Everyday use slowly dulls tile, and nothing makes a floor look older than dark, grimy grout. In Arizona the three causes are dust, dirt and household spills. When dust and dirt get wet during mopping, they form a fine slurry that settles into the pores of unsealed grout or sticks to the surface of a standard grout seal. Light-colored grout in high-traffic areas shows it first.
Removing dust and dirt
- A kitchen broom gets dirt but leaves dust. An untreated dust mop or a static-cling duster picks up both.
- Grout sits slightly lower than the tile, so take extra care that dust doesn’t stay in the joints.
- A vacuum works if it has good filtration and is set to hard floors. A carpet vacuum’s rotating brush can damage grout. If your grout is level with or above the tile, use a dust mop instead, because vacuum wheels can scrape the seal.
- Use untreated dust mops. The oils in standard treated mops can damage grout.
Wipe up spills right away. Coffee, wine and grape juice almost always stain unsealed grout, and they stain standard sealed grout if left to sit.
Mopping unsealed grout
Keep mopping to a minimum. Unsealed grout absorbs liquid fast, which is why it turns darker when wet, and any dirt in the water goes in with it.
- Use a slightly damp mop or towel and water only.
- Never pour water or cleaner directly on the floor.
- If you need a cleaner, use a pH-neutral one.
- If the floor gets enough traffic to need regular mopping, it should be sealed.
Mopping sealed grout
There are two kinds of grout seal.
Penetrating seal. A clear liquid that seals the grout’s pores. Water won’t darken the grout right away, but it soaks through if left. It is stain resistant, not stain proof, and over time the grout darkens and needs professional cleaning or stripping and resealing. Clean it this way:
- Dust mop loose dirt and debris.
- Add a pH-neutral cleaner to the mop water as the label directs.
- Apply it to about 10 square feet at a time and let it sit a couple of minutes.
- Agitate gently with a soft mop. Don’t scrub hard.
- Mop up the dirty solution, then rinse with clean water.
- Dry any water left in the grout lines with a terry cloth towel.
Specialized stain seal. A newer, higher level of protection that blocks spills from staining, lasts for years and is easy to clean. Use any pH-neutral tile and grout cleaner, and avoid bleach, ammonia and vinegar, which can damage the grout or the seal.
