Do Tile and Stone Floors Require Professional Cleaning?
Tile and Stone have timeless style and structural durability. But even the hardiest materials need regular care. Yes, granite, marble, ceramic and porcelain are very different surfaces. Nevertheless, they share many of the same maintenance needs.
When it comes to stone and tile, a homeowner can handle everday cleaning. The first priority is to remove dirt and grit from hard surfaces, as often as possible. To DIY clean your stone flooring, and provide the best everyday tile and grout care, keep a vacuum and a dry dust mop handy and use them often.
Beyond that, be mindful that stone and tile flooring are each vulnerable to certain cleaning solutions. If you are unsure whether your product may cause scraching, abrasion or slippery build-up, don’t use it. The best bet is to hire a professional company to get the deepest clean.
Ready or Not…
So let’s say you’ve scheduled your service and the technicians will soon be heading your way. How do you prepare your home for the appointment?
There are several things you can do to ensure the best possible tile and stone cleaning outcomes. Just follow this guide and we guarantee your cleaning appointment will go smoothly, start to finish.
1. Restrict Access to the Cleaning Zone.
Whether you have ceramic tile in your kitchen or marble in your bathroom, plan ahead for the day of service. Make sure neither you nor your family will need to enter or walk through the service areas. This will provide a safety buffer for your loved ones and the most efficient work zone for the pros.
Set aside a couple of hours for the cleaning and additional time for drying, especially if your appointment includes a sealing treatment for stone or grout. Your technician can give you a ballpark estimate for the total time you should stay off these floors.
2. Always Put Safety First.
When professionals can move freely and work without interruption, they get the best results. Homeowners should put pets in a safe, quiet place, where the noise and disruption of cleaning won’t disturb them. They should also keep an extra close eye on little ones while service providers are in the home.
Why take these precautions? Because a cleaning team must often prop open doors to access equipment. These access points are an irresistable temptation for both two and four-footed escape artists. Much as they care for your family’s wellbeing, cleaners cannot do their detailed work and simultaneously secure the jobsite.
A cleaning company will ask that you avoid scheduling any other service providers during your cleaning appointment. Juggling parking for multiple service vehicles and navigating the overlap of equipment and personnel can be inconvenient, dangerous and can result in service cancellation. If there are other tradespeople who absolutely must be in your home during your cleaning appointment, please share these guidelines so you can guarantee jobsite safety for all concerned.
3. Make Sure Your Floor is Fully Accessible for Cleaning.
When you pay a premium for stone or tile service specialists, you don’t want them to spend time on general tidying and clean-up. Rather than that, clear the service area of loose personal belongings. By removing clothing, toys, electronics, and more, you will ensure your service is efficient and effective.
It is a huge help when clients pin up their full-length draperies, lifting them at least six inches off the floor. Additionally, pinning up skirts on upholstered furniture helps give cleaners the best access to flooring.
Before that tile or stone cleaning appointment, a homeowner should secure her home’s breakables. This should be done for access areas as well as work zones. It is important to move small furnishings as well. When dining chairs, ottomans, floor lamps, plants and accent tables are moved out of the way, the pros can service the maximum amount of square footage.
Once your floors are cleared, take a moment to walk the rooms and familiarize yourself with problem areas. For the most thorough preparation, pre-sweep the floors to remove loose particles and grit. You’ll get a sense of what is regularly tracked in and across your tile and stone. This is also a great time to scrub off any sticky substances that might slow down your cleaning crew.
Lastly, be mindful that professional cleaners cannot move computer equipment, china cabinets, sectional sofas, entertainment centers, antique or fragile furniture. However, they may be able to clean the tile or stone floors underneath such items, where sufficient room is available. If there is no access, never fear. Cleaners will edge closely around the base of the largest pieces.
4. Communicate Your Concerns About the Floors to be Cleaned.
The first part of any professional cleaning service is a pre-inspection. This is why clients should always plan to be on site at the beginning of their cleaning appointment. The inspection is a chance to examine your floors with the technicians, before work begins. Take this opportunity to share any special instructions about moving remaining small furnishings. Point out concerns like weak legs, loose tops or previous repairs.
Know your tile and stone flooring concerns going in. The pre-inspection will give you the chance to call attention to areas which may require special care. Stone and Tile cleaners appreciate when their clients point out specific examples of discoloration, staining and etching. In turn, the pros can identify any pre-existing chipping, gouges, cracks or other defects that cannot be fixed by the cleaning process.
5. Plan Ahead for Post-Service Pointers.
Remember to set aside the time for your hard-surface flooring to dry fully, before resuming use. If you decide to have your stone or grout sealed at the time of cleaning – something the pros strongly suggest – keep in mind that the sealing process will require a little extra time to cure. When possible, the pros will set up air movers to improve drying time. But don’t rush the process. A lasting clean is worth the wait.
As a safety precaution, please do not let your children or pets crawl or lie down on the cleaned floor while it is wet. Make sure that no one runs on damp and slippery tile or stone.
Keep in mind too, a professional cleaning is a great opportunity for you to consider revamping your everyday cleaning routines. One effective strategy that you can apply to all hard surface flooring is the regular use of a vacuum or dry mop. These tools help corral the dirt and grit that can scratch or gouge your stone and tile.
As for wet mopping, be warned. Some cleaning agents can harm your hard surfaces. Always research a product before use – and look for trade posts rather than marketing materials. It is possible for the wrong cleaner to leave behind permanent damage.
Remember these 5 Easy Steps to Prepare for Any Hard Surface Cleaning.
Restrict Access to the Cleaning Zone.
Always Put Safety First.
Make Sure Your Floor is Fully Accessible for Cleaning.
Communicate Your Concerns About the Floors to be Cleaned.
Plan Ahead for Post-Service Pointers.
So How Do Homeowners Choose the Right Stone and Tile Flooring Specialist?
Unsure about how to find the best cleaning company for your tile or stone? We have a few simple pointers for that too. Remember, local companies are more motivated than franchises to provide the best possible service and to be accountable if any complications arise during an appointment. After all, the local folks are more concerned about serving their neighbors than protecting their bottom line.
For homeowners in Middle Tennessee, there’s Pro-Care. We are a small, family-owned company that serves Nashville, Tennessee and the surrounding areas. We are dedicated to helping each client keep her home healthy, clean, and always looking its best. What does a good tile or stone cleaning look like? Follow the links below and learn more about Pro-Care’s hardsurface programs.
Wherever you live, make it a priority to vet and schedule a professional estimate to clean your hard surface flooring. Why? Because while there is plenty you can do on the daily, the best care plan for tile and grout or natural stone includes periodic professional service. Deeply clean floors stay beautiful longer and ensure a safer, healthier environment for your loved ones.
So let the pros help you get the best out of your investment. Clean stone or tile flooring is just a phone call away!