Tile Maintenance
Tile Grout Maintenance, Problems and Solutions
Maintaining the grout
With tiles there is always grouting, and grout does need to be maintained or even replaced if too much deterioration has taken place. Deterioration such as cracks may start small but they'll grow over time. Eventually water seeps in and not only will the grout begin to crumble, but rot will occur in walls and floors where it cannot be seen.
Common in areas such as bathrooms where there is constant exposure to moisture, staining and deterioration can occur over time.
Tips on how to keep the grout clean:
Use a silicone base spray over the surface of the tiling and grout (called a 'sealer'), making the area more water resistant.
Ensure there is adequate ventilation in the area, not allowing any dampness to accumulate.
Get into the habit of rinsing down the shower tiles after use, extending the cleanliness and life of the grout.
To clean grout that is partially discoloured, try using a toothbrush with a diluted bleach solution. Scrub and rinse well.
Lastly, the internal corner at wall to wall or wall to floor junctions are usually sealed with silicone. These areas can also discolour and wear over time. It may pay to get the silicone replaced as soon as you notice the deterioration as you do not want to be faced with rotting walls or floors from moisture getting through.
Stained Tile Grout
With grout often being in areas with heavy use, they can often become stained and unsightly.
The best thing is to clean the grout immediately when the stain occurs as if the stain becomes permanent, you'll have to replace the grout.
Common Stains and How to Clean them:
Wine, fruit juices, coffee & mustard
Cleaning tip: Scrub with a non-bleaching cleaner. Allow to sit for several minutes. Then rinse.
Rust & Hard water
Cleaning tip: Scrub with a non-bleaching scouring powder and then rinse thoroughly.
Fresh paint
Cleaning tip: Remove with commercial paint remover, per label directions.
Oil:
Cleaning tip: Scrub with a detergent or with a mixture of 10% baking soda in warm water.
Old paint
Cleaning tip: Carefully loosen paint with a razor blade. If necessary, follow up with paint remover.
