Living The Dream
Member
I have been asked to clean some tile and grout without stripping off the sealer. Any suggestions on what to use?
Cleaning tile and grout only
- Thread starter Living The Dream
- Start date
Old Coastie
Supportive Member
Nick, in general you just use a neutral cleaner and a floor brush in such cases. Flush and extract the slops.
But: The sealer may be damaged from normal wear, the homeowner's use of strong detergents or the soils laid down over time. Cooking grease and spills can penetrate all the way through. The sealer may have been put down over uncleaned grout.
In short, emphasize that what you use will clean, but not damage the tile and grout. It won't fox any problems that are already there, either. It would be better to let you clean normally, and re-seal.
But: The sealer may be damaged from normal wear, the homeowner's use of strong detergents or the soils laid down over time. Cooking grease and spills can penetrate all the way through. The sealer may have been put down over uncleaned grout.
In short, emphasize that what you use will clean, but not damage the tile and grout. It won't fox any problems that are already there, either. It would be better to let you clean normally, and re-seal.
Living The Dream
Member
I have only talked to the owner and haven't seen the actual tile yet. But from what I'm told is that the home was built recently as a vacation home and hasn't had much use. They asked me to do the carpets and asked if I could do the tile while I'm there also but expressed that they really just wanted the tile to be cleaned and not resealed. I don't do much tile and grout but I have done some. I usually use my tile spinner and grout master which from my experience can be a mild stripper.
Just use your carpet prespray with a ph of around 8-9. And get rid of that ***********. I've read a few horror stories about that stuff
Living The Dream
Member
Thanks Matt! I'll see what I have for prespray around that ph.
Living The Dream
Member
Great info! Thanks!
Living The Dream
Member
It doesn't have any butyl in it, which is the key ingredient to stripping floors
Just mix it a little weak, and you should be ok
Living The Dream
Member
Thanks Matt! Always appreciate your input!
Nate The Great
Member
Listening to Matty, you need your head examined...
clean image
Member
There should not be a coating sealer on tile
And grout installation. CPT.
HO definition of waht sealer is differs wildly
And grout installation. CPT.
HO definition of waht sealer is differs wildly
Listen to nate, and you'll end up being a peeping tomListening to Matty, you need your head examined...
Nate The Great
Member
I may peep, but my name isn't Tom...
carpetcleaner
Member
That is what I would do.
Without knowing what kind of sealer, when it was sealed or what has been used to clean the floor, there is not a way to know if there still is sealer on it.
Cleanworks
Moderator
You probably need some more info. What kind of tile? Natural stone or Ceramic? I would clean normally and let them know that the cleaning may impact the sealer and that is their problem.
Living The Dream
Member
Hopefully I'll get to go look at the house next week. Then I'll have some more info.
Jim Williams
Member
And use very low water pressure if you use your spinner. A lot of times the sealer will power wash right off of there.
Living The Dream
Member
What PSI would you suggest?
Steve Lawrence
Member
Underpromise, overdeliver and test your method in an inconspicuous place to see your results before diving in.
Steve Lawrence
Member
Spinners need a certain amount of pressure to spin. Whatever works for your system, usually you need 400-700 minimum psi in my experience.
Living The Dream
Member
Thanks Steve! I'll do a little pretesting before I hit the job.
Jim Williams
Member
What Steve said. I've been meaning to get a hard surface wand just for those occasions when I need a light sprinkle instead of massive pressure. Be careful. I have removed the sealer when I didn't want too. Nothing sucks more than having to strip and reseal a floor and not get paid for the extra labor.
Bob Pruitt
Member
I bought a PMF hard surface wand and it works OK. Probably would want to do a small inconspicuous area first, what ever method you decide on.
I would check the grout sealer before you start...a few drops of water...if it soaks in there isn't any sealer. Sell new sealer.
If you are talking about a color sealer- Then I would walk. But if they want you to clean it anyway...I get this regularly... after they sign release... then crb with white brushes if it's really dirty and rinse with Turbo...lower pressure than usual... or wand. Edge with wand and/or hand held Mikey Grinder tool.
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Mikey P
Administrator
I've tested every HS design wand on the market now and am left wanting more...
You sound like a brat
Mikey P
Administrator
I'm not one to settle, take that as you will.
hogjowl
Idiot™
Asshole maybe
But not a brat
But not a brat
Cleanworks
Moderator
I liked the 2nd generation gekko brush head with the TM, not enough suction with a portable. The squeegee head locks down too easily. I have the 3rd generation gekko with the squeegee head and find the skirting to tough to get a good seal. A lot more maneuvering than what's necessary.
Jim Williams
Member
The little Gekko corner tool looks kind of cool for getting those edges. I may get the Gekko or PMF. The Gekko looks pretty versatile.
