Tiles are popular flooring and walling solutions in both residential and commercial structures. While still new or when effectively kept clean, tiles lend a bright and neat appearance to a space—the term "spotless" would be a very apt description of the place.
However, over time, tiles can begin to accumulate layers of dirt, stains, and imperfections that will refuse to come off no matter how hard you try to clean them manually through wiping, washing, scrubbing or vacuuming. That is something that you want to avoid. Floors are one of the first things people notice when they step inside a space, and when tile floors appear dirty, tired and old, they can make the whole room appear the same—even if it's just been cleaned.
If your tile floors haven’t been looking their best for some time now, it's best to call in professional cleaners so they can apply the appropriate cleaning solutions to the particular kind of tile used in your space.
Here are some problems often observed in tile floors:
Dirty and stained grout
The lines you see between tiles are called grout. While tiles themselves can easily get dirty, grout can be especially problematic because it is more porous than the tile. This means that it absorbs more dirt, and this dirt becomes embedded into the grout deeper than it would be in tiles.
In areas that are constantly wet or damp, such as bathrooms and shower areas, grout is especially prone to becoming breeding grounds for bacteria and mould. Your trusted tile and grout cleaners can prepare the grout and provide a sealing solution to keep it clean.
Efflorescence
You may notice that white stains have appeared on tile surfaces. This is caused by water that has penetrated the space underneath the tiles or stone. The minerals in this water crystallises, which causes the white stains.
A cloudy or milky appearance
This kind of imperfection means that the incorrect cleaning product has been used on the tiles. It could also mean that a sealer was applied on non-porous tiles, or the tiles may be porous but the wrong kind of sealer was applied to them.
Tiles have changed colour
The tile colour that you carefully selected for your space may have begun to change over time. This happens only if enough water has penetrated through to the "biscuit" behind the tiles. This is a common appearance in shower areas and other places exposed to plenty of moisture.
Purchasing tiles is a significant investment when you're having a house or building renovated or constructed. As such, you'll want to maintain their good condition for as long as possible to prevent increased expenses and structural issues.
Contact a reputable local service provider who can address all these issues, and more.