Author Topic: Tile floor deep clean?  (Read 3893 times)

jeromedawg

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Tile floor deep clean?
« on: September 11, 2021, 11:35:36 AM »
Hey all,

Wondering if you think it's worth hiring cleaners who specialize in deep cleaning tile floors, grout and reseal (the whole 9 yards) before moving into a new place. The sellers of the home we bought have a dog (or maybe more than one) and wear their shoes inside (I'm pretty sure). Or would the regular house cleaners be able to do a sufficient job with this (via mopping or whatever)?

uniwelder

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2021, 01:53:40 PM »
Try scrubbing a few inches of grout with a toothbrush and then you’ll probably have your answer.

Edited to add— meaning if you’re getting a lot of crud on the toothbrush, you’d probably want to get someone that can really do a thorough cleaning and sealing.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2021, 01:56:35 PM by uniwelder »

Zamboni

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2021, 02:00:07 PM »
Your regular house cleaners probably won't get it very clean. They will give it a once over with their mop, which itself may or may not be clean (more likely the mop will not be clean).

When we hired guys to do a tile refresh in our kitchen, years ago, what they did was they had a little spray bottle of cleaner and a brush. They went around doing that. And then awhile later they went around again, this time spraying sealant from a little hand held spray bottle and then wiping. It took them awhile, but it looked way, way better.

I've done it to a bathroom floor and you could definitely do it yourself, but I'll warn you it's a full day on your knees unless the kitchen is pretty small. For other people's mess, as you are describing, I would hire that out, but make sure you pick a company with a good reputation and many satisfied customers online.

Dictionary Time

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2021, 02:25:12 PM »
I hired a tile cleaning job and it was awful, did nothing really that a good mopping wouldn’t do. I’ve gotten good results diy with acid and a brush. But it is a grueling job for big areas.

sonofsven

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2021, 03:19:57 PM »
I'd do it myself. Ye olde elbow grease.
"Deep clean", I mean, it sounds impressive but what are they actually doing? Scrubbing the grout with a stiff brush, sealing grout- easy stuff.

jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2021, 06:25:41 PM »
We actually had the guys who cleaned our carpet do tile cleaning in the kitchen at our last place before we sold last year. The difference with the grout lines was amazing but there was a weird residue left on the tiles from the sealant they used. It wasn't too big of a deal. I don't recall if they used an orbital power scrubber/mop type of device or a steam cleaning attachment but it turned out nicely.

The downstairs is a big area too btw: I'm guessing around 1300-1400sq ft. No way I'm gonna hand-scrub all that.... even if I had my entire family doing it LOL. If anything, I *might* consider renting one of those machines from Home Depot but that would come with the risk of aggravating my inflamed FCR tendon and making my tendonitis worse. It's probably worth the money just to have a company come in an do it professionally, in addition to cleaning the tubs and showers.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2021, 07:26:08 PM by jeromedawg »

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2021, 05:17:31 AM »
This is a very easy job to DIY, you just need a steam cleaner, the kind with a hose, which many places rent out. It's will quickly restore your grout to brand new condition. In one afternoon I was able to get 40 year old kitchen grout that looked black back to light grey.

Sealing is also very easy, you just buy a bottle, roll it on your newly cleaned and dried grout and leave it for 8 hours.

Stupid easy, very little elbow grease needed, it just takes a bit of time.

dcheesi

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2021, 05:31:54 AM »
Posting to follow. We have an upstairs bathroom with a floor covered in teeny, tiny tiles, like the kind you'd normally see in kitchen backsplashes (note: who does this?!). There's a zillion little tiny lines of recessed grout to hit, which makes even a basic cleaning job incredibly tedious.

Systems101

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2021, 02:11:44 PM »
I hired a tile cleaning job and it was awful, did nothing really that a good mopping wouldn’t do. I’ve gotten good results diy with acid and a brush. But it is a grueling job for big areas.

If you do it yourself, or hire it out, just be careful what acid is used.  Many grout mixtures will have significant decay from HCl, vinegar or citric acid.  (The portland cement used as the adherent is a pH in the range of 11).  If you use those acids, the grout lines may look clean afterwords, but that is because you actually removed some of the grout, not just the dirt!

Cleaning with a mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda is a better bet to clean the dirt but not etch away the grout itself.

ETA: I did this with a toothbrush on a tile floor years ago before selling a house.  It is definitely laborious.

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2021, 02:49:55 PM »
Seriously folks, just rent a commerical steamer, as I said earlier.

You're all making a very easy job hard for no reason.

I used a Dupray steamer like this:
https://dupray.ca/products/one-plus-steam-cleaner?variant=7604301692974&currency=CAD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic

jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2021, 05:27:44 PM »
This is a very easy job to DIY, you just need a steam cleaner, the kind with a hose, which many places rent out. It's will quickly restore your grout to brand new condition. In one afternoon I was able to get 40 year old kitchen grout that looked black back to light grey.

Sealing is also very easy, you just buy a bottle, roll it on your newly cleaned and dried grout and leave it for 8 hours.

Stupid easy, very little elbow grease needed, it just takes a bit of time.

I was just looking into DIYing it haha. We need to give the tiles a good clean too. Would it be better to use one of those dedicated combo floor scrubber AND steamer machines?

Either of these?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Nilfisk-Advance-Hard-Surface-Cleaner-L08992029/310643401
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Eurosteam-Tile-Grout-Steam-Cleaner-13070/309006984
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/RUG-DOCTOR-Hard-Surface-Cleaner-SURFACE-CLEANER/309391778#product-overview

Or is there a similar concept 'home-use' steam mop/brush I could just buy that could do just as good of a job?

For sealing, IIRC you can also pour the solution out a little at a time and then use one of those long squeegees to spread it around and let it sit. 

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #11 on: September 12, 2021, 05:37:51 PM »
The steamer will clean the tiles at the same time. The steam blasts all over and you wipe down the tiles and grout as you clean.

You don't need any chemicals, detergents, abrasives, or elbow grease. Just the right kind of steam cleaner, the kind with a hose and nozzle with a trigger like the one I posted, and rags to wipe up as you go.

My grout and tiles were both a completely different colour by the end. And this was after I had tried scrubbing them many times, but the steamer just blasted off years of stubborn grime in seconds.

jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #12 on: September 12, 2021, 05:53:52 PM »
The steamer will clean the tiles at the same time. The steam blasts all over and you wipe down the tiles and grout as you clean.

You don't need any chemicals, detergents, abrasives, or elbow grease. Just the right kind of steam cleaner, the kind with a hose and nozzle with a trigger like the one I posted, and rags to wipe up as you go.

My grout and tiles were both a completely different colour by the end. And this was after I had tried scrubbing them many times, but the steamer just blasted off years of stubborn grime in seconds.

Hmmm, maybe I'll look into picking one of these up (and figure it would be something I can use consistently in the future and for cleaning other stuff to like car, clothing stains, upholstery/furniture, etc):
https://www.amazon.com/Steamfast-SF-370WH-Multi-Purpose-Steam-Cleaner/dp/B0051T8XMW/
https://www.amazon.com/Bissell-PowerSteamer-Handheld-Steamer-2685A/dp/B082YPRJV3/
https://www.amazon.com/AutoRight-SteamMachine-C900054-M-Multi-Purpose-Upholstery/dp/B01JYVLF0Y/

And perhaps one of these to use in conjunction and for regular 'normal' cleaning:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/BISSELL-Spinwave-Hard-Floor-Powered-Mop-and-Clean-and-Polish-2039W/152407071?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=17664
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Costway-Electric-Wireless-Mop-Spin-Mop-Spray-Mop-Sweeper-Adjustable-Handle-Waxing/310460991?athcpid=310460991&athpgid=AthenaItempage&athcgid=null&athznid=si&athieid=v0&athstid=CS020&athguid=sN30hPHtA3tNwaJmyfbseXDEpLQ5VwpKj19N&athancid=null&athena=true&athbdg=L1700
https://hoover.com/products/floormate-deluxe-hard-floor-cleaner-1?utm_id=go_cmp-13356170065_adg-125997321547_ad-525461737886_pla-1355148582135_dev-c_ext-_prd-38719242076311_mca-135790738_sig-CjwKCAjwyvaJBhBpEiwA8d38vLJ31zV3IA2y9-W-wQkvRkESChxVgT36QOmtLYo02OJVzolloCljHBoCzdEQAvD_BwE&utm_source=google&gclid=CjwKCAjwyvaJBhBpEiwA8d38vLJ31zV3IA2y9-W-wQkvRkESChxVgT36QOmtLYo02OJVzolloCljHBoCzdEQAvD_BwE
« Last Edit: September 12, 2021, 06:03:00 PM by jeromedawg »

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #13 on: September 12, 2021, 05:58:25 PM »
The steamer will clean the tiles at the same time. The steam blasts all over and you wipe down the tiles and grout as you clean.

You don't need any chemicals, detergents, abrasives, or elbow grease. Just the right kind of steam cleaner, the kind with a hose and nozzle with a trigger like the one I posted, and rags to wipe up as you go.

My grout and tiles were both a completely different colour by the end. And this was after I had tried scrubbing them many times, but the steamer just blasted off years of stubborn grime in seconds.

Hmmm, maybe I'll look into picking one of these up (and figure it would be something I can use consistently in the future):
https://www.amazon.com/Steamfast-SF-370WH-Multi-Purpose-Steam-Cleaner/dp/B0051T8XMW/
https://www.amazon.com/Bissell-PowerSteamer-Handheld-Steamer-2685A/dp/B082YPRJV3/
https://www.amazon.com/AutoRight-SteamMachine-C900054-M-Multi-Purpose-Upholstery/dp/B01JYVLF0Y/

I have no idea if that will work as well as a commercial steamer. It's the high pressure that made the machine I was using so effective and fast.


jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #14 on: September 12, 2021, 06:04:12 PM »
The steamer will clean the tiles at the same time. The steam blasts all over and you wipe down the tiles and grout as you clean.

You don't need any chemicals, detergents, abrasives, or elbow grease. Just the right kind of steam cleaner, the kind with a hose and nozzle with a trigger like the one I posted, and rags to wipe up as you go.

My grout and tiles were both a completely different colour by the end. And this was after I had tried scrubbing them many times, but the steamer just blasted off years of stubborn grime in seconds.

Hmmm, maybe I'll look into picking one of these up (and figure it would be something I can use consistently in the future):
https://www.amazon.com/Steamfast-SF-370WH-Multi-Purpose-Steam-Cleaner/dp/B0051T8XMW/
https://www.amazon.com/Bissell-PowerSteamer-Handheld-Steamer-2685A/dp/B082YPRJV3/
https://www.amazon.com/AutoRight-SteamMachine-C900054-M-Multi-Purpose-Upholstery/dp/B01JYVLF0Y/

I have no idea if that will work as well as a commercial steamer. It's the high pressure that made the machine I was using so effective and fast.

I see. I'll have to look into it. I know some advertise to have higher pressure - one review for one of those was saying it was actually blowing out loose grout IIRC

Dupray has a couple lower end models, like this, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C44DM6D

The PSI and Temps are lower at 50PSI and 275F. I believe the One Plus operates at 60PSI and up to 320F. Not sure if that's a constant PSI though. I don't know what temp/PSI is most 'optimal' for grout removal but I'd imagine it also depends on how dirty the grout is too. How bad were your grout lines? I figure another trick, if I pick something up that isn't as strong, is to spray/apply chemicals to the grout lines pre-steaming. It'll be a lot of spraying but I figure if there's a solid solution (whether purchased or DIY) you can probably use one of those $10 manual pump pressurized sprayers to go around and spray.
« Last Edit: September 12, 2021, 06:37:02 PM by jeromedawg »

BeanCounter

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #15 on: September 12, 2021, 06:34:24 PM »
I just saw that Home Depot rents a steamer for tile grout. Looks like it would be pretty high pressure. I'm going to rent one to try and do my 10ftx3ft shower
If it does a good job then I'll proceed with sealing the shower myself. I hope it's as easy as you all say!

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #16 on: September 12, 2021, 07:03:27 PM »
The steamer will clean the tiles at the same time. The steam blasts all over and you wipe down the tiles and grout as you clean.

You don't need any chemicals, detergents, abrasives, or elbow grease. Just the right kind of steam cleaner, the kind with a hose and nozzle with a trigger like the one I posted, and rags to wipe up as you go.

My grout and tiles were both a completely different colour by the end. And this was after I had tried scrubbing them many times, but the steamer just blasted off years of stubborn grime in seconds.

Hmmm, maybe I'll look into picking one of these up (and figure it would be something I can use consistently in the future):
https://www.amazon.com/Steamfast-SF-370WH-Multi-Purpose-Steam-Cleaner/dp/B0051T8XMW/
https://www.amazon.com/Bissell-PowerSteamer-Handheld-Steamer-2685A/dp/B082YPRJV3/
https://www.amazon.com/AutoRight-SteamMachine-C900054-M-Multi-Purpose-Upholstery/dp/B01JYVLF0Y/

I have no idea if that will work as well as a commercial steamer. It's the high pressure that made the machine I was using so effective and fast.

I see. I'll have to look into it. I know some advertise to have higher pressure - one review for one of those was saying it was actually blowing out loose grout IIRC

Dupray has a couple lower end models, like this, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C44DM6D

The PSI and Temps are lower at 50PSI and 275F. I believe the One Plus operates at 60PSI and up to 320F. Not sure if that's a constant PSI though. I don't know what temp/PSI is most 'optimal' for grout removal but I'd imagine it also depends on how dirty the grout is too. How bad were your grout lines? I figure another trick, if I pick something up that isn't as strong, is to spray/apply chemicals to the grout lines pre-steaming. It'll be a lot of spraying but I figure if there's a solid solution (whether purchased or DIY) you can probably use one of those $10 manual pump pressurized sprayers to go around and spray.

Or just make your life incredibly simple and rent exactly what you need.

If you spray chemicals, then you will have to wear appropriate protective gear, and possibly a respirator because you will be creating powerful chemical vapor once you apply the steamer to it.

Just rent what you need. It's not like you will need to steam clean anything more than once a year at most. I did my tiles and then just normal cleaning kept them pristine for the 5 years until I moved. And I had free access to it.

Your threads indicate that you have a tendency to complicate things and over think them. Don't think for another second, don't analyse it. Just rent a steamer, buy some sealer, and spend one day on this and then don't think about it again for years.

jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #17 on: September 12, 2021, 07:07:28 PM »
I just saw that Home Depot rents a steamer for tile grout. Looks like it would be pretty high pressure. I'm going to rent one to try and do my 10ftx3ft shower
If it does a good job then I'll proceed with sealing the shower myself. I hope it's as easy as you all say!

I think that's this one right?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Eurosteam-Tile-Grout-Steam-Cleaner-13070/309006984

I'm considering renting one as well. Although, I still think we might want to pickup some kind of wet vacuum/mop type of device regardless.

I wonder how long it'll take to do the entire downstairs + bathrooms upstairs (including showers/tubs - I wonder if these can or should be used on toilets too). The only thing I'm apprehensive about is carrying this thing upstairs - my left wrist is messed up and I don't want to aggravate it carrying the thing up and downstairs - it looks kind of bulky. Also, the sellers are leaving their washer/dryer and fridge behind - it would be nice to get those moved so I can clean under them. I mean, I could forego those but it would be nice just to get everything while I have the unit

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #18 on: September 12, 2021, 07:13:13 PM »
I just saw that Home Depot rents a steamer for tile grout. Looks like it would be pretty high pressure. I'm going to rent one to try and do my 10ftx3ft shower
If it does a good job then I'll proceed with sealing the shower myself. I hope it's as easy as you all say!

I think that's this one right?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Eurosteam-Tile-Grout-Steam-Cleaner-13070/309006984

I'm considering renting one as well. Although, I still think we might want to pickup some kind of wet vacuum/mop type of device regardless.

I wonder how long it'll take to do the entire downstairs + bathrooms upstairs (including showers/tubs - I wonder if these can or should be used on toilets too). The only thing I'm apprehensive about is carrying this thing upstairs - my left wrist is messed up and I don't want to aggravate it carrying the thing up and downstairs - it looks kind of bulky. Also, the sellers are leaving their washer/dryer and fridge behind - it would be nice to get those moved so I can clean under them. I mean, I could forego those but it would be nice just to get everything while I have the unit

The one I used is much smaller than that.
So if you are worried about the size, you don't need to go that big.

jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #19 on: September 12, 2021, 07:30:32 PM »
I just saw that Home Depot rents a steamer for tile grout. Looks like it would be pretty high pressure. I'm going to rent one to try and do my 10ftx3ft shower
If it does a good job then I'll proceed with sealing the shower myself. I hope it's as easy as you all say!

I think that's this one right?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Eurosteam-Tile-Grout-Steam-Cleaner-13070/309006984

I'm considering renting one as well. Although, I still think we might want to pickup some kind of wet vacuum/mop type of device regardless.

I wonder how long it'll take to do the entire downstairs + bathrooms upstairs (including showers/tubs - I wonder if these can or should be used on toilets too). The only thing I'm apprehensive about is carrying this thing upstairs - my left wrist is messed up and I don't want to aggravate it carrying the thing up and downstairs - it looks kind of bulky. Also, the sellers are leaving their washer/dryer and fridge behind - it would be nice to get those moved so I can clean under them. I mean, I could forego those but it would be nice just to get everything while I have the unit

The one I used is much smaller than that.
So if you are worried about the size, you don't need to go that big.

Unfortunately, Home Depot doesn't have any other smaller steam cleaners (like the one you linked). The one they have is the Eurosteam one which is basically on a dolly and weighs like 30-40lbs. I guess I'll see if there are any other tool rental places around that I might be able to rent a smaller unit from. Just as an option though I went ahead and reserved one for rental the last planned day for fumigation though

familyandfarming

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #20 on: September 12, 2021, 07:32:49 PM »
I have a small steamer like what is mentioned in this thread from Amazon. I’ve flipped two houses with it and loaned it out to all my siblings and it’s still going strong! I’ve used it so much, I’ve gone through several sets of tools.

I also add drops of essential oil to the distilled water. Smells greats!

It’s been a great investment!

jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #21 on: September 12, 2021, 07:34:29 PM »
I have a small steamer like what is mentioned in this thread from Amazon. I’ve flipped two houses with it and loaned it out to all my siblings and it’s still going strong! I’ve used it so much, I’ve gone through several sets of tools.

I also add drops of essential oil to the distilled water. Smells greats!

It’s been a great investment!

Yea, I'm thinking about just picking one up at this point. I think they're great devices to have handy as they are multipurpose use.


LOL, I ended up just buying a used one in "Very Good" condition from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003PGQI3Y/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&psc=1

There's an additional 20% off via Amazon warehouse on these too, so it ended up costing $83~

Overall, the reviews seem pretty good and when I searched for "Grout" most people seemed to indicate that it does a good job. I figure it's worth a shot. If it really does suck, I'll just return it and grab the one from Home Depot.

The cost of the rental from Home Depot is $80.
« Last Edit: September 12, 2021, 07:47:21 PM by jeromedawg »

familyandfarming

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #22 on: September 12, 2021, 07:48:22 PM »

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #23 on: September 12, 2021, 07:51:23 PM »
I have a small steamer like what is mentioned in this thread from Amazon. I’ve flipped two houses with it and loaned it out to all my siblings and it’s still going strong! I’ve used it so much, I’ve gone through several sets of tools.

I also add drops of essential oil to the distilled water. Smells greats!

It’s been a great investment!

Yea, I'm thinking about just picking one up at this point. I think they're great devices to have handy as they are multipurpose use.


LOL, I ended up just buying a used one in "Very Good" condition from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003PGQI3Y/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&psc=1

There's an additional 20% off via Amazon warehouse on these too, so it ended up costing $83~

Overall, the reviews seem pretty good and when I searched for "Grout" most people seemed to indicate that it does a good job. I figure it's worth a shot. If it really does suck, I'll just return it and grab the one from Home Depot.

The cost of the rental from Home Depot is $80.

Then enjoy your new toy and hopefully it makes the job as quick and stupidly easy as it was for me.

jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #24 on: September 12, 2021, 07:54:41 PM »
I have a small steamer like what is mentioned in this thread from Amazon. I’ve flipped two houses with it and loaned it out to all my siblings and it’s still going strong! I’ve used it so much, I’ve gone through several sets of tools.

I also add drops of essential oil to the distilled water. Smells greats!

It’s been a great investment!

Yea, I'm thinking about just picking one up at this point. I think they're great devices to have handy as they are multipurpose use.


LOL, I ended up just buying a used one in "Very Good" condition from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003PGQI3Y/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&psc=1

There's an additional 20% off via Amazon warehouse on these too, so it ended up costing $83~

Overall, the reviews seem pretty good and when I searched for "Grout" most people seemed to indicate that it does a good job. I figure it's worth a shot. If it really does suck, I'll just return it and grab the one from Home Depot.

The cost of the rental from Home Depot is $80.

Then enjoy your new toy and hopefully it makes the job as quick and stupidly easy as it was for me.

I figure it'll likely work well. Maybe not as well and maybe not as quickly as the fancy Dupray, but probably much better than paying $1000 to have it done for me if I'm OK with DIYing something this.

This is the actual steamer I have: https://www.amazon.com/AutoRight-SteamMachine-C900054-M-Multi-Purpose-Upholstery/dp/B003PGQI3Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?crid=21PIMVHMAL3MU&dchild=1&keywords=steamer%2Bfor%2Bcleaning&qid=1631497553&sprefix=steamer&sr=8-6&th=1&psc=1

It built in Wisconsin and they have great customer service if you have any issues.
Awesome! Yep, that's the exact one I bought! Sounds like it'll work well! How long does it last or how many sq feet would you estimate it covers with a single tank fill? Does it handle tile & grout for you as well as the reviews say?

I'm thinking it might not be a bad idea to have the plain ole mop and a bucket handy to do the excess cleanup (and to make it smell better too.... my wife hates Pinesol so we'll have to use something else)

It looks like this is actually very multi-purpose and can be used to clean walls and baseboards (in addition to sinks, toilets, showers/tubs, clothes, furniture, cars even), which is sorely needed there - there are definitely areas on their walls that could use a good cleaning. They have a dog and I think I've seen certain areas in the house where the walls show dirtier - I'm guessing the dog has rubbed up against those areas often?
« Last Edit: September 12, 2021, 08:13:58 PM by jeromedawg »

jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #25 on: September 13, 2021, 11:58:19 AM »
I also grabbed a Hoover Floormate hard floor cleaner which is has scrub brushes and water tanks - you can put solution w/ water in the clean tank and it'll distribute it on the floor, scrub, and then suck up the water into the dirty tank. This seems like a good thing to have for that much tile flooring. I was strongly considering picking up one of those mopping robots but I figure this way I'll at least get *some* exercise in lol. So the plan is to steam the grout and any stubborn tile stains (although, if these are porcelain I don't think they'll have that problem) and then run the hard floor cleaner over to scrub and dry it all. 

familyandfarming

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #26 on: September 13, 2021, 07:50:06 PM »
One piece of advice about the steamer. After you get the water to temperature, depress the trigger into a sink or bucket as it “spits” before the steam comes out. When it starts to steam, it works very well! The steamer is very versatile, with a bunch of attachments for practically any job! I get my essential oils to make things smell good at Walmart.

jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #27 on: September 13, 2021, 08:23:39 PM »
One piece of advice about the steamer. After you get the water to temperature, depress the trigger into a sink or bucket as it “spits” before the steam comes out. When it starts to steam, it works very well! The steamer is very versatile, with a bunch of attachments for practically any job! I get my essential oils to make things smell good at Walmart.

I figure it's useful for many other things. Is it safe to put essential oils in it? If so, how many drops? I was reading that it's a good idea to use some vinegar as well to keep it clean of deposits. The water here tends to leave calcium and lime rings, so I wonder if I should just use vinegar regardless - plus, I figure it wouldn't hurt to use for some additional cleaning power?

Systems101

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #28 on: September 13, 2021, 10:49:41 PM »
The water here tends to leave calcium and lime rings, so I wonder if I should just use vinegar regardless - plus, I figure it wouldn't hurt to use for some additional cleaning power?

Be careful.  You may get more "cleaning" than you expect if you include vinegar.

General use of vinegar can do things like: pit the polyurethane on your floors (making it trap dirt and cause more damage to the floor), dissolve your grout (see my earlier post), remove the shine from a granite countertop, and degrade plastic and rubber seals (which may produce problems in the cleaner itself - you should read the manual or ask the manufacturer how to deal with hard water in the steam cleaner).



Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #29 on: September 14, 2021, 05:26:55 AM »
One piece of advice about the steamer. After you get the water to temperature, depress the trigger into a sink or bucket as it “spits” before the steam comes out. When it starts to steam, it works very well! The steamer is very versatile, with a bunch of attachments for practically any job! I get my essential oils to make things smell good at Walmart.

I figure it's useful for many other things. Is it safe to put essential oils in it? If so, how many drops? I was reading that it's a good idea to use some vinegar as well to keep it clean of deposits. The water here tends to leave calcium and lime rings, so I wonder if I should just use vinegar regardless - plus, I figure it wouldn't hurt to use for some additional cleaning power?

It will likely come with care instructions to manage scale.
Just follow the instructions.

Don't waste your energy contemplating how to take care of an item until you've read the care instructions.

clarkfan1979

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #30 on: September 18, 2021, 02:52:51 PM »
In Florida, a "regular clean" is mopping the floor once. A "deep clean" typically means that the tile floor is mopped until the water starts to turn clear, which is typically 2-4 times, depending on how dirty.   


BeanCounter

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #31 on: September 19, 2021, 06:26:56 AM »
I have a small steamer like what is mentioned in this thread from Amazon. I’ve flipped two houses with it and loaned it out to all my siblings and it’s still going strong! I’ve used it so much, I’ve gone through several sets of tools.

I also add drops of essential oil to the distilled water. Smells greats!

It’s been a great investment!

Yea, I'm thinking about just picking one up at this point. I think they're great devices to have handy as they are multipurpose use.


LOL, I ended up just buying a used one in "Very Good" condition from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003PGQI3Y/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&psc=1

There's an additional 20% off via Amazon warehouse on these too, so it ended up costing $83~

Overall, the reviews seem pretty good and when I searched for "Grout" most people seemed to indicate that it does a good job. I figure it's worth a shot. If it really does suck, I'll just return it and grab the one from Home Depot.

The cost of the rental from Home Depot is $80.
@jeromedawg so did it work well? I was headed to HD to rent but then realized the price to buy wasn't that much more.
I'm on the fence about trying to clean all the shower tile myself and then reseal it, or just hire someone to "restore" the tile grout which would be a deep clean and the reseal. If I hired someone I would likely still buy the steamer to try to keep it clean. It also looks like it has a ton of other uses around the house. I would also like to deep clean all the tight spots on the window sills.

jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #32 on: September 19, 2021, 03:13:11 PM »
I have a small steamer like what is mentioned in this thread from Amazon. I’ve flipped two houses with it and loaned it out to all my siblings and it’s still going strong! I’ve used it so much, I’ve gone through several sets of tools.

I also add drops of essential oil to the distilled water. Smells greats!

It’s been a great investment!

Yea, I'm thinking about just picking one up at this point. I think they're great devices to have handy as they are multipurpose use.


LOL, I ended up just buying a used one in "Very Good" condition from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003PGQI3Y/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&psc=1

There's an additional 20% off via Amazon warehouse on these too, so it ended up costing $83~

Overall, the reviews seem pretty good and when I searched for "Grout" most people seemed to indicate that it does a good job. I figure it's worth a shot. If it really does suck, I'll just return it and grab the one from Home Depot.

The cost of the rental from Home Depot is $80.
@jeromedawg so did it work well? I was headed to HD to rent but then realized the price to buy wasn't that much more.
I'm on the fence about trying to clean all the shower tile myself and then reseal it, or just hire someone to "restore" the tile grout which would be a deep clean and the reseal. If I hired someone I would likely still buy the steamer to try to keep it clean. It also looks like it has a ton of other uses around the house. I would also like to deep clean all the tight spots on the window sills.

I'll have a better update tomorrow hopefully after I get the replacement jet tip to try out. I've tried removing some stubborn fabric stains on faux suede chairs and also a cheapo fabric cushion that came with an sitting storage bench. It didn't seem to work so well to remove those stains. I haven't extensively tested this out though either. I tried to blast away some pink mold and also moldy caulk - the pink mold required using the brush to scrape it off and the moldy caulk didn't really improve much (I've found the best way to get rid of mold on moldy caulk is to spray down and soak with bleach). Again, this was all via the brush head attachements though since the jet tip I got is defective. I'm looking forward to seeing how well the jet tip blows gunk out so will update when I find out.

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #33 on: September 19, 2021, 04:10:02 PM »
Yeah, basic bleach is the best for shower mold. The steamer did literally nothing when I used it on that ancient mold and mildew in my last bathroom, but bleach gel worked perfectly. It's expensive for how little you get, but you just apply it and leave it for the day and it generally requires no scrubbing.

https://www.amazon.ca/Skylarlife-Remover-Cleaner-Sealant-Showers/dp/B07G4298M2/ref=asc_df_B07G4298M2/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341825610193&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4395574088491630559&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000665&hvtargid=pla-671989388768&psc=1

jeromedawg

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #34 on: September 19, 2021, 04:42:45 PM »
Yeah, basic bleach is the best for shower mold. The steamer did literally nothing when I used it on that ancient mold and mildew in my last bathroom, but bleach gel worked perfectly. It's expensive for how little you get, but you just apply it and leave it for the day and it generally requires no scrubbing.

https://www.amazon.ca/Skylarlife-Remover-Cleaner-Sealant-Showers/dp/B07G4298M2/ref=asc_df_B07G4298M2/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341825610193&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4395574088491630559&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000665&hvtargid=pla-671989388768&psc=1

Makes sense - gel seems like a better option than spray when you want to keep the bleach on the mold when it's on a wall or vertical. We've used bleach sprays on caulking around raised/drop-in sinks otherwise. It's crazy how well it cleans up the mold though when you can seriously scrub at the same stuff for hours to no avail

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #35 on: September 19, 2021, 04:53:00 PM »
Yeah, basic bleach is the best for shower mold. The steamer did literally nothing when I used it on that ancient mold and mildew in my last bathroom, but bleach gel worked perfectly. It's expensive for how little you get, but you just apply it and leave it for the day and it generally requires no scrubbing.

https://www.amazon.ca/Skylarlife-Remover-Cleaner-Sealant-Showers/dp/B07G4298M2/ref=asc_df_B07G4298M2/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341825610193&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4395574088491630559&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000665&hvtargid=pla-671989388768&psc=1

Makes sense - gel seems like a better option than spray when you want to keep the bleach on the mold when it's on a wall or vertical. We've used bleach sprays on caulking around raised/drop-in sinks otherwise. It's crazy how well it cleans up the mold though when you can seriously scrub at the same stuff for hours to no avail

You need the right tool for the job if you want any degree of efficiency.

Dibbels81

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #36 on: October 18, 2021, 02:07:26 PM »
Thanks all for the steam cleaning idea. I just bought the Dupray Neat on amazon for $150. Badass! I'll get a lot of use out of it. Attached is the result from my first few minutes on nasty kitchen grout.

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #37 on: October 18, 2021, 04:45:24 PM »
Thanks all for the steam cleaning idea. I just bought the Dupray Neat on amazon for $150. Badass! I'll get a lot of use out of it. Attached is the result from my first few minutes on nasty kitchen grout.

so satisfying, isn't it?

nereo

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #38 on: October 18, 2021, 04:57:10 PM »
Yeah, basic bleach is the best for shower mold. The steamer did literally nothing when I used it on that ancient mold and mildew in my last bathroom, but bleach gel worked perfectly. It's expensive for how little you get, but you just apply it and leave it for the day and it generally requires no scrubbing.

https://www.amazon.ca/Skylarlife-Remover-Cleaner-Sealant-Showers/dp/B07G4298M2/ref=asc_df_B07G4298M2/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341825610193&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4395574088491630559&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000665&hvtargid=pla-671989388768&psc=1

FWIW you can make your own bleach “gel” for pennies per cup. Just dissolve a few tablespoons corn starch in near-boiling water til you have a consistency slightly thicker than you want. Once cool stir in four tablespoons liquid bleach. Voila!

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #39 on: October 18, 2021, 05:56:22 PM »
Yeah, basic bleach is the best for shower mold. The steamer did literally nothing when I used it on that ancient mold and mildew in my last bathroom, but bleach gel worked perfectly. It's expensive for how little you get, but you just apply it and leave it for the day and it generally requires no scrubbing.

https://www.amazon.ca/Skylarlife-Remover-Cleaner-Sealant-Showers/dp/B07G4298M2/ref=asc_df_B07G4298M2/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341825610193&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4395574088491630559&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000665&hvtargid=pla-671989388768&psc=1

FWIW you can make your own bleach “gel” for pennies per cup. Just dissolve a few tablespoons corn starch in near-boiling water til you have a consistency slightly thicker than you want. Once cool stir in four tablespoons liquid bleach. Voila!

neat-o

nereo

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #40 on: October 18, 2021, 06:33:05 PM »
Yeah, basic bleach is the best for shower mold. The steamer did literally nothing when I used it on that ancient mold and mildew in my last bathroom, but bleach gel worked perfectly. It's expensive for how little you get, but you just apply it and leave it for the day and it generally requires no scrubbing.

https://www.amazon.ca/Skylarlife-Remover-Cleaner-Sealant-Showers/dp/B07G4298M2/ref=asc_df_B07G4298M2/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341825610193&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4395574088491630559&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000665&hvtargid=pla-671989388768&psc=1

FWIW you can make your own bleach “gel” for pennies per cup. Just dissolve a few tablespoons corn starch in near-boiling water til you have a consistency slightly thicker than you want. Once cool stir in four tablespoons liquid bleach. Voila!

neat-o

Yeah, i do a crap-ton of sanitizing in my job.  It’s not often i can slip it into a discussion…

Metalcat

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #41 on: October 18, 2021, 08:08:59 PM »
Yeah, basic bleach is the best for shower mold. The steamer did literally nothing when I used it on that ancient mold and mildew in my last bathroom, but bleach gel worked perfectly. It's expensive for how little you get, but you just apply it and leave it for the day and it generally requires no scrubbing.

https://www.amazon.ca/Skylarlife-Remover-Cleaner-Sealant-Showers/dp/B07G4298M2/ref=asc_df_B07G4298M2/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341825610193&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4395574088491630559&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000665&hvtargid=pla-671989388768&psc=1

FWIW you can make your own bleach “gel” for pennies per cup. Just dissolve a few tablespoons corn starch in near-boiling water til you have a consistency slightly thicker than you want. Once cool stir in four tablespoons liquid bleach. Voila!

neat-o

Yeah, i do a crap-ton of sanitizing in my job.  It’s not often i can slip it into a discussion…

IDK, I think a lot more people are interested in mildew bleaching than you might think.

I know about that bleach gel specifically because Buzzfeed constantly features it on listicles about amaaaaaazing products you can't live without. It's, in fact, one of the most persistent products I've seen them promote on a more than weekly basis for the past several years.

People care about bleach gel

Shinplaster

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #42 on: October 19, 2021, 06:40:04 AM »
Dollar Tree in Canada sells a gel bleach that is fabulous.  I'm not sure if the U.S. stores have it also.  Brand name is "Wizard", comes in a tall, slim blue bottle, and costs $1.25.  They don't always have it in stock, but when they do I buy multiple bottles.  Way better than anything else I've ever used (including the Clorox gelpen).

FLBiker

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Re: Tile floor deep clean?
« Reply #43 on: October 28, 2021, 02:08:48 PM »
Dollar Tree in Canada sells a gel bleach that is fabulous.  I'm not sure if the U.S. stores have it also.  Brand name is "Wizard", comes in a tall, slim blue bottle, and costs $1.25.  They don't always have it in stock, but when they do I buy multiple bottles.  Way better than anything else I've ever used (including the Clorox gelpen).

Thanks for this!  I'm a new Canadian and I've never heard about gel bleach but for $1.25 I'll take the risk. :)