What are some common problems in cleaning kitchen tile?
What are some common problems in cleaning kitchen tile?
Kitchen tile accumulates grease from cooking and day-to-day use and sticky residue from cleaning detergents. These are hard to remove.
How effective is mopping?
Mops are made of cotton or sponge; they both absorb liquid. We put the mop in a pail to absorb the cleaning detergent, wring it out and proceed to mop. We put the dirty mop back into the now dirty cleaning solution and continue to mop. We repeat, using dirtier and dirtier water as we go along, until finished.
Where does the dirt go when you mop?
Obviously you will see a lot of dirt in the cleaning solution pail. And I’m sure you’ve notice no matter how much you rinse the mop it never returns to its original color. So where is the dirt? It’s dissolved into the cleaning solution and distributed between the pail, mop, floor, grout and edges of the room. A film of soil is left on the tile and the rest is moved to the edges and into the grout. Over time this accumulates.
What can be done to break down and remove grease and detergents that attract soil?
To remove the grease and residue the floor would have to be cleaned a few times changing the water and detergent each time. You would also need to do a fresh-water mopping with a new mop to get the detergent out. If it has already accumulated in the grout and along the edges, a lot of hand scrubbing and rinsing is in order. Sounds like a permanent item on your To Do List (meaning it never gets done).
Professionals use specialized products and equipment that makes the task much easier and much more effective.
Another thing to keep in mind is that deep cleaning the grout breaks down the sealant. Sealant deters the rapid absorption of soil and extends the life of the cleaning dramatically. So, once deep cleaned, a sealant should be reapplied.
