Q: I have been told that bleaching the grout lines will make them look whiter? Is this true? 

A: Bleach will make them brighter, but you may need to check with the grout manufacturer before starting to be sure the color wasn’t dyed, bleach will certainly remove the color.

Q:       I have what looks like water stains on my tiles in my kitchen, what could they be? How can I remove them?

 A: ‘Water’ stains could be several different things, depending on the particular tile you have. Most of the time, water or mineral deposits can be removed with either polishing with honing powders and a hog hair pad or by using specific acid cleaners. Please DO NOT attempt either of these without proper training as you may permanently damage the tile. To remove these stains it may be necessary to contact the professional who supplied you with this report.

Q: I bought a ‘steamer’ to clean my tile floors with, it works pretty well, but some of the grout lines are cracking? What should I do?

 A: Firstly I would cease all ‘steaming’ of that floor until you have the grout repaired. Moisture that gets between the tile and sub-floor will be trapped under your tiles and will expand and loosen tile from the concrete or sub-floor. Rinsing the floor is a good thing BUT, you need the right products to make sure you are not damaging the sealer. There is one product available that will actually seek out any weak areas in the sealer and fill them in while you’re cleaning! Ask your hard surface specialist about it!

Q: How long will sealers last?

A: That depends on the sealer, the method of application and the frequency and type of maintenance. Anywhere from six months to ten years or more. This is just a short cross section of a collection of various questions asked by new clients. For more answers to your questions about hard surfaces, don’t hesitate to contact your professional Hard Surface cleaning company.

  Easy Care Tips To Keep Those Hard Surface Floors Sparkling Clean

 · At entry points to areas with hard surfaces, place entry mats for soil and moisture removal. The less brought in, the less to clean. Regular vacuuming. Some surfaces don’t always appear to need cleaning, assume it does. As sure as dust settles on a windowsill, so it does on the floors. Be sure to use a vacuum with a floor height adjustment on the lowest setting.

· Avoid Spills as much as possible. Hot liquid spills are especially hazardous and also a lot harder to clean up because they can penetrate more rapidly. Spot removal procedures should be expedited as soon as accidents occur.

· After performing a wet maintenance, open windows or utilize fans to get air circulating. The faster it dries the better the results and less chance for rapid re-soiling.

· If area rugs or throw rugs are used to decorate or ‘soften’ interior hard surfaces, be sure to use non-skid pads for your safety. (available at most reputable flooring outlets) The ‘backings’ used  by most manufacturers of area rugs are abrasive. Contrary to popular belief the non-skid pads are excellent. It is recommended that they are taken up and floors cleaned under them every month.

· Chairs and tables in hard surface areas could cause serious damage to floors if legs and corners are not protected. Teflon or felt can be used to prevent abrasive damage caused by the furniture.

· If you live in a part of the country affected by snow and ice, be sure to leave shoes that may have salt or liquid deicer on them at the door. Chemicals used in these products cause rapid and irreversible damage.

· Dry sand on hard surfaces in coastal areas should be removed as soon as noticed. Wear patterns and scratches will dull your    floor and reduce enhancement efforts.

· Clean and rinse them often, once per month in low traffic are as and at least weekly in high traffic or kitchen areas. Rinse with plain water unless using the recommended cleaner/  protector product mentioned earlier.

· Allow dwell time for stubborn spots and stains, cleaning products are not magic, the longer they sit on that stubborn spot the better they work. Extra rinsing may be needed after stain is removed. If a stain appears permanent, DON”T PANIC, call the professional who gave you this book.

  Spot Removal Techniques The Pros Are Using In Their Own Homes

Dry Soil: Natural stone should be cleaned regularly with just warm water and a clean, non-abrasive cloth, sponge or a mop. Neutral cleaners should be used and will help remove soils that normal mopping and dusting leave behind.

Spot Removal:

 Liquid Spills-Lightly blot the excess liquid with a clean, dry, white cloth. As the cloth becomes saturated be sure to turn frequently. If color from the liquid is still evident, lightly mist neutral cleaner on the floor, allow 5 minute dwell time, then wipe in a circular motion with a clean dry cloth. Repeat if necessary. Rinse with water and towel dry.

 Food Spills-Scoop up excess foodstuffs from the floor using a plastic spoon. Then blot excess liquid residues left by the food. Using a damp white cloth, dab or lightly wipe the floor in a circular motion. Spray neutral cleaner lightly to avoid over wetting, let dwell 5 minutes, wipe dry using a dry white cloth. Rinse with water and towel dry.

 Oily Stains/ Spots (Inevitably this type of problem will occur. Oil tracked from driveway, spaghetti sauce accident etc. Improper use of store bought cleaners will inhibit future removal even by a professional. Follow these instructions carefully). Blot up excess. Spray with neutral cleaner, cover with dry paper towels (2-4), apply weight (books work well), dwell time 30  minutes. Lift weight, check paper towels, if all towels damp with stain and cleaner, process is working. If no dampness has occurred, apply more neutral cleaner to stain, let sit 15 minutes then check again. Wipe dry with clean white cloth; if not removed consult your Hard Surface cleaning professional.

  Mud/ Clay- Let mud/ clay dry completely. Vacuum. Remove dried mud excess using a soft nylon brush,  or lightly  with an old toothbrush. Spray remainder with neutral solution,  and wipe clean with a clean white cloth. If grout lines still affected, apply  small amounts of clear, sugar free, club soda and let sit one minute, then wipe dry.

 Acidic Spills- Liquids and substances such as soft drinks, coffee, pet urine, vomit, vinegar, orange juice, wine, mustard are highly acidic. If not removed in an urgent manner these could etch some surfaces. In the case of an acidic spill or accident, follow the most suitable spot removal procedure above. Some spills will fall into a few categories such as the case of tomato paste. Tomatoes being acidic, solid as a food, liquid from the juices and oily from the paste will be difficult to remove and you may want to consult your hard surface professional immediately.

 As with all spill occurrences, if the floors have been properly sealed and protected the barrier created between spill and surface will dramatically increase the chances of successful removal. See Sealing and Repellency tests.