Tiling and grouting are an art form, and there is a good reason hiring a tiler is one of the more expensive trades during a build or renovation. Keeping patterns consistent, lines straight, and tiles level takes patience and skill, even with modern spacers and other tiling technologies.
Even when a seasoned professional tiler makes a masterpiece, ongoing maintenance is required to ensure the tiles and grout stay uniform in colour, the grouts’ structural integrity is not compromised, and mould and mildew do not make your grout and spaces in between and behind tiles their home.
While regular scrubbing and cleaning will work fine early on, eventually, most people lose the battle, and grout, soap, and chemical residue build up on the surface of your grout and tiles and start to affect the tile and grout aesthetic adversely.
If you search online regarding tile and grout cleaning, you may be barraged with endless natural alternatives, harsh chemicals and wonder cleaners claiming to be the ultimate champion in the fight for clean tiles and grout.
No matter how many lotions and potions they produce on the market, nothing will beat a professional clean by a tile cleaning technician. Below we will discuss the many benefits of hiring a professional tile cleaner, how much you can expect to pay, and why Enviro CLena and Capture are the best options for tile cleaning Sydney-wide.
The anatomy of your tile and grout
Before we delve into tile cleaning and why it is essential, it may help to discuss the anatomy of a laid and grouted tile for those unfamiliar. There are several layers to a tiled surface, especially in a wet area like a bathroom or kitchen.
The layer from the wall to the tile includes:
- The wall cavity for electrical and plumbing
- The floor underlay, or wall sheeting
- A waterproof membrane
- A screed layer of floor adhesive or a layer of wall tile adhesive
- The tile itself
Once the tiles have been spaced and adhered to the wall or floor, the grout is scraped and smoothed out into the tile gaps creating a final seal and finish.
After the grout is dried, it is common for a sealant to be applied to create an extra hydrophobic layer to protect the tiles and grout from chemicals, residues and premature degradation.
Why do tiles need sealant?
One thing cement, natural stone, ceramic, and other mineral-based compositions have in common is that they are porous. These pours are like the pores in your skin and allow pollutants to contaminate the substructures of the product.
These contaminants include:
- Salts
- Soaps
- Chemicals
- Oils
- Biowaste
- Dirt and grime
- Mycotoxins, like mould and mildew
This contamination can lead to discolouration, stains and premature wear and tear that will significantly affect your bathroom or tiled areas aesthetic and cost you more than cleaning and maintenance fees to repair if left to deteriorate.
This premature degradation can also allow moisture behind your tiled surfaces leading to further mycotoxin growth, damaging your home’s structures and potentially exposing the occupants to harmful toxins like mould.
Quality sealants can last for years; however, if your tiles do not receive maintenance cleaning, the build-up of contaminants can prematurely degrade your sealant coating.
DIY clean vs professional clean
Initiating a regularly scheduled clean with mild soap or cleaning agents and a medium hardness brush and cloth can yield excellent results if you stick to your schedule. However, life happens, and there are often times your tiled areas can go weeks or even months without a focused clean.
This is where the build-up begins, and although your tiles and grout may look clean after you perform your catch-up cleans, the layers of dirt, grime and other compounds have already started to form layers that most cleaning agents and tools cannot remove.
As the layers of unwanted compounds continue to build, it can prompt people to use harsher chemicals, stiffer brushes and more elbow grease. While this may make tiles and grout look a little better in the short term, you may be removing sealant, damaging grout, and even scratching the tile’s glazing.
An experienced professional tile cleaner uses the right tools for the job, and it is their profession to ensure they possess and use the best, most effective cleaning compounds and tools for cleaning tiled surfaces.
The type of tools and cleaning agents used by a professional tile cleaner may differ depending if they are cleaning dirty floor tiles throughout the house, kitchen tiles, which are more likely to be covered with oils and food residue, or bathroom tiles that accumulate soap scum, oils and chemical residues.
Industrial pressure cleaners are often too harsh for tiles and grouting and can do considerable damage, including removing sealant, grout and glaze from your tiles.
Professional tile cleaning machinery is designed to apply the right amount of water pressure to provide an optimal clean without the risk of damage. In addition, these machines often have an oscillating brush that operates at just the right speed and force to remove unwanted compounds without impacting the tiles and grout.
For walls, a professional cleaner may use products specially designed for professional tile cleaning not available at your local hardware. A professional cleaner also has experience inspecting and problem-solving complex tile cleaning issues applying their training and field knowledge to provide a tailored solution.
How much does tile and grout cleaning cost?
The cost of professional tile cleaning can vary depending on a variety of factors, including:
- The style or type of tiles and grout
- The amount of time left between cleans
- The amount of built-up residue and dirt on the tiles
- Accessibility on the property for equipment and more
Like most trades, the tile cleaner will conduct an assessment and provide a quote with a breakdown of their estimated costs after inspection.
While these costs can vary from job to job, you can expect professional tile cleaning in Australian metropolitan areas to cost approximately $25 to $40 per square metre.
If you want to hire the best service at the right price for tile cleaning Sydney-wide, call the experts here at Enviro Clean and Capture today to arrange a no-obligation free quote.
Telltale signs your tiles and grout need to be cleaned and re-sealed
Sometimes the telltale signs that your grout and tiles need a deep clean are obvious; however, other times, it may not be as clear cut to the untrained eye.
Grout discolouration
While most tiles in places like kitchens and bathrooms have a protective glazed coating, your grout does not. As a result, your grout will often give you the first warning signs that professional cleaning is needed via discolouration.
This can be caused by a variety of things, including:
- Trapped moisture
- Mould and mildew growth
- Dirt impregnating the grout
- Soap or chemical build-ups and more
The best way to check if your grout requires a new coat of sealant after its clean is by applying a few drops of water to the grout.
If the water beads or runs off, the odds are your sealant is still effective. However, if the grout absorbs the water , you may need to speak to your cleaner about re-sealing applications.
Stained tiles that don’t wipe clean
If you find that you have taken to your tiles with a powerful cleaner and a scrubbing brush, but they still look dirty once dried, then it may be time to call a professional. This problem often occurs because the build-up of dirt, grime, chemicals and soap scum has hardened onto the tiles and grout.
Tiles that appear “chalky” after cleaning
Sometimes you can attack your tile cleaning with extra elbow grease only to find that they appear to remain powdery or chalky once they have dried.
This is a similar problem to tiles that won’t clean as they have an even thicker layer of contaminants, compounds and grime on the tile and grout’s surface which will require a pressure or chemical clean by a professional tile cleaner.
What happens if my grout is breaking up or falling out?
If the grout around your tiles has been left unsealed for a long time, it may start to break down; this manifests as cracking, chipping, or grout breaking away from between your tiles.
Although this should not induce panic, it can create more serious issues if left to deteriorate further, allowing moisture in behind the tiles, leading to tiles separating, cracking, and allowing mycotoxin growth to develop in cavities.
The best way to tackle this issue is to ask the advice of a professional tile cleaner or professional tiler. Sometimes you can get away with re-grouting problem areas; however, this can result in uneven finishes and poor overall aesthetics.
Although re-grouting can be expensive, the cost of re-grouting pales in comparison to having to rip up, retile and re-grout your entire space. So, addressing the issue sooner rather than later is essential to avoid expensive repairs or renovations if you notice obvious signs of grout degradation.
Enviro Clean and Capture: Experienced tile cleaning Sydney-wide
If you are looking for a professional tile cleaner in the Sydney area, contact the expert technicians here at Enviro Clean and Capture, the trusted name for tile cleaning and sealing in Sydney’s metro area.
We offer a comprehensive range of tile cleaning and re-sealing solutions for all types of tiles, including:
- Concrete
- Natural stone
- Porcelain
- Ceramic and more
For more information, call our toll-free number on
1300 415 213, or send your inquiry via email to info@envirocc.com.au.
