Does Your Janitorial Service Tackle Your Tile?

The one part of the office that never gets truly cleaned is often the tile and grout. It's an area that is easily overlooked as it gets walked on or walked past day in and day out. If your company is not taking good care of the tile in your building, it may be time to hire a commercial cleaning service to come in and tackle the tile or add the tile to the service you already receive. Using a professional cleaning service is the best way to handle the task of maintaining tile and grout since it can be an activity that takes a bit of time.

Tile and grout on floor areas should be cleaned with some frequency and on a regular schedule in order to give them a longer lifespan of looking and performing well. Tile floors should be swept and mopped on a very frequent basis, in some cases even daily. Depending on foot traffic, they should be deep cleaned at least quarterly or semi annually. Grout should be sealed at least once a year to maintain its function.

It does not matter what type of tile you have. Whether it is granite, marble, slate or another type, the grout lines are always going to be the most difficult to properly maintain. If your areas of tile and grout are fairly small, they can often be cleaned with a combination of baking soda and warm vinegar. Using a toothbrush to scrub the grout and then rinsing with warm water should be enough to keep the grout looking good. In most office spaces, the amount of tile is likely greater and a toothbrush may not be the best method.

When commercial cleaning companies handle the tile for you they often start with a specially designed pre-spray to soak into grout lines. Then, a machine is used to agitate the buildup and deep clean the grout. After being finished with a rinse it will be restored to a cleaner appearance. Truck mounted systems are often used to get high pressure heated water to provide vigorous agitation to provide a deep stirring of bacteria. This method does require specialized equipment and training and must be done by a professional cleaning service.

As many of us move towards eco-friendly products, tile can be cleaned using powdered oxygen bleach. This is a substance that will not harm animals, people or surfaces and is a perfect way to be "green" while cleaning tile and grout. The ions in the oxygen break up any stains and then they can be easily rinsed away. There are no harsh fumes associated powdered oxygen bleach and it is fabric and color safe. Cleaning methods that are good for the environment are becoming increasingly popular in our culture today.

If your tile and grout are looking dingy, consider what statement that makes to employees and customers that enter your building. Grout is porous and allows dirt and bacteria to build up under the surface, so taking the time to properly clean it is good for the appearance of the tile and the health of employees. If you have tile in your office space, it might be time to consider bringing in a professional commercial cleaner to get the tile cleaned properly so it will be up to par with the rest of the cleanliness of your office. It's better for everyone around.