Mikey P
Administrator
Consumer Floor and Furnishings Care Information
Stained grout
Standard cement- based grout is not much different than your concrete driveway, garage floor, or the sidewalks around your home. These can all be easily stained if not kept sealed and properly maintained.
Soil in your grout lines that has not saturated too deeply can usually be removed or visually improved with the IICRC certified cleaning process.
More deeply-set stains will require re-grouting or application of a topical color seal product to hide the stained areas.
The use of a no-rinse neutral pH solution as your regular cleaner is highly recommended as acidic or alkaline cleaners can degrade the grout and leave soil-attracting residues over time.
Care Tip- Using a microfiber flat mop system will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, especially the grout. Search YouTube to see examples and be sure to use a no-rinse neutral pH cleaner, which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.
Topical sealer/coating failure or wear
Floor sealers fall into two categories, penetrative and topical. Think of the penetrative type as a protective layer that can’t be seen or felt, and think of the topical type as a clear coat of paint. Topical sealers can scratch, separate from the floor, or wear off over time. Topical sealers are not usually the best choice and are often applied by mistake.
In many cases it can be hard to impossible to detect the presence of a topical sealer until after the cleaning process has begun.
In some cases, topically coated floors can be gently cleaned and additional sealer can be re-applied. The increase in renewed gloss will hide many minor flaws in wood or porous tile floors.
Removing topical sealers can be a very expensive, messy, and time-consuming project. Not all IICRC Certified cleaning companies are trained to or wish to perform this service.
Care Tip- Use of a microfiber flat mop system will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, especially the grout. Search YouTube to see examples and be sure to use a no- rinse neutral pH cleaner, which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.
MDF baseboard swelling
Medium Density Fiberboard baseboard has become the number one choice for most homes in the last ten years. While very affordable compared to hardwood, its inherent ability to absorb water makes it a poor choice.
If the bottom edge is not painted or sealed and has a gap where water and cleaning solutions can come in contact with the fiberboard, the baseboard will swell considerably, and the effects are permanent. Ideally, the gap should be filled with silicone or caulk prior to having your floors professionally cleaned. In cases where time or finances do not allow for precautionary measures, your cleaning technician will do their best to keep moisture away from the areas where a gap is present.
Care Tip- Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. A Flat Mop is much easier to control along baseboards as well. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.
Sealers or protectors not beading
The water beading attributed to a sealer is based on the surface tension created by the sealer residue. The first time that the sealed stone surface or grout is cleaned, the surface tension is relaxed and the water no longer holds a strong bead on the surface. Remember, stain resistance is the desired result, not temporary water beading. A decrease in surface tension does not mean a reduction in stain resistance.
Sealing grout and stone after professional cleaning is always recommended to restore stain and soil absorption resistanancy.
Care Tip; The use of a “No Rinse Neutral pH” solution as your regular cleaner is highly recommended as acidic or alkaline cleaners degrade grout sealer over time and can leave soil attracting residues.
Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.
Acid etching on stone
Etching is surface damage in the form of a dull mark on natural stone that contains calcium carbonate. It happens when acidic substances come into contact with countertops, floors, walls, or anywhere you may have a calcareous stone (natural stone composed of calcium carbonate). Some common household items are notorious for causing etching including lemons, soft drinks, ketchup, and many familiar household cleaning products. These substances can corrode man-made, marble, limestone, or travertine tiles upon contact and eat away the shiny surface layer, leaving behind a dull spot that is often lighter in color, white, or misdiagnosed as a stain.
Resurfacing services of etched areas are offered by many IICRC certified companies and individuals.
Care Tip: Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers or natural stone of any kind.
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Travertine/Marble/Limestone dulling
Calcium-based stone is easily dulled from foot traffic, aggressive cleaning from vacuum cleaners or other stiff brushes, acidic liquids, sand, dust, pets etc. Keeping the polished look and maintaining the shine may require frequent maintenance.. Many home and business owners find that a honed (dull) surface is much easier and more cost-effective to live with.
Your IICRC certified technician may offer resurfacing services for floors, countertops, and shower stalls.
Care Tip:
Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers or natural stone of any kind.
Cracked/damaged grout
Grout failure in the form of cracks is usually caused by the movement between two surfaces. Houses and buildings are constantly moving in tiny increments as a result of foundation settling, humidity, temperature, and other factors. If the grout in a bathroom is an inflexible material, as most grout is, cracks can develop when a bathtub moves one way while a tile wall moves another way. Improperly mixed with too much or not enough water which can lead to air pockets or powdery, weak grout.
There are many ways to repair damaged grout. Ask your IICRC certified technician if they provide this service or have a referral for an experienced tile setting/repairman.
There are many ways to repair damaged grout, ask your IICRC certified technician if they provide this service or have a referral for an experienced tile setting/repairman.
Lippage
Lippage is the term used to describe when one tile is higher or lower than the adjacent tile. This can be caused by poor installation or irregularly shaped tiles. Many plank-type tiles have a slight bow to them so the lippage can appear along the center edge. With ceramic or porcelain tiles there is no practical fix to the problem. With natural stone tiles your IICRC certified company may offer this resurfacing service or can refer to a company that does.
Irregular soiling and wear will occur over time when lippage is present. Polishing of stone can be very difficult to perform when lippage is present and the area next to the higher tile can not be reached by the polishing disc.
Stained grout
Standard cement- based grout is not much different than your concrete driveway, garage floor, or the sidewalks around your home. These can all be easily stained if not kept sealed and properly maintained.
Soil in your grout lines that has not saturated too deeply can usually be removed or visually improved with the IICRC certified cleaning process.
More deeply-set stains will require re-grouting or application of a topical color seal product to hide the stained areas.
The use of a no-rinse neutral pH solution as your regular cleaner is highly recommended as acidic or alkaline cleaners can degrade the grout and leave soil-attracting residues over time.
Care Tip- Using a microfiber flat mop system will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, especially the grout. Search YouTube to see examples and be sure to use a no-rinse neutral pH cleaner, which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.
Topical sealer/coating failure or wear
Floor sealers fall into two categories, penetrative and topical. Think of the penetrative type as a protective layer that can’t be seen or felt, and think of the topical type as a clear coat of paint. Topical sealers can scratch, separate from the floor, or wear off over time. Topical sealers are not usually the best choice and are often applied by mistake.
In many cases it can be hard to impossible to detect the presence of a topical sealer until after the cleaning process has begun.
In some cases, topically coated floors can be gently cleaned and additional sealer can be re-applied. The increase in renewed gloss will hide many minor flaws in wood or porous tile floors.
Removing topical sealers can be a very expensive, messy, and time-consuming project. Not all IICRC Certified cleaning companies are trained to or wish to perform this service.
Care Tip- Use of a microfiber flat mop system will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, especially the grout. Search YouTube to see examples and be sure to use a no- rinse neutral pH cleaner, which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.
MDF baseboard swelling
Medium Density Fiberboard baseboard has become the number one choice for most homes in the last ten years. While very affordable compared to hardwood, its inherent ability to absorb water makes it a poor choice.
If the bottom edge is not painted or sealed and has a gap where water and cleaning solutions can come in contact with the fiberboard, the baseboard will swell considerably, and the effects are permanent. Ideally, the gap should be filled with silicone or caulk prior to having your floors professionally cleaned. In cases where time or finances do not allow for precautionary measures, your cleaning technician will do their best to keep moisture away from the areas where a gap is present.
Care Tip- Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. A Flat Mop is much easier to control along baseboards as well. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.
Sealers or protectors not beading
The water beading attributed to a sealer is based on the surface tension created by the sealer residue. The first time that the sealed stone surface or grout is cleaned, the surface tension is relaxed and the water no longer holds a strong bead on the surface. Remember, stain resistance is the desired result, not temporary water beading. A decrease in surface tension does not mean a reduction in stain resistance.
Sealing grout and stone after professional cleaning is always recommended to restore stain and soil absorption resistanancy.
Care Tip; The use of a “No Rinse Neutral pH” solution as your regular cleaner is highly recommended as acidic or alkaline cleaners degrade grout sealer over time and can leave soil attracting residues.
Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers of any kind.
Acid etching on stone
Etching is surface damage in the form of a dull mark on natural stone that contains calcium carbonate. It happens when acidic substances come into contact with countertops, floors, walls, or anywhere you may have a calcareous stone (natural stone composed of calcium carbonate). Some common household items are notorious for causing etching including lemons, soft drinks, ketchup, and many familiar household cleaning products. These substances can corrode man-made, marble, limestone, or travertine tiles upon contact and eat away the shiny surface layer, leaving behind a dull spot that is often lighter in color, white, or misdiagnosed as a stain.
Resurfacing services of etched areas are offered by many IICRC certified companies and individuals.
Care Tip: Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers or natural stone of any kind.
.
Travertine/Marble/Limestone dulling
Calcium-based stone is easily dulled from foot traffic, aggressive cleaning from vacuum cleaners or other stiff brushes, acidic liquids, sand, dust, pets etc. Keeping the polished look and maintaining the shine may require frequent maintenance.. Many home and business owners find that a honed (dull) surface is much easier and more cost-effective to live with.
Your IICRC certified technician may offer resurfacing services for floors, countertops, and shower stalls.
Care Tip:
Use of a “Microfiber Flat Mop System” will help keep your entire floor cleaner longer, ESPECIALLY the grout. Search YouTube to see many examples of such and be sure to use a “Neutral pH No Rinse Cleaner” which leaves no residue and will not affect sealers or natural stone of any kind.
Cracked/damaged grout
Grout failure in the form of cracks is usually caused by the movement between two surfaces. Houses and buildings are constantly moving in tiny increments as a result of foundation settling, humidity, temperature, and other factors. If the grout in a bathroom is an inflexible material, as most grout is, cracks can develop when a bathtub moves one way while a tile wall moves another way. Improperly mixed with too much or not enough water which can lead to air pockets or powdery, weak grout.
There are many ways to repair damaged grout. Ask your IICRC certified technician if they provide this service or have a referral for an experienced tile setting/repairman.
There are many ways to repair damaged grout, ask your IICRC certified technician if they provide this service or have a referral for an experienced tile setting/repairman.
Lippage
Lippage is the term used to describe when one tile is higher or lower than the adjacent tile. This can be caused by poor installation or irregularly shaped tiles. Many plank-type tiles have a slight bow to them so the lippage can appear along the center edge. With ceramic or porcelain tiles there is no practical fix to the problem. With natural stone tiles your IICRC certified company may offer this resurfacing service or can refer to a company that does.
Irregular soiling and wear will occur over time when lippage is present. Polishing of stone can be very difficult to perform when lippage is present and the area next to the higher tile can not be reached by the polishing disc.
