Tile and grout can be a beautiful part of the design of your kitchen, bathroom, or any other room, but keeping it looking beautiful is another story. Here are a few strategies you can use to keep your grout and tile looking as good as the day it was installed--even if that was long before you moved in.

Clean tiled surfaces and grout regularly

This seems like an obvious suggestion, but we can’t stress its importance enough. While tiled floors don’t trap dirt in the way that carpet does, regular vacuuming, mopping, and scrubbing is necessary to keep it looking great. Especially since grout is porous and does trap dirt, liquids, and other grime, keeping on top of cleaning can prevent the soiling from getting in deep and causing staining or discoloration.

Paint old grout

If your grout is old, discolored, and stained, don’t just rip up all your tile or resign yourself to a dirty-looking home; instead, paint your grout. Special grout paint even exists, specifically for this purpose. You can easily select a color that masks the existing staining and that won’t show stains that might occur in the future. (For a simple step-by-step on painting grout, check out this article from Better Homes and Gardens.)

Seal your grout

Instead of, or in addition to painting your grout, you can also seal it. This will prevent dirt and grime and all that from entering the pores of the grout, keeping it cleaner and better looking. Some grout sealing agents even have a pigment, making it a two-in-one, protecting your grout and masking any stains. You can call in a pro, or seal the grout yourself (here’s a great how-to on sealing grout yourself from Bob Vila).

Use the right cleaning supplies

While tile is pretty low-maintenance when it comes to the type of cleaning agent you should use--soapy water can do the trick--make sure you use the right tool for the job. A sponge mop can draw dirt into grout tracks, making it harder to remove. Using a cloth mop can reduce this issue, as can using a microfiber cleaning pad or Swiffer-style cleaning implement that traps dirt on the surface of the cleaning pad, rather than suspending it in water. Vacuuming before wet cleaning can reduce the amount of soil that is pushed into the grout tracks, as well.

Get regular professional cleanings

There’s just some dirt you’ll never be able to get out with an old toothbrush and lots of elbow grease. Professional tile and grout cleaning equipment is specially designed for the challenges presented by these materials and is extremely high-powered.

Grout and tile can be a cleaning hassle, but they don’t have to be. If you follow our tips for these surfaces, you should be able to keep them looking as good as new (or better!), and keep the cleaning hassle to a minimum.

Rug Rover offers tile and grout cleaning to get your kitchen or bathroom looking its best. Give us a call today!