is very dangerous and it could cost you thousands in damage to stainless steel appliances. Specialized commercial grade machinery is needed to get the job done correctly. Most people don’t own tools like this, and the cost of renting them would outway the cost of hiring a service company. Not to mention, there are dangers that come with high pressure water. Industry specific tools are non negotiable, this is because they are needed to fully extract years of soap residues, excess grease, and grime. For maximum quality, the professional extraction process must occur beforehand, otherwise the grout color seal will not adhere to the surface correctly. The recommended course of action for the best looking and longer lasting outcome would be to find a local service provider that can properly clean and seal your grout. Be sure to obtain it at a price that does not jeopardize quality, and make sure they offer a six month warranty on the sealer as well. What You Should Expect: Below is an infographic showcasing what you should expect from a technician or company when applying your new colorant. Sometimes processes may vary slightly, but they should never vary in the order in which they are conducted. What Usually Causes Hazy Tile Surfaces? One word, grout haze. Grout haze is most common in newly built homes that have had new tile floors installed by a contractor or restoration company. This is something that occurs when a small portion of grout residues have been left behind from grout repair services or new installations. This can happen when not enough water is used alongside the sponging process, or if the grout is allowed to dry for too long before wiping away from the tile surfaces. The installation of textured tiles can also be more tricky than usual, because the textured areas tend to capture and retain grout residues more than smooth surfaces. Recommended Course of Action If you’ve been left with a hazy tile floor that you believe is caused by grout residues, then you should always start with a small test area. You can do this by scrubbing an area with soapy water and allowing it to dry. If you end up getting a good result then DIY cleaning is an option, however it is not recommended as some soap residues can cause long term or even permanent damage to some tile and grout materials. If your test area does not meet your expectations, we recommend contacting a professional tile and grout cleaning company in your local area. You can find various “steam cleaning” services and other services very similar to that, however we recommend something very specific for grout haze removal projects. You’re going to want to look for something called a dual process cleaning. Not all cleaning companies offer this. Dual Process Cleaning: Step-By-Step When you hire a local service provider to come out and perform a dual process cleaning, you should know what to expect beforehand. In this section we’ll go over what the industry standard is for a true dual process cleaning and each step that goes behind it from beginning to end.
The End Result When done correctly, a dual process cleaning does an excellent job at removing grout haze. Below you can see our most recent grout haze removal job and the results we were able to get with the process. A More in Depth Perspective The big difference between a standard cleaning service and dual-process cleaning is the machines that are used to perform the task. Typically one machine is used for basic cleaning, many refer to this machine as a “turbo”. All in all turbos provide three major things; heat, water pressure, and suction aka extraction. While a turbo is great at reducing streaks when cleaning tile, it is not enough to effectively remove grout haze. This means that additional agitation is necessary to get the job done. This is when a dual-process cleaning is mandatory. A dual process cleaning utilizes a rotary floor machine, with a brush pad attachment. Brush pads can vary in stiffness and you should use a stiffness according to the material your tile is made of. You should always be careful to not use a brush pad that is too stiff, especially for softer stones such as travertine or marble as it can scratch or damage the tile surfaces. Most times, people are led to believe that stiffer brush pads will scrub and clean surfaces more effectively. This is not always true because softer bristles may have a more thorough contact patch with the tile surface if it is textured and it may also clean grout better if the grout lines are recessed. Here are a few different brush pads that can be used for tile and grout cleaning using a dual process - The three major variables to consider when performing a dual process cleaning is the stiffness of the brush pad, water to solution ratio, and the pH balance of the cleaning solution itself. For grout haze removal, acid is usually the best solution to be used based on our findings. However, you should never use an acidic cleaner on natural stone tile floors. Acidic cleaners may cause serious etching and ruin the stone altogether. This can result in floors that are not fixable and will need to be replaced. When removing grout haze, there are some risks involved. These risks can be mitigated by using the correct chemical, brush pad grit, chemical to water ratio, and rpms. Due to the risks associated with a dual process cleaning, we’ve created this infographic below to help you understand what specifications should be met for the type of tile that is in your home. In ConclusionNow that you understand the ins and outs of grout haze removal, it’s important that you follow these guidelines without deviation. This will ensure that the floors you’re cleaning will not be damaged and you will achieve great results once the job is complete. Don’t forget, DIY is always possible but it is of course recommended that you call a professional service provider to perform the services needed. This will ensure long lasting effects (if the company provides warranties alongside their services), and you can most likely expect good results altogether.
The team at Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning understands that cleaning equipment can be very expensive and require tons of training upfront. If you find that you’re increasingly less interested in DIY cleaning, and you would like to know the cost of grout haze removal services, please feel free to contact us and we will gladly provide you with a no obligation estimate for free. Natural stone and man made tile can add a beautiful elegance to any home. However, if it is not looked after properly, your natural stone could be left looking dull and lifeless. As professional grout and tile cleaners, we know exactly how to best care for and maintain your natural stone surfaces to keep them looking amazing. Here are a few of our favorite DIY tips and tricks for cleaning tile and natural stone without leaving streaks.
Clean as You Go The best way to keep up with your stone care is to take care of it consistently. Staying on top of your stone care makes long-term maintenance much easier. Make sure to use mats in high traffic areas and sweep at least once each week. This will make it less likely for any abrasive grime to scratch your tile surfaces. Don’t forget to shake out your mats often, so you aren't tracking dirt around, and use a soft cloth to wipe up spills as they happen so you can avoid permanent staining. Use the Right Cleaning Products Choosing the right cleaning product is the most important things to take into consideration when cleaning your stone tile. It’s essential to use cleaning products specifically formulated for use on natural stone. If you do not have a stone cleaner readily available, consider using another alkaline cleaner. Any mild neutral liquid soap with a pH of 7 will be safe to use; your average liquid dish soap will do the trick. Avoid Air drying Air drying can leave streaks and spots on your surfaces. Make sure to always dry your natural stone using a microfiber towel or a blow dryer immediately after cleaning to avoid water spots. This will ensure your tile will stay looking vibrant, bright, and streak-free. Be Gentle Natural stone may be strong, but it is also sensitive. Be gentle when working with it. Damp mop floors often to wipe away abrasive particles that could scratch your surfaces. And most importantly, remember not to drag furniture, vacuums, or any other heavy items across the floor to avoid cracks and gouges that can lead to more intense problems down the line. Skip the Steam Although steam can be an effective way to clean and sanitize without using chemicals, it can damage your natural stone if not used properly. The heat of the steam can cause expansion and contraction of the stone, which can weaken and damage your surfaces over time, as well as create a myriad of other problems such as pitting and flaking of the stone surface. Steam may also make grout harder to renew in the future, leaving you with grout coloring as the only option. This is because it opens the pores of the grout and without a professional extraction process, it can cause grease stains to settle deeper over time. This is less important for non-sanded grout. See this blog post to better understand the differences between sanded and non-sanded grout. Finally, Consider Calling the Pros So, you’ve taken all our excellent advice, but you still have some difficult tile and grout stains? The best way to take care of your natural stone and tile is to call in the professionals. Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning has been cleaning, maintaining, and restoring floors for well over two decades. Call us today and let us take care of your beautiful natural stone surfaces and leave them clean, refreshed, and looking good as new. Serving the regions of Phoenix, AZ, Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning is set for growth in the coming months. The company just added new service vans to their existing fleet. This new addition shows their dedication to getting jobs scheduled as fast as possible for each and every customer.
Phoenix, AZ, USA – Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning provides full-service tile and grout cleaning. The company holds expertise in all things related to tile cleaning, travertine polishing, travertine cleaning, grout cleaning, grout sealing, grout coloring, shower cleaning, and much more. The company just added new service vans to serve more customers at a higher volume with an enhanced servicing experience. These new vans are proof that Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning is ready to scale and committed to providing excellent quality services to customers all over Phoenix, AZ and nearby regions. The company has been in the market for more than twenty-five years. In all these years, the company has gained the immense trust of customers all over the state of Arizona. The company has survived the fate of time and is still going strong into the future. With the added service vehicles to the fleet, the company will prove how a timeless service provider can win the hearts of many new and existing customers. The founder of Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning says: “We specialize in cleaning and fully restoring tile, grout, and a variety of natural stones in the Phoenix area. We have recently procured new service vans to satisfy our ever-increasing clientele. The new vans will be dedicated to providing better, faster, and quality customer support to our customers in Phoenix.” The company can work on all things related to tile, grout, marble, and travertine services. Be it residential or commercial property, they can get the job done when it comes to cleaning, polishing, and refinishing tile floors. By having a procedure for every process, they’re able to offer the most affordable rates in the local market. This has given the company a great reputation while gaining trust among countless customers in the area. They’re currently the only floor care company in Arizona that manages a five star rating across every single internet platform. At Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning, the staff consists of well-trained, competent, and courteous workers. These workers are well-informed about how to get the best results when cleaning, polishing, or servicing any kind of tile floor. They know that even a little change in composition can throw off the quality of work and even damage certain types of tile. The company ensures that all staff will use proper methods to make every job efficient and effective. About Them: The company is a family-owned and operated tile and grout cleaning company that serves all the major areas of Phoenix, AZ. With the experience of 25 years, Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning is able to serve residential as well as commercial properties. Whether you’re doing an entire remodel or just repairing small grout joints, the grout that you choose is vital to ensuring that it will last for an extended period of time, and endure the conditions that it's exposed to. Each type of grout is designed for very specific applications, and if the wrong one is used it could jeopardize the durability and effectiveness for your project. This can cause grout haze possibly being left behind, resulting in scratches on your tile surface over a period of time. In this blog post we’ll be addressing the different types of grout that are available to you, and which you should consider for your project whether it be large or small.
Sanded GroutYou can find sanded grout at most hardware stores locally, especially because it's the more common option of the two. The primary attribute of sanded grout is that it has sand in it (if you couldn't have guessed that one). This means that the characteristics of how it responds to moisture and movement are totally different from non-sanded grout. This results in a much more porous material, meaning it will absorb moisture and is more susceptible to staining from extended exposure to hard water, grease, and grime. However, the sanded compound allows for more leniency when being applied. It typically does a much better job than non-sanded grout at filling large gaps, whether it be between two tiles or around a shower floor perimeter. When It Should be UsedSanded grout should be used in most applications. These instances include when a gap or grout joint is larger than 1/8th of an inch, the area is not going to endure prolonged exposure to moisture, and the tiles are not using a floating system. If your tile project meets this criteria, then you should most likely use a sanded grout. However there are exceptions, and this is why we always recommend speaking with a professional service provider. Non-sanded GroutNon-sanded grout can be found locally, however you may need to do a little more searching than you would expect, as it is less common than sanded grout. You can often-times find it in Home Depot or Lowes, but not always. You can save yourself the hassle and time by traveling to a more specialized store that only supplies tools and materials for flooring companies, such as Big D Floor Covering Supplies. This will ensure that you find exactly what you’re looking for as they carry a wider range of grout options than its competitors. Non-sanded grout should be used in tighter areas where sanded grout may have a harder time providing a proper seal for. If the grout joint of focus is less than 1/8th of an inch or exposed to moisture, then you should consider using a non-sanded grouting option. When It Should be UsedWe do not recommend using a non-sanded grout in areas with larger gaps, this is because it is actually more fragile and could eventually start to crack and loosen over an extended period of time and usage. So try and avoid grouting main traffic areas (or all of the floor) with non-sanded grout. This will help ensure that your project will last and endure normal daily activities. Make sure you always take into consideration the conditions the area will be exposed to and the width of the grout joint. In ConclusionYou now know when to use the different types of grouting options that are available to you. This article was written to help people understand that the type of grout they use is vital to it’s performance and longevity. It is never recommended to try and perform a DIY grouting project as it can result in leaving behind haze on tile surfaces, and turning the project into a much more expensive one very quickly. If this happens, then you may be stuck trying to remove etching, scratches, and staining from your travertine tile surfaces later on. This is why Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning offers a 6 month warranty on all of our work, alleviating our customers of any potential stress associated with doing it themselves or having to have their floors replaced altogether. The company, Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning is an upcoming floor refinishing service that is announcing its new release of travertine polishing services for both residential and commercial property owners. Sometimes cleaning tile and grout by itself doesn’t get the best results possible, and more in depth services have to be carried out to achieve “like-new” appearances for some types of tile. This is especially true for natural stones such as travertine, because they tend to lose their satin or glossy finish over time with general use. The company has solved this problem by offering full-service travertine polishing for it’s customers all across Phoenix, AZ. They hope to increase customer satisfaction by offering these services as an option for people that want their travertine tile to look brand new again. “We’ve quickly come to the realization that cleaning by itself sometimes just isn’t enough for all tile floors. We believe that polishing travertine is an excellent option for people that would like something more thorough than cleaning, yet more cost effective than replacing their floors altogether.” – said Sabrina Cane
Finding the right floor refinishing company can be a difficult task. Many of them are not IICRC certified, and they offer a wide range of services that are unrelated to one another. It’s advised to find a company that has one specific area of expertise. This is why Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning only offers services related to cleaning, sealing, color sealing, and polishing both man-made tile and natural stone flooring. They believe that they can be the best option for their local area by specializing in one specific service category, while using the best in class electric truck-mounted systems for a safer environment. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about grout and tile related services, visit their main website at https://cleaning-phx.com/ or alternatively call them at (602) 932-6349. Natural stones such as travertine can be more susceptible to damage than other man made tiles like porcelain or ceramic. Theres a number of things that can cause damage whether it be from a liquid or a hard object scratching into its surface. Most of the time these issues can be remediated with travertine polishing services despite the severity of the situation, and its nothing you should lose sleep over. However if the issue is not taken care of in a timely manner, it can worsen over time and become harder to restore the travertine back to its original state. What Causes Etching? Etching is more common than you would think, especially in stones like travertine whether it be on the tile floor, in the bathroom shower, or kitchen countertops. Any fluid that is acidic can cause etching, even in the slightest. Tomato juice, orange juice, apple juice, lemonade, and various types of soda are all acidic drinks that can cause etching in natural stone. You should be careful to not spill any of these unforgiving liquids on your travertine floors, because it will cause etching and it is an inconvenience to remove. If you clean your floors on your own it’s important that you use an alkaline based cleaning solution as it is the only safe way to clean natural stone. Often times people will buy the most aggressive cleaners thinking they will get a better result than a diluted alkaline based degreaser. This is a huge mistake because the majority of cleaning solutions are not safe for stone, and they can very well cause etching. What Causes Staining? Staining is less common than etching, however it does happen quite a bit, we’ve had customers that have needed us to come out and remove many stains from there travertine because they were simply unaware that it could happen. Staining is usually caused by any fluid or food that is dark in color such as wine or oil. Its not something you should worry about if you’ve had your travertine sealed in the past, however if you have never sealed your travertine then you should be extra careful until you do. What Causes Deep or Superficial Scratches? This is more of a common sense thing, however the team at Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning always seem to be amazed. Sliding furniture such as couches, coffee tables, dining-room tables, and recliners can all cause very serious scratches in your tile flooring. Other natural elements that are more common in areas like Phoenix, AZ can result in scratches as well. This would include small rocks and pebbles that love to stick to the bottom of your shoes and make their way into your home. When one of these bad boys slides across your tile, it will create a valley you won’t be happy with.
How We Remediate Etch Marks, Deep Stains, and Scratches From Travertine Tile We get it, any discrepancy in your natural stone can be an eye sore and no one wants to live in a constant compromise when they’ve paid a premium price for their home. So it’s important those stains are removed and you get back to your normal life right away. 99% of the time, honing the travertine and bringing back up to a desired level of polish is the way to go. When we resurface floors using a rotary floor machine, we usually get a great result in removing etching, staining, and scratches. The Learning Curve and Necessary Equipment Can Be Expensive and Time Consuming Travertine polishing can be a time consuming task, and if you don’t have the right tools or experience you risk not getting the results you may want in the end. When working with such expensive natural stones, it's important that you or the company you choose to hire have extensive experience in the field. This is because serious damage can occur if not done properly, and it will cost you multiples more than intended to have the floors replaced. We always recommend that a professional is hired to get the job done correctly. The staffing at Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning has years of experience with honing and polishing travertine tile floors, and we would like to offer them to you at an affordable price. If you need blemishes removed and would like to bring back the original shine that your floor once had, please feel free to give us a call at (602) 932-6349 or request a quote here. There’s a lot of cleaning solutions available to the average consumer, and it is quite difficult to navigate the options that are out there. There’s a lot to consider, such as how safe they are for the material that you’re cleaning, how abrasive it is, and whether or not you will have to worry about leaving residues behind. Many people jump straight into cleaning without really thinking about the longer-term effects that cleaning solutions can have on grout and tile surfaces. In this blog post, we’ll be talking about the best cleaning solutions available to you (based on our experience) and how you can use them to get the best results possible. The Five Primary Benefits of Alkaline Degreasers 1. Versatility Alkaline degreaser is a great cleaner to be used, it provides great results and usually does an awesome job at lifting out grease and grime from tile, grout, and various natural stones. Without the help of an effective cleaning chemical, these tasks would otherwise be very difficult to achieve. Typically, most cleaning solutions available in stores cannot safely clean almost all materials like alkaline solutions can, ranging from man-made tile to natural stones such as travertine. This added layer of versatility is one of the strongest selling points for alkaline-based cleaners, as other cleaners do not usually offer this level of versatility. You have to be careful using cleaners that are not alkaline-based, always be sure to read the instructions and verify that the surface you’re cleaning is compatible with the cleaning solution. Otherwise, you face risks of damaging, burning or etching the surface of your tile floor, shower, and/or countertop. One of the most valuable features of alkaline cleaners is that they can be used on almost all types of man-made tile and natural stones, this is a huge upside due to added convenience factor and versatility. It provides incredible results for all the following materials: Tile: Porcelain, Ceramic Grout: Sanded, Non-sanded Stones: Travertine, Flagstone, Slate, Limestone Countertops: Marble, Granite, Quartz 2. Cost-Effective Unlike most cleaning solutions, alkaline degreasers such as Zep or Ultra Clean – by Modern Stone Technologies do a great job in smaller, less concentrated quantities (sometimes even better). A five to one ratio can be used for starters, allowing you to gain a baseline for what you can expect the rest of your cleaning project to turn out like. These cleaners usually do a great job in a less concentrated form factor, however, a more aggressive mixing ratio can be used without risk of etching your tile, grout, or countertop surface as you would experience with an acidic cleaning solution. It’s important to note that the higher concentration used, the more you have to worry about extracting residues after scrubbing, and the less cost-effective the cleaning solution becomes. 3. Safer Than Its Counterparts Don’t we all love having peace of mind? That’s a great attribute to not overlook when using alkaline degreasers. Just knowing for a fact that your expensive surfaces are being cleaned and they’re being cleaned safely, can oftentimes be a deciding factor for most people. The risks associated with other cleaners can put your grout, tile, showers, and countertops at risk of needing to be polished or sometimes even replaced. As you probably know, honing and travertine polishing is a multi-step process and sometimes it can be an expensive method as well. This is why we almost always recommend a conservative alkaline ratio to aid a soft bristle brush in your cleaning efforts. Below you can see a visual representation of our ph scale, ranging from most acidic to most alkaline/basic: 4. Compounding Cleaning Potential and Minimal Effort One of the most overlooked strategies in the cleaning/restoration industry is allowing the cleaning solution to soak for at least fifteen minutes to one hour. If you decide to soak your grout or tile surfaces for longer than 20 minutes, then it’s important to make sure that the surfaces are kept wet and pretreated. You should never let the surface dry throughout the entire cleaning process. When tile, grout, or, natural stones such as travertine or slate are pretreated for a substantial period of time, the level of cleanliness is not a diminishing return, but rather exponential. Typical store-bought cleaners usually require a higher concentration than Zep or Ultra Clean, you should consider this when shopping for an alkaline cleaning solution. 5. Cleaners We Suggest Deciding on a cleaning solution can be a difficult task, as there are a ton of options available in the marketplace. At the end of the day, they’re all great cleaners and will get the job done, however, depending on the type of cleaning that you’re doing you may find better results with one or the other. You can better understand the pros and cons of each cleaner and get an understanding for what their strengths are with the infographic that we’ve provided below: Conclusion
The cleaning solution that you decide to use for your cleaning project whether it’s at home or in the office, should be determined based on the type of material that you’re cleaning (this should not be a compromise). If you’ve tried cleaning your tile and grout, or natural stone such as travertine, and you are not happy with the results, we would like to offer our professional cleaning and floor refinishing services to you at a discounted rate. You may give us a call at (602) 932-6349 or visit our homepage to take advantage of this offer. Despite industry standards and hefty out of pocket costs, the company, Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning, is determined to do their part in contributing to a safe environment. For the past 45 days they’ve been transitioning all of their gasoline pressure washing and extraction units to all-new electric machines (ETMs). As they venture into uncharted territory, they hope to achieve an increased rate of customer satisfaction and contribute to a safer environment, all while bettering the quality of their service. The company offers many valuable and insightful resources, in hopes of helping people better understand the cleaning industry.
In today's time, the majority of cleaning and restoration businesses utilize gas powered truck mounted pressure washing units to clean tile and grout. As time goes on and technology advances within the industry, this method of cleaning is becoming commonly known as outdated. Gas powered truck-mounts can emit carbon monoxide and its toxicity throughout the customer’s home, making any project dangerous for both the customer and technician. Additionally, traditional gas powered units can be a huge inconvenience for most types of customers, this is because they’re loud and noisy by nature, take longer to finish grout cleaning projects due to cooling precautions, and require lengthy setup procedures. The team at Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning have made the decision to transition into electric truck mounted units, not only to avoid the downsides of gas powered units, but to reap the benefits of ETMs. This is something they feel should be celebrated, as they’ve been working towards this goal long before bringing their brand online. “A lot of time and energy has gone into this transition, and we really hope our existing and prospective customers appreciate it. I think once we’re able to effectively showcase the fact that electric equipment does a much better job at cleaning, our customers will be very happy. Our company is excited to see even cleaner tile and grout, all while utilizing tools that are drastically more favorable to all parties.”- said Sabrina Cane Electric pressure washing and extraction units provide a ton of rewarding attributes as compared to traditional gas powered ones. With higher water pressure, more suction power, and increased mobility, you can expect your grout and tile flooring to turn out cleaner than what a gas machine could ever do. ETMs are safer for grout and natural stones such as travertine, marble, and flagstone, this is because the water jet PSI is adjustable. This is a feature that allows the technician to assess the condition of your tile, and make an educated decision as to what PSI is effective yet safe for the job. Aside from benefits regarding their services, ETMs also offer zero carbon monoxide emissions, safer working conditions, environmentally safe, and 95% less noise decibels. These are all key components that have contributed to the company’s decision to make such a drastic change in their operations. Media contact: Company: Phoenix Tile And Grout Cleaning Contact Person: Sabrina Cane Phone: (602) 932-6349 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.cleaning-phx.com/ Location: Phoenix, AZ |
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