Tile cleaning service – Necessary over time

When one mentions a tile floor – fabricated ceramic tiles of the style commonly found in washrooms are what commonly come to mind – but there is a wide range of tiles available including natural slate and stone as well as a variety of fabricated tiles made to replicate the styles of their natural counterparts.  The choice of any type of tile floor can be for a variety of reasons but from a purely aesthetic point of view, they are available in a wide range of colours, styles, shapes and sizes and offer a certain je ne sais quoi to any location – be it domestic or commercial.

On many occasions tile floors are chosen based on the apparent perception that it is easy to clean and maintain, and although it is far from the most difficult to keep clean, if regular maintenance and cleaning is overlooked you can soon be left with a dull, uneven or unsatisfactory appearance which regular cleaning efforts will not be able to correct.  This usually happens given enough time.

Regular cleaning and maintenance starts with prevention, so the application of a good quality sealant is important, both for the surface of the tile but also the grout.  Grout is a construction material used to fill the gaps between the edges of tiles, is relatively porous and can stain easily – so a good grout sealer will help to waterproof the surface and offer additional protection while aiding cleaning efforts.  If you are unsure which grout sealant to apply, a company offering a professional tile cleaning service will be able to recommend and apply one for you.

Regular maintenance should include sweeping and vacuuming and the placing of doormats at entrances to reduce and remove the dirt and grit on the floor which can cause surface scratching.  Mopping with warm soapy water should help keep the floor clean.  Taking care when moving heavy objects and particular care with chair legs are fundamental, and spillages should be cleaned up immediately.

There may be a time when your floor become dull, acquires an uneven appearance or simply doesn’t change despite cleaning efforts.  There are several possible explanations for this including surface build-up of grime and bacteria which, when it becomes noticeable, will have built up layer upon layer forming a stain which is difficult to shift.  It is also possible that due to traffic, the sealant on the floor has simply worn out exposing the surface – as a rule tile sealant should be periodically re-applied.  If any of these things occur – you would be advised to contact a professional tile cleaning service which can take advantage of modern equipment and techniques to restore your floor to its original state as well as re-apply a sealant.

Commercial floor cleaning – Take advantage of modern techniques

Flooring is usually divided into commercial and domestic location due to the different qualities required of them and the different factors they will be exposed to.  Generally speaking a commercial environment will be exposed to more ‘traffic’, that is – more people walking to and from the office from the street, and probably more objects being moved, wheeled in and out etc.  The type of floor that is chosen, though sometimes chosen for purely aesthetic reasons, is often selected due to the appropriateness in face of what it will be exposed to.

Whatever the situation floors, especially in a commercial setting, need to be carefully looked after and maintained in order to keep them looking good, but despite several tips to help maintain your floor – there will inevitably come a time when the floor becomes dulled, uneven or develops an unsatisfactory appearance that general cleaning efforts will not resolve.  In these cases a commercial floor cleaning company may need to be contacted.

Maintenance begins with protection, and no matter what type of floor is in question, a good quality sealer is the best way of offering ongoing protection.  Sealants provide an additional layer of protection and make the floors less resistant to staining – especially for spillages.  This is especially important for wooden floors but also with tiled floors as the grout from tiles can easily stain, as can rough unpolished surfaces of natural stone.  If you are unsure as to what type of sealer is appropriate, a commercial floor cleaning specialist will be able to recommend one for you.

The next stage is to protect the floor’s surface and the sealer and this means avoiding surface scratching, usually from dirt and grit walked in on the soles of shoes.  Placing doormats and regular sweeping and vacuuming should help with most of the problem.  Surface scratching is a problem as grime and bacteria can gather and build up layer at a time to form a stain that cannot easily be removed using traditional cleaning methods.  Scratching also removes the sealer and exposes the surface of the tile or grout – so any spillages, especially wine or coffee, can stain the floor even if cleaned up immediately.  In the case of wooden floors, even water can seek into the material if the sealer wears down.

A commercial floor cleaning company will be able to utilize modern technology and techniques such as heat and pressure cleaning, emulsification combine with the effective capture of waste and slurry to return the floor to its original state.  If you find that your cleaning efforts cease to be effective – you should consider contacting one.

Hard floor cleaning – Simple steps

There are many types of hard floors available and all possess different qualities depending on what you are looking for.  In general most types of floor, which include vinyl, natural stone and slate, hard wood floors as well as fabricated tiles and ceramic, will be suitable for most commercial or domestic locations and usually choices will be made based on price and the aesthetic appearance the floor has. 

Sometimes the floor is chosen based on cost durability and ease of maintenance and although some floors are certainly more durable than others they all require a certain degree of regular cleaning and maintenance if you want to keep them looking good for years to come.  There are several general cleaning and maintenance tips which should help.

The first step is to make sure that the floor has been professionally installed, particularly important for floors such as hard wood and tile floors, where a poor installation can mean spaces or voids (small of course) where liquid spills or general grime and bacteria can build up.  Assuming that the floor has been well installed it is important to have a good sealer applied to protect the surface – and there are different types of sealer available depending on the floor type.  In general they add an extra protective layer and help ‘water proof’ the surface against spillages and it is always good to remember what type of product has been previously applied to a floor.  If in any doubt a hard floor cleaning specialist will be able to recommend the right sealer for you.

Maintenance can be fairly simple, but needs to be done regularly to be effective.  Spillages should be mopped up immediately while doormats should be placed at entrances to prevent dirt and grit being walked into the area.  Dirt and grit can cause surface scratching, expose the surface and damage the sealer.

Make sweeping and vacuuming a regular habit as this will remove the majority of this dirt and grit, and then you will be free to clean the floor.  The way you clean and the products you use will depend on the type of floor you have.  With wooden floors a slightly damp mop should be used, as the sealant should make it ‘wipe clean’ while if you are not sure in general, use warm water with a little detergent or a neutral PH soap.  There are some specialist products available, but consult before applying just in case.

If you find that despite cleaning efforts your floor becomes marked and stained – it may be advisable to contact a professional hard floor cleaning company that will be able to take advantage of modern techniques and technology such as pressure cleaning, emulsification and the effective capture of waste and slurry to return you floor to its original appearance.

Stone floor cleaning – Protect your investment

Stone floors come in a variety of colours and fine grain finishes, as well as textures and even shapes – and in general add a wonderful touch of class to any ambience be it commercial or domestic.  People often look at the long term value of items when deciding to buy and the same could be said of a stone floor – which, when professionally installed, does not come cheap.  The reason many people pump for a floor such as this is due to its durability and longevity – when properly looked after and maintained – it should last for years.

As stone is not a cheap option – it is somewhat fascinating that so many people fail to carry out routine cleaning and maintenance tasks to help protect the floor, and this can result in a floor which gets marked or stains, dulls or develops an uneven and ultimately unsatisfactory appearance.  People can follow a series of simple steps to make sure they can protect their investment – and it all begins with the installation.

Natural stone slabs or tiles can be notoriously difficult to install correctly so it is highly recommended that you have it professionally done.  This also applies to having the tile grout applied as this can affect the porosity of the floor and how easily it can stain from a simple spillage.  Once the floor has been installed it is important to apply a good quality sealer.  This is fundamental for the tile grout and should be done for the surface of the stone as well.  For the grout there are a number of transparent or colour grout sealants, and you should choose the tile sealant carefully as different sealants can have different results – reducing or increasing slip resistance on the tile surface for example.  If you are unsure as to which type of sealant is appropriate a professional stone floor cleaning company will be able to recommend one for you.

These are simply the first steps to protecting your floor, but the application of the sealant does not spell protection for your floor.  One of the keys to protecting your floor comes from the removal of sand, dirt and grit on the floor surface – which is generally walked in on the soles of shoes.  Placing doormats at entrances and regular sweeping and vacuuming should remove the majority of this dirt, which can cause surface scratching and abrasions, and remove any sealant which may have been applied.

Other risks are posed by heavy objects and general traffic.  As long as you sweep and mop the floor regularly, traffic should not be a problem, but make sure to lift and not drag heavy objects, furniture and chair.  If possible place padded tips on chair legs and corners of sharp objects.  If you find that despite regular maintenance there is a dulling or uneven appearance, it may well be that daily cleaning efforts have become ineffective – and you may need to contact a stone floor cleaning specialist to help you.

Tile cleaning service – When assistance is required

Tile floors are common choices nowadays in both domestic and commercial settings, and although they can be used anywhere, they are frequently chosen for building entrances in commercial environments, and wash rooms or kitchens where spillages are frequent.  There are many different types of tile including natural stone and slate, and fabricated ceramic tiles which are available in a variety of finishes.

People choose tile floors for a variety of reasons as there are a lot of designs, colours and shapes available as well as matt or glossy finishes.  It is a floor which scores highly in terms of cost durability and if professionally installed should last for many years to come.  It is also often chosen due to the perception that tiled floors are easier to clean, and while this can be true to an extent – it should be noted that a lack of regular maintenance and cleaning can result in your floor looking dull, uneven or dirty in a very short period of time.

The key to keeping your floor looking good is regular maintenance and this actually starts with the installation.  Tiles should be laid by a professional, who should apply the grout as well.  Once correctly installed the next stage is the application of a good quality sealant to offer an extra layer of protection and help ‘waterproof’ the surface.  If you have any doubts as to which sealer is the best to use, a professional company offering a tile cleaning service will be able to recommend one for you.

Regular maintenance is the key to keeping your floor looking good, and though not complicated, needs to be a routine activity – it is amazing how many people simply do not look after or clean their floor.  As well as simple steps such as cleaning up spillages as soon as they happen it is important to protect the surface, the sealer and the grout from all forms of surface scratching.  Regular sweeping and vacuuming flowed by mopping with warm water should be sufficient to eliminate scratching from walked in grit and dirt.  Doormats should be placed at entrances and care should also be taken when moving heavy objects such as furniture.

Despite regular cleaning there is always the possibility that layers of grime and bacteria may build up to the point where it is difficult to clean.  It is also possible that surface scratching will give a place for staining to build up, and remove any present sealant thus exposing the surface.  It is in these cases that you may need to contact a tile cleaning service which can take advantage of modern equipment and techniques to restore the floor to its original condition.