Tile and Grout Cleaning!! I am clueless!!

[Tom Kohlman]

I am new to TMF and new to the carpet cleaning business. I have a truck mount and just somehow landed my first tile and grout cleaning job which is on Wednesday. I have never cleaned tile and grout and I do not have any tools for it either. The job is a walk in shower (tile walls and floor). I am going tomorrow to purchase the tools I need from a supplier in town and I was in need of some advice on the process, the chemicals and any tips and tricks that you guys may have. Please tell me anything that you know. Also please tell me what not to do!! I don't like accidents

 

[Todd the Cleaner]

Go buy your tile wands and spinners. For chemicals one of the best things you can use on a shower is shower cleaner. If you have a janitorial supply shop that sells commercial shower cleaner then pick up a gallon, if not go to your local Wal Mart (or whatever) and buy some shower cleaner. I recommend putting the chemical into a different spray bottle so the customer does not see it's an over the counter product. Also get some alkaline tile cleaner (Tilemaster is the best) and an acid tile cleaner. You probably will not need the alkaline cleaner on the shower but be prepared to use the shower cleaner and maybe even the acid. I also recommend picking up a cheap $2 hand scrub brush for use in the shower.

With shower grout the grout lines often never fully dry since it is soaked down daily when the shower is used. Make sure to inform your customer that moisture can make grout look darker and being a shower there will be an extended drying time.

 

[Tom Kohlman]

Go buy your tile wands and spinners. For chemicals one of the best things you can use on a shower is shower cleaner. If you have a janitorial supply shop that sells commercial shower cleaner then pick up a gallon, if not go to your local Wal Mart (or whatever) and buy some shower cleaner. I recommend putting the chemical into a different spray bottle so the customer does not see it's an over the counter product. Also get some alkaline tile cleaner (Tilemaster is the best) and an acid tile cleaner. You probably will not need the alkaline cleaner on the shower but be prepared to use the shower cleaner and maybe even the acid. I also recommend picking up a cheap $2 hand scrub brush for use in the shower.

With shower grout the grout lines often never fully dry since it is soaked down daily when the shower is used. Make sure to inform your customer that moisture can make grout look darker and being a shower there will be an extended drying time.

Is the Walmart stuff used like a prespray on carpet? I heard that acid tile cleaners are pretty potent... Which chemicals should I put into solution tank on truck? The acid or alkaline? How much psi? Any dwell time for shower cleaner? The supply house I use carries all Prochem stuff and that's all I use for Carpet cleaning. If grout is still wet, can it be sealed with a penetrating sealer?

 

[Todd the Cleaner]

Is the Walmart stuff used like a prespray on carpet? I heard that acid tile cleaners are pretty potent... Which chemicals should I put into solution tank on truck? The acid or alkaline? How much psi? Any dwell time for shower cleaner? The supply house I use carries all Prochem stuff and that's all I use for Carpet cleaning. If grout is still wet, can it be sealed with a penetrating sealer?

Which ever shower cleaner you end up getting just put it into a spray bottle and spray it straight onto the shower wall. Follow the product instructions for dwell time, I would suggest at least 5 minutes. Depending on which tool you buy I would use between 700-1200 psi.

For the truckmount, when cleaning tile & grout just run clear water through the lines to rinse with.

If you seal it use a water based sealer and you will be fine.

 

[Tom Kohlman]

Which ever shower cleaner you end up getting just put it into a spray bottle and spray it straight onto the shower wall. Follow the product instructions for dwell time, I would suggest at least 5 minutes. Depending on which tool you buy I would use between 700-1200 psi.

For the truckmount, when cleaning tile & grout just run clear water through the lines to rinse with.

If you seal it use a water based sealer and you will be fine.

Thanks Todd. I appreciate the advice.

 

[Scott W]

Is the tile ceramic tile? Stone and some other types of tile may require a different approach.

My guide to cleaning, Stone, tile & Grout is free to anyone who asks for it. Send an email to [email protected]

Acid cleaners work well for hard water deposits, soap scum, urine and some other stains associated with bathrooms. For most other tile & grout, you will start with an alkaline cleaner.

Be careful when using acid cleaners round anything metal.

 

[brentnorman]

I've cleaned a lot of tile and grout. But I've never cleaned a commercial kitchen yet and have one to do next Monday. Of course there is a lot of grease. Any tricks to save time and steps? I have Viper Venom, V. V. And peroxide, and Tilemaster. I'm thinking Tilemaster and a good degreaser and a good pre scrub. I use the Rotovac tile head and ring. I've also got Aloha Dave's awesome grout brushes.
What steps would you take? Its about 1000 s.f. Of quarry 6x6 at 5 a.m. to make sure the restaurant can have their kitchen back by 10.


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[Tom Kohlman]

Thanks Scott for the info. I read that somewhere that acids were hard on metal and you confirmed that.


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[rob allen]

Tile & grout cleaning is the simplest and most profitable diverse service in our industry imho.

 

[Presidential Cleaning]

I've cleaned a lot of tile and grout. But I've never cleaned a commercial kitchen yet and have one to do next Monday. Of course there is a lot of grease. Any tricks to save time and steps? I have Viper Venom, V. V. And peroxide, and Tilemaster. I'm thinking Tilemaster and a good degreaser and a good pre scrub. I use the Rotovac tile head and ring. I've also got Aloha Dave's awesome grout brushes.
What steps would you take? Its about 1000 s.f. Of quarry 6x6 at 5 a.m. to make sure the restaurant can have their kitchen back by 10.


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You pretty much have everything you need. Use tilemaster, dwell 10 mins, scrub the grout lines, if needed spray again, then extract using high heat and 800-1200 psi. Get paid.


Mr. President

 

[Presidential Cleaning]

How do I know this?

Cause I did this....well I didn't, my guys did but I trained them. Close enough.

Mr. President

 

[Tom Kohlman]

I live in Michigan. What's the goin rate for tile/grout cleaning persq.ft in the areas you guys work in? Also , it would seem like vertical work like shower stalls would be a lot more persq.ft than floors... Anyone have any info?

 

[Scott W]

I live in Michigan. What's the goin rate for tile/grout cleaning persq.ft in the areas you guys work in? Also , it would seem like vertical work like shower stalls would be a lot more persq.ft than floors... Anyone have any info?

I don't know Michigan prices. I suspect they would vary from one company to another depending upon the level of service they provide and their business model. Just like carpet cleaners there are volume guys at discount prices, high end cleaners and everything in between. The size of the job also influences per sq. ft. pricing.

Educated guess is that middle of the road guys are getting about 75 cents a sq ft. for residential flooring.

You are correct that vertical surfaces and countertops would be much more per sq. f.t Usually priced by the job since they can vary a lot in what is needed.

 

[Tom Kohlman]

Thanks Scott. That makes sense to me. Thank you for the response.


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[Gasoline]

Go buy your tile wands and spinners. For chemicals one of the best things you can use on a shower is shower cleaner. If you have a janitorial supply shop that sells commercial shower cleaner then pick up a gallon, if not go to your local Wal Mart (or whatever) and buy some shower cleaner. I recommend putting the chemical into a different spray bottle so the customer does not see it's an over the counter product. Also get some alkaline tile cleaner (Tilemaster is the best) and an acid tile cleaner. You probably will not need the alkaline cleaner on the shower but be prepared to use the shower cleaner and maybe even the acid. I also recommend picking up a cheap $2 hand scrub brush for use in the shower.

With shower grout the grout lines often never fully dry since it is soaked down daily when the shower is used. Make sure to inform your customer that moisture can make grout look darker and being a shower there will be an extended drying time.

Do you come back the next day to seal the floor?

Do you even recommend sealing the floor anyway? And won't they be using the shower again the next anyway, so the floor and grout may not be fully dry the next day any hoo.

 

[Gasoline]

Do you have to use pressure and a spinner tool? Couldn't you scrub by hand and rinse by hand? It's a wet environment, so seems easier than to run hoses to the second floor etc.

 

[Gasoline]

For the acid cleaner, can I use USR on the tile and grout?

 

[Gasoline]

@Todd the Cleaner

Bump

 

[bob_rugratz]

If you use acid. You need to use a high alkaline to bring ph back up. And stop the etching process. Acid has no actual cleaning properties. BTW ACID Will Etch Calcium-Based Stones (Travertine, Limestone, & Marble) and metal

Here are some options for acid
ACID http://www.mystonecare.com/Stone_Pro_Quick_Clean_1_Quart_p/spqcq.htm
ACID http://interlinksupply.com/index.php?item_num=CH49GL
ACID this one I haven't heard reviews of but sounds interesting if it works. http://interlinksupply.com/index.php?item_num=CH42GL&ref=cab
ACID http://www.bridgepoint.com/products.html?item_num=CST02GL &wscdet_show=375000


This is what you may want to try in bathrooms, no need to neutralize. I have used these type products before with success (http://www.carefreejanitorial.com/catalog/p/BE 52651000 GAL/Buckeye__Marauder__H2O2_General_Purpose_Cleaner_-_Gal/ ) Long dwell or scrubbing necessary though. But much safer.
Peroxide based http://interlinksupply.com/index.php?item_num=CH41GL&ref=cab
Foam gun would help these stick to vertical surfaces much longer.

of course my fav TMF Tilemaster for most tile and grout. If you want to the best for alkaline cleaning this will do it.

 

[bob_rugratz]

Which ever shower cleaner you end up getting just put it into a spray bottle and spray it straight onto the shower wall. Follow the product instructions for dwell time, I would suggest at least 5 minutes. Depending on which tool you buy I would use between 700-1200 psi.

For the truckmount, when cleaning tile & grout just run clear water through the lines to rinse with.

If you seal it use a water based sealer and you will be fine.

What about making sure its dry first. Remember he is new. I never will forget when I used water based sealer before dry.