Although we showed you the “finished” floors in yesterday’s post, there is one part of the process that we haven’t covered–grout! In my post about Tips for Achieving Realistic Faux Wood Tile, I mentioned that “opting for a grout color a shade darker than our tile will keep things looking more natural.” Our grout lines were the smallest possible at 1/16″ (another great tip to keep things looking realistic!), so unsanded grout was our only option. After surveying all the colors, Mocha looked like the best bet. It didn’t contrast the tile too much, but matched the darkest shade in the wood grain pattern on the tile. We actually hired out the grouting job. After Chris was up until anywhere from 11:30pm to 2:30am laying all of the floors, paying $500 for what we thought was a fool-proof job, seemed like the perfect celebratory gift–we tackled the clean-up and haze removal ourselves. Which was a little intimidating at first because there was a lot of haze: We waited the recommended 24 hours after grouting for it to fully cure before tackling the haze.

My mom and I went to our local Ace Hardware to pick up supplies for the job over the weekend. One of the workers there suggested that a solution of distilled vinegar and warm water will cut right through the haze. I loved the sound of the chemical free fix. He helped us find some mops and buckets, a scrubby for any stubborn areas and they even carried the vinegar. We mixed about one part vinegar to 4 parts warm water. Since there was 1500 sq feet of haze to cover, two of my sisters pitched in, too, and we all tag-teamed the task while my mom was on clean water duty. (^38 weeks pregnant–I’m going to pop!) We’d do a whole room, refresh the solution of vinegar and water and do it once more (twice in more hazy spaces). It was so impressive to watch the haze lift right off the tile (thanks for the rec, Ace worker!) and the vinegar solution dried without a scent–no worries. The only disheartening part was there was still a lot of variance in some of the grout lines as you can see above.

While most of them cleaned up by our second pass through revealing that warm mocha color we picked out: There were a lot of areas where the grout lines were much lighter and splotchy: I took a toothbrush and the same vinegar solution to clean a test area–thinking it might still have some haze on it (??) but unfortunately, it dried just as light. After some research into grout variance and asking our friends at The Tile Shop (where we got the grout), they said it was most likely user error while laying the grout–either too much water when mixing, not mixing it thoroughly enough or too much water when sponging it off. portable steam cleaner big wBummer that the one part of the job we hired out seems to have managed to not turn out the way we hoped.pool party las vegas march 2013

As for remedying the light grout lines, we ordered a grout dye and sealer in one to try out and will update you soon. The good news is we’re haze free and that part was a lot easier than we thought it would be. I was imagining buffing each individual tile with cheese cloth until the baby got here. In reality, it took us about 2 hours to do the entire 1500 square feet with items we found at our local Ace (or you might already have at home!). Do you have a home maintenance project to tackle? pool cleaning winter havenAce’s wide product selection (vinegar, people) and helpful customer service (our favorite!) can definitely help–but how about $100 to spend at Ace Hardware, too? carpet cleaning supplies orlandoEnter through the Rafflecopter widget below. carpet cleaner for couch

(We’ll choose a winner Friday night and update this post.) We’re excited to be collaborating with Ace Hardware as a part of their Ace Blogger Panel this year. Ace has provided us with compensation and the materials necessary to complete this project, but all opinions and sweat are our own. Use the search box to find the product you are looking for. Username or email *STONE TILE CARE & MAINTENANCE (ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFORMATION BELOW)best domestic carpet cleaner uk Marble, granite, travertine, limestone and slate are quarried products. Stones are a natural honed or polished rock, not factory-made or fired. No two pieces are alike and there are inherent variances in all stone. These characteristics may be color and shade variations, irregular markings, voids, pitting, veins, and differences in density causing sheen variations. It is a standard practice to repair some of these variations by one or more of the following methods;

waxing, grinding or filling. Due to normal wear, cracks and voids may appear; these can be readily repaired using floor grout and/or epoxy. All of these variations and characteristics are common and present, to some degree. However, these characteristics are part of the natural beauty of the stone and will not impair the function or wearing qualities of the material. To avoid damage caused by tracked-in dirt, place floor mats inside and outside of exterior entryways. Sweep or vacuum regularly to prevent loose dirt from abrading your floor. Tracked-in dirt is abrasive and can mar the flooring surface. A regular maintenance regimen will help your natural stone be more resistant to scratching and wear. Natural stone, especially polished stone, is sensitive to harsh chemicals. We recommend wiping or mopping stone surfaces with warm water or a pH-balanced neutral cleaner. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing and dry with a soft cloth. Change the rinse water frequently. Do not use scouring powders or creams;

these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface. Do not use vinegar or any cleaners containing acids or strong alkaline agents. Whether a stone product is sealed or unsealed, all spills must be cleaned up immediately to avoid possible staining and acid burns from citrus juices or acidic liquids. Acid-based foods, such as citrus or tomatoes, can etch into the polish of more delicate stones, like marble and onyx. Do not place hot items, such as pots and pans, on any stone. As a safety precaution, use coasters on countertops. To prevent alkaline and soap-scum buildup, use squeegees in shower areas. Other large surfaces, such as flooring, are best cared for by a licensed maintenance company to protect the natural stone. A quality impregnating sealer penetrates stone, allows the stone to breathe and permits more of the stone's natural beauty to shine through. Unsealed stone is more susceptible to absorbing moisture, dirt and cleaning chemicals. Most licensed fabricators strongly recommend that a penetrating sealer be applied soon after installation of slabs.

Arizona Tile makes no recommendation for, or against applications to seal. Each job is unique and custom not only to the product selected, but to the application as well. The buyer should discuss with the contractor/builder the necessity of sealing. An aftermarket service and maintenance program is best administered by a licensed stone restoration company. Arizona Tile carries a complete line of cleaning and sealing products. Find the nearest Arizona Tile location for more information. PORCELAIN & CERAMIC TILE CARE & MAINTENANCE To avoid damage caused by tracked-in dirt, place floor mats inside and outside of exterior entryways. Tracked-in dirt is abrasive and can mar the flooring surface. Normal maintenance for glazed or unglazed floor tile is damp mopping with a pH-balanced neutral cleaner and warm water. Thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing. You should not use a detergent on glazed tile, since soap film will give a dull appearance to the tile. No need to wax, polish or buff.

Simply wiping glazed tile with a damp sponge or mop will maintain the luster. Do not use scouring powders; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface of the tile. Do not use vinegar or any cleaners containing acids or strong alkaline agents. A variety of cleaning products are available and will vary depending on the application, amount of traffic and use. Please consult an Arizona Tile representative for more information. It is recommended to clean up spills on the tile as soon as possible. Use floor protectors on furniture legs. Do not push or pull your furniture or appliances across the floor without first protecting. To protect countertop surfaces, use coasters, trivets or placemats. Should your porcelain or ceramic tile become broken, chipped or damaged, it is possible to have it repaired. It is highly recommended to keep extra tiles from the original installation for future repairs. Della Terra® Quartz, a natural quartz surface, is a blend of nature and technology, combining beauty and functionality in a high performance surface.

Della Terra® Quartz is approximately 90% quartz, one of the hardest minerals in nature. Color controlled quartz is blended together with technologically advanced polymers. Because of its high quartz content, Della Terra Quartz surfaces are ultra-durable and resistant to scratches and chipping. Its dense composition also makes Della Terra® Quartz highly resistant to staining. Della Terra® Quartz is heat-resistant, however it is always recommended to set hot skillets, pans, crock pots, griddles, electric skillets and any type of electric cooker on hot pads or trivets, not directly on the quartz surface. This is recommended, to prevent the slab from cracking due to the heat. Della Terra® Quartz is also highly scratch-resistant, but not scratch-proof. It is recommended to always use cutting boards and avoid cutting and preparing food directly on the quartz surface. It is also recommended to avoid using highly abrasive sponges that may scratch the surface. Avoid exposing your quartz surface to chemicals and solvents, especially paint removers or furniture strippers that might contain trichlorethane or methylene chloride.

Keep solvents, nail polish removers, acetone alcohol, thinners, detergents containing bleach, laundry bluing, highly alkaline liquids such as bleach, caustic soda or oven cleaners, acids, oily soaps, descalers, markers or ink, abrasive and micro-abrasive detergents, away from the surface. If any of the substances listed above come into contact with your quartz surface, rinse the exposed surface immediately and thoroughly with plenty of clean water. It is best to avoid the exposure of UV rays on your quartz surface to protect the surface from any possible change in the color over time. For honed and brushed quartz slabs, the factory recommends sealing with a water based sealer, to help with the ease of daily maintenance. Della Terra® Quartz is a low maintenance surface and can be cleaned with extreme ease. For routine cleaning, use a damp cloth or paper towel and, if necessary, any pH neutral cleaner or gentle soap and water is recommended. Spread the cleaner on the surface, after a few seconds wipe off with a damp cloth, then carefully dry the surface.

Take extra care when cleaning the delicate metallic pieces and other acid-sensitive materials that may be in the quartz tops. Della Terra® Quartz countertops are highly resistant to staining, including those from common household spills, such as tea, coffee, lemon juice, soda, fruit, vegetable juice, olive oil or grease spills. However, it is always important to wipe up the stain as quickly as possible. For stubborn or dried spills, deep clean the surface by spraying a neutral or slightly acidic pH cleaner, specifically designed for deep-cleaning quartz-based engineered countertops, and consistently spread it with a non-abrasive cloth. Allow the cleaner to work for 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water until the cleaner is completely removed. Remove the excess water with a cloth and dry.  If the stain is not completely removed, repeat the entire process. Do not use strong, abrasive cleaning products. Always follow the manufacturer’s dilution instructions and recommendations.