Ceramic Tile Countertop Maintenance Tips, Costa Mesa, CA

With the proper maintenance, your beautiful ceramic tile countertops should last for years and years. You already spent the money for quality materials and installation, so don’t ruin things by repeating the mistakes that homeowners often make.

Because of its grouted joints, ceramic tile is a relatively high maintenance type of countertop. You have to keep a close eye to ensure that it remains free of mold, mildew, bacteria and other contaminants. Here are some ceramic tile countertop maintenance tips to help keep surfaces clean and looking good for the long haul.

Clean Your Tile Regularly

This seems simple enough, but a lot of people overlook cleaning their countertop on a regular basis. Even if you don’t use it often, it’s a good idea to give it a deep grout cleaning every once in a while. This is especially important right after your countertop has been installed, because the grout hasn’t cured completely yet and may be more vulnerable to dirt and grime.

For a basic cleaning, all you need is water, a mild PH-neutral cleaning agent and a sponge. For better results, turn to a professional tile and grout cleaning service.

Always Dry Your Countertop Tile

Don’t allow water and other liquids to sit on your ceramic tile countertop. Exposure to moisture can stain lightly colored grout or fade darker grout. Even worse, it will allow mold and mildew to form.

After spilling a liquid or washing the tile, make sure to completely dry the entire surface – grout and all.

Use a Towel or Brush to Polish the Tile

Avoid using floor wax to polish your ceramic tile. The great thing about ceramic is that, with proper maintenance, it can continue to look polished for a fairly long time. However, if you feel it needs some polishing, you can use a clean, dry towel or a brush to do the job.

Repair Cracks and Chips

Avoid dropping objects on your countertop because it can cause cracks and chips. When this happens, hire a tile replacement professional ASAP to prevent water from seeping beneath the surface.

If you need assistance with tile and grout cleaning, tile replacement or other ceramic tile countertop maintenance, Pacific Commercial Carpet Cleaning, Costa Mesa has a solution for you.

 

TILE AND GROUT CLEANING TIPS, Costa Mesa, CA

Tile flooring is a beautiful and long lasting selection. Tile can also be an excellent choice for bathroom walls, kitchen back splashes, and even decorative accent pieces in a room. But grout can be notoriously difficult to keep looking new and clean. That’s because many types of grout are porous, which means that the grout actually takes in dirt, grime and mold. Grout can also be difficult to reach with normal cleaning routines. You might easily wipe up spills from a laminate floor in one motion, but a rag will wipe right over the grout, missing the stain and, more importantly, the dirt.

TIPS FOR TILE AND GROUT CLEANING

Tile and grout can be easy to maintain as long as it’s cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis. Like anything in your home, the better you take care of it, the longer it will last. You’ll find a million cleaning options, from cleansers to age old household cleaning tips. Overall tip: grout will need to be scrubbed with a brush, rather than a rag or mop, no matter what cleaning method you’re using.

• Favorite Floor Cleanser. There are many cleansers on the market that are great for regular cleaning and maintenance. You should verify the type of tile and grout you have to make sure there are no limitations on the type of cleansers you can use. For instance, some surfaces should not be cleaned with abrasive cleansers.

• Bleach. Bleach is a favorite cleanser because it will kill mold and bacteria and whiten the grout. Many cleaners contain bleach or you can use bleach mixed with water.

• Baking Soda / Vinegar. You can make a paste with baking soda and water to scrub into your grout. Spray a diluted vinegar solution over the paste after you’ve scrubbed. This solution will bubble up, helping to remove dirt and grime. Then mop the floor using plain water. You may need to mop more than once to remove all of the baking soda residue.

• Steam Cleaners. There are steam cleaners on the market for floors which are incredibly effective at both cleaning and sanitizing your grout and tile.

YOUR GROUT AND TILE STILL LOOKS DINGY AFTER CLEANING

What happens if you’ve already tried the traditional cleaning methods and nothing’s worked? Maybe you need a little more elbow grease – no stain cleaner will do all the work for you. You do need to take some extra effort in scrubbing really set in stains.

What if you know you’ve scrubbed as well as you possible can? Does that mean you’ll need to replace the tile?

No. Not necessarily. If the tile and grout are intact, they can be professionally cleaned and restored. At A Personal Touch, we specialize in tile and grout cleaning. Our technicians can assess your surfaces and take great care in the restoration process. Often we can repair issues that you might think would need a full replacement – saving you renovation costs and improving the look and feel of your home. Contact us today for more information.

Be Healthy, Wealthy and Wise with Carpet!, Costa Mesa, CA

Carpet is a great way to decorate your residence or place of business because of the textures, colors and patterns available. Not only does carpet look good, but it provides many benefits. Carpet’s insulation can provide increased energy savings. Carpet absorbs sound, making a house quieter and more relaxing and it’s safer, reducing the occurrence of slips and falls.

Did you know that carpet is economical requiring little maintenance and it’s good for your health too!

Little Maintenance Required

Carpet requires less maintenance than hard surface floors such as hardwood, vinyl and tile. Typically your carpet only requires routine vacuuming and prompt attention to spills in between professional cleanings. By contrast, hard surface floors require sealers, waxes and polishes to keep clean, not to mention the time it takes to sweep and mop.

Carpet is Good for Your Health Too!

Carpet that is properly maintained actually improves indoor air quality. How? Carpet acts as a filter, trapping pollutants such as dust, pollen, dander, smoke, and dust mite contamination as air passes through it. Carpet acts as a “sink” trapping pollutants, instead of allowing them to be distributed up into the breathing zone. The result? Homes and buildings with properly maintained carpets have better air quality in the “breathing zone” than those with other flooring types. So, as these contaminants build-up in the carpet, they simply must be removed by professional cleaning. This creates a cycle of cleanliness.

So to reap the financial and health benefits of your carpet, give Costa Mesa Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning a call for proper maintenance and periodic, professional cleaning.

What To Do After Your Upholstery Service, Costa Mesa, CA

 

What To Do After Your Upholstery Service Now that your UPHOLSTERY is clean, here are a few important things to keep in mind.

Stay Off Until Dry: Try to stay off of your furniture as much as possible until it is completely dry. Dirt can easily be tracked from paws, feet, shoes and clothing to even slightly damp upholstery which can re-soil the piece.

Do Not Replace Cushions, Pillows or other accessories until your upholstery is dry. Cushions may have been left propped up by your technician in order to maximize air flow and speed the drying process. They should be rotated periodically for best air flow.

Use Fans! Good air circulation and ventilation can speed the drying process.

Call Us: If you have any questions or notice any areas of concern, please call us as soon as possible. We are here to help!