Tile and Grout and Natural Stone Cleaning and Sealing

Just like carpet, soil builds up over time dulling your tile’s appearance and discoloring your grout. Regular mopping and wiping up spills cannot remove the soil that has penetrated the porous grout lines. A thorough, professional tile & grout cleaning is the only way to remove the deep-down dirt and rejuvenate the appearance of your tiled areas.

Grout is a porous material that absorbs soil and spills. Having sealant applied will help create a protective barrier, giving you more time to clean up dirt and liquid spills before they soak into the grout. After cleaning we recommend that you have the grout sealed. If you choose this option, your MasterCare technician will apply a coat of impregnating sealant to your grout. We can apply sealant on the same day that we clean and you can walk on the surfaces approximately four hours after application. We recommend not using a shower for 24 hours after sealant is applied. When our trained staff applies the sealant, a barrier is created, minimizing the amount of soil that is able to seep into the grout pores. This helps the grout stay cleaner, longer and maintenance is simple because soil doesn’t penetrate deep into the pores, instead remaining on the surface for you to clean off. The impregnating sealant does not change the appearance of the tile or grout. Newer installations may have a latex or urethane grout which does not require sealing.

MasterCare uses specialty cleaning agents designed specifically for tile, grout and natural stone. These are formulated to remove mineral sealing, yellowing soap scum, greasy soils, etc. and rinse free using a high-pressure, rotary water jet sprayer and extraction system.

We use an impregnating sealant. These sealants are water or solvent based solutions that penetrate below the surface and become repellents. They are generally hydrophobic (water repelling), but are also oliophobic (oil repelling). Impregnators keep contaminants out, but do not stop interior moisture from escaping. Using proper cleaning products your sealant will repel soil for a long time.

As with carpet, many factors must be considered when determining the frequency of cleaning. Foot traffic, children, pets and routine floor maintenance will affect how often you need to have your tile & grout cleaned. Sealant and maintenance care are also important factors in determining how often a professional is needed. Sealant helps to keep dirt on the surface for maintenance cleaning & removal. It is important not to use acidic cleaning agents for maintenance. Acidic cleaning agents would compromise the sealant allowing dirt to seep into the porous material and making it hard, if not impossible, for common maintenance. We recommend cleaning with warm water and a neutral pH cleaning agent such as dish detergent.

For an average size room (up to 250 square feet), it typically takes 45-90 minutes to clean the tile & grout. This can vary based on a number of factors including the size of the tile, amount of soil in the grout lines, and room configuration. If you choose to have sealant applied, it typically takes 2-3 hours to complete the entire process.

We recommend that you wait 3-4 hours before walking on floors to allow the sealant to dry. It will take 24 hours for the sealant to cure completely. So shower and tub areas should not be used before the next day. We suggest that you avoid any liquid coming in contact with the sealant during that time.

To preserve the life of the sealant, we recommend that you use a neutral cleaner on your floor (non-acidic.) Rinsing with clean water after mopping will also help. You will want to avoid bleach and other harsh chemical cleaners as these can degrade the sealant and cause it to break down prematurely. We recommend using a small amount of dish detergent such as Dawn in a gallon of warm water.

Your natural stone surface is millions of years old and it can be damaged by using an improper cleaning product that is not suitable for use on stone surfaces. Natural stone is formed of delicate minerals that can react to improper cleaning products such as: vinegar, many over-the-counter cleaning products, window cleaners, dishwashing detergents, generic neutral cleaners, degreasers, acidic-based cleaners and much more; therefore, it is important to have it professionally cleaned and sealed. Then follow manufacturer’s guidelines for at home maintenance.

Natural stone should be cleaned and sealed upon installation. Again, sealant is vital! Please verify a professional has cleaned and sealed your stone. Over time the sealant will dissipate becoming less effective. Being able to determine when a new seal is needed is a necessary skill of a granite owner. The test, called the Water Seal Test, is quite simple, but will be important for knowing when to call MasterCare to clean and replenish your seal. 1. Pour water, about 3 inches in diameter, on several different places of the surface. Let the water sit for about 15 minutes. 2. If you see a dark mark or ring, the water is penetrating the stone (don’t worry, it will evaporate) and it’s time to reseal. 3. Ensure you’ve tested key areas of your stone such as areas near sinks or appliances where liquid is most likely to accumulate on the stone. The water will darken and pool together when on unsealed stone. The darkening occurs because the water is soaking into the pores of the stone. Whereas on sealed stone the water will sit on top of the surface.

There are two types of sealants, coatings and penetrating. Coating sealants form a protective layer on top of the granite surface. Penetrating sealants go into the pores of the stone forming flexible molecular links. MasterCare Inc. uses the penetrating (impregnating) sealants that last longer and provide more thorough protection.

Our sealers are safe for food-handling or food-prep surfaces.

First, always refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Clean up spills immediately, including water. While a healthy seal will prevent most stains from soaking into granite, it is still important to clean up spills quickly. By allowing a spill to sit on the granite you’re opening up a possibility of staining or dulling the granite. This is especially true of vinegar, lemon juice, and spilled chemicals such as bleach or drain cleaners. A few drops of NEUTRAL cleaner, stone soap or a MILD liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water can be used to clean. Use a clean rag for best results. Too much cleaner or soap will leave a film and cause streaks. Do NOT use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on the granite as the high acid content may etch the surface. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the solution and dry with a soft clean cloth. Change the rinse water frequently. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface. In bath and other wet areas soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap scum remover. Frequent, or over use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the surface of the stone.

DO’s: 

1. Use a cutting board to protect your surface.
2. Clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap. 
3. Thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing. 
4. Blot up spills immediately. 
5. Seal stone every 2 years (or as required by the manufacturer’s guidelines) for a long term gloss.

DON’Ts 

1. Use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids. 
2. 2. Use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom, grout or other tub and tile cleaners. 
3. Use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers. 
4. Mix bleach and ammonia – this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.

Marble is porous, and easily stained and is etched by acids. Avoid setting beverage glasses directly on marble as they leave rings. Fruit juice, lemon, lime, tomatoes, carbonated beverages or other acids will etch (remove shiny surface) if allowed to remain on marble.  Wipe up acid spills immediately, and wipe surface with a wet clean cloth. If surface is etched, polishing or even honing may be required. Dust mop interior marble floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Normally, it will take a person about eight steps on a floor surface to remove sand or dirt from the bottom of their shoes. Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the surface.