Grout is not designed to adhere to other grout. Therefore the new grout floated or placed over the old grout will eventually flake or peel off.The molecules that are in penetrating sealers soak into the pours of the grout and fill in the microscopic holes creating a barrier against oil & water based stains. Cleaning & resealing your grout should occur at least twice per year. Most tile installers try to avoid sealing your grout because this means they need to come back one extra day just to seal it for you. It’s better for them to just tell you it’s not necessary, then to waste another day. Much like if a car dealer told you to never wax your vehicles finish. Inevitably, if you don’t wax the finish of your vehicle, the shine will go away. Just like how grout will accumulate so much dirt, the stains may be permanent. There is nothing that will prevent grout from accumulating dirt and oil from the floor. Remember this is a joint that will collect anything that gets caught in it.

The best defense against is sealing or staining grout and using proper cleaning products that break down the oils & dirt from your floor. This is probably one of the best ways to fool customers. There is NOTHING anyone can put on your grout that will keep it from getting dirty. This is simply a sales tactic to lure you in. The ONLY way to keep the grout clean is with proper maintenance.  Trust me when I say, if you call them in 10 years….if they are still open, WILL NOT come back to your home to fix anything. Using anything to coat over ceramic & porcelain tile should be avoided at all costs. Acrylic sealers are used for Mexican (Saltillo) or brick paver type of floor. These floors are a clay type of tile and can absorb the sealer. b.      If you mop any acrylic sealer on your floor, eventually the sealer with begin to break down and flak of in the traffic areas. The sealer will also embed itself into your grout and it is almost impossible to remove it completely without regrouting the floor.

This is only true when it comes to nonsanded grout for (1/8” or smaller joints) in a shower or tub stall.  Otherwise, when dealing with sanded grout for (1/8 or larger joints) and when the grout is in a solid smooth condition, you can stain the grout to renew it to its original condition. Regrouting sanded grout should always be your last option. Unfortunately, nonsanded grout san not be colored or stained. Some companies try to do this but it will end up being a mess. Nonsanded grout does not have pours, therefore the stain has nothing to soak into. The color will just leave a thick coating on your grout that will soon begin to peel away. This is not the case. With most steam cleaning companies, carpet cleaning is likely their bread & butter. They have simply changed the nozzle on their hose and are offering grout & tile cleaning. The problem is, the heat & pressure that steam cleaning creates can be too extreme for grout. Grout is held together by bonding agents and using pressure & steam can cause the grout to become brittle and fall apart.

When your floor begins to show signs of missing or cracked grout lines, there is an underline problem. In some cases the house has settled and the foundation gave way to a sediment crack.  With most cases it’s Hydrostatic pressure (water) being released from the foundation causing the tile to lift. best way to clean plaster off tilesIf regrouted, these cracks will occur again. best carpet cleaners in miami flThe way to find out if it’s a hallow tile is to tap on the surface of the tile. carpet cleaning products and pregnancyIf the sound is hallow and now solid, the only way top fix this problem is to remove the tile and reset or replace it.Bleach is a whitening agent and will only mask the problem by lightening the grout for a short time.

Using proper cleaning solutions for grout are the best was to clean grout. If the grout is in a shower, the mold & mildew grow from the under-structure of the tile moving outward through the grout. So bleaching it will only lighten the grout for a short time, but the mold & mildew will return. The only way to truly get rid of the mold & mildew in a shower is to remove the old grout & caulk, clean it, then regrout and recaulk. This is old logic. There are so many more affective cleaners out there that do a better job for cleaning your grout & tile. People recommended water & vinegar because there wasn’t anything that wasn’t harsh to clean floors. Today there are cleaners such as Neutral Floor cleaners. These cleaners are low on the PH scale and aren’t too acidic and won’t break down your sealers too quickly. They also contain degreasing agents and since dirt and grease are the main causes of grout discoloration, it makes sense to use a product that helps break those things down.

You can find these cleaners at janitorial supply stores or and Home Depot or Lowe’s.Most types of tiles that are made from clay or a mixture of clay and other materials and then kiln-fired, are considered to be a part of the larger classification called “Ceramic Tiles”. These tiles can be split into two groups, porcelain tiles and non-porcelain tiles. These non-porcelain tiles are frequently referred to as ceramic tiles by themselves, separate from porcelain tiles - confusing! Non-porcelain ceramic tiles are generally made from red or white clay fired in a kiln. They are almost always finished with a durable glaze, which carries the color and pattern. These tiles are used in both wall and floor applications. Non-porcelain ceramic tiles are usually suitable for very light to moderate traffic and generally have a relatively high water absorption rating making them less frost resistant and they are more prone to wear and chipping than porcelain tiles. Porcelain tile is more scratch resistant than ceramic tile.

Also, porcelain tile is fired at higher temperatures than ceramic, resulting in superior durability and stain resistance. Porcelain unglazed tile is generally made by the dust pressed method from porcelain clays which result in a tile that is dense, impervious, fine grained and smooth, with a sharply formed face. Porcelain tiles usually have a much lower water absorption rate (less than 0.5%) than non-porcelain ceramic tiles making them frost resistant. Full body porcelain tiles carry the color and pattern through the entire thickness of the tile making them virtually impervious to wear and are suitable for any application from residential to the highest traffic commercial or industrial applications. Because porcelain tile is fire-hardened and quite hard, it can be cleaned at pressures up to 1,450 PSI if the grout is in good condition. Porcelain unglazed tiles are similar to glazed tile, except that their surface is not coated. Full-body porcelain unglazed tiles do not show wear because their color extends throughout the tile, making them ideal for commercial applications.

PEI classes range from 0 to 5. The Porcelain Enamel Institute rating scale is not a measurement of quality. It is a scale that clearly indicates the areas of use each manufacturer recommends and has designed their tile to fit. A PEI 2 tile has been designed for areas where very low traffic and soiling is anticipated. In most cases the aesthetic detailing of these tiles is of prime consideration. You will often find high gloss levels, vibrant colorations and metallic elements in this group of tile. Conversely, a PEI 5 tile has been designed for abusive extra heavy foot traffic: Glazed tiles are coated with a liquid glass, which is then baked into the surface of the clay. The glaze provides an unlimited array of colors and designs as well as protects the tile from staining. A glazed tile is already stain proof, so there is no purpose to putting on a sealer. However, the grout joint between the tiles is usually very porous and generally made of a cement-based material. Therefore, grout joints typically will need to be sealed and maintained properly to prevent stains and discoloration.

Impregnating sealers such as All-Purpose Grout Sealer go into the grout joint and protect against water and oil-based stains. Most industry professionals recognize that grout is best protected with a fluorochemical-based sealer, such as Impregnator Pro or All-Purpose Grout Sealer. If the grout joint is epoxy, a sealer is not necessary. Unglazed porcelain tile should be protected with a penetrating sealer, such as Sta-Clene, Bullet Proof or Impregnator Pro, including the grout lines. The penetrating sealer is an invisible, stain resistant shield that is absorbed into the surface. Cementitious grout must be sealed to prevent or minimize staining. Leaving these surfaces unsealed may greatly hinder the ability to completely remove stains in the future. Allow new installations to cure for 72 hours prior to applying sealer. For a natural looking protector on interior surfaces (heavy duty protection, water and oil repellency): Use a ph-balanced cleaner such as Stone & Tile Cleaner or Revitalizer to keep surfaces clean from everyday soils and stains.

Vacuum or dust frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit may scratch your tile or build-up on your grout joint leading to discoloration. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help minimize the potential damage from these particles. Damp mop your tile floor with a diluted solution of neutral cleaner such as Stone & Tile Cleaner or Revitalizer. Try to stay off the floor until it is completely dry, as wet tile floors may be slippery. For daily maintenance cleaning, use a neutral, ph-balanced cleaner such as Stone & Tile Cleaner or Revitalizer to clean everyday soils and stains. In the bath, or other wet areas, using a squeegee after each use can help minimize this build-up. For cleaning and restoring old ceramic, porcelain tile and grout to like new condition, we recommend using an acidic cleaner such as Restore designed for this surface. This will remove tough soap scum, hard water deposits, grout haze and efflorescence. If you have heavy grease and oil stains, pre-clean using an alkaline cleaner formulated for ceramic and porcelain tile, such as KlenzAll heavy duty alkaline cleaner and degreaser.

This will cut through tough grease and soil stains. After restoring your tile and grout, remember to seal with an impregnating sealer such as Bullet Proof or Impregnator Pro, including the grout lines.to guard against future stains. Ceramic and porcelain tile is usually impervious or highly resistant to staining. However, grout may be a different story. Substances that are highly acidic, such as orange juice, coffee, vinegar, wine, tomato-based products, mustard and many soft drinks will most likely leave an “etch,” a chemical reaction that may leave a dull area or mark. Properly sealing the grout will give you time to wipe up a spill to avoid staining, but it cannot prevent etching. In addition, ordinary household cleaners with colored dyes or those containing bleach, ammonia or abrasives are not recommended for ceramic, porcelain tile & grout. They may damage the surface and likely degrade the sealer that is applied to the grout, which provides stain protection. Scoop up food with a plastic spoon.