Steam Cleaning Grout?

[klpca]

Does anyone have any personal experience with having your grout steam cleaned? If so was it worth the cost to you? I used to keep up pretty well with mine, but between my shoulder issues and taking timeshare vacations I have slacked off and it shows. I received an email from Stanley Steemer to clean and seal "two areas" for $200. Thoughts?

 

[ronparise]

Does anyone have any personal experience with having your grout steam cleaned? If so was it worth the cost to you? I used to keep up pretty well with mine, but between my shoulder issues and taking timeshare vacations I have slacked off and it shows. I received an email from Stanley Steemer to clean and seal "two areas" for $200. Thoughts?

Having the grout clean is in my opinion worth a lot. A few years back I did about 1000 sq feet of white tile and white grout with a stiff brush and lots of bleach. Im not sure just steam would be enough, but Id invest $200 to find out...It was that much work

By the way when I was done, as nice as it looked, I "painted" the grout. That sealed it and changed the color...From that point on, a wet mop was enough.

 

[PStreet1]

I agree that it's a lot of work. I did an incredible amount of while tile with a toothbrush (in addition to a larger brush), and comet. It's a lot of work. I didn't seal it, and the cleaning job has lasted for about 4 years, but I've been eying it again--and plan to find out what it will cost to have someone else clean it and seal it.

 

[MRSFUSSY]

Hello from the Northeast!

First of all I think that Stanley Steemer does a great job for me on light colored carpeting, mostly area rugs. I think that it is a franchise so it all depends on who has good workers etc., but for me they are great. I've never had them do tile.

However, this spring I had my grout painted and sealed and I LOVE the results. Big kitchen, small hallway and 1/2 a bath which ajoins the former.It was $400. It has held up nicely for a hi traffic spot. Cleaning is a little different, the company recommends mopping with a sponge mop and then towel drying so that "puddles" don't just sit there and dry. The "puddles" actually have some dirt in the mop water, the water drys (evaporates) but the slight film remains. Changing mop water mid-way also helps.

I should mention that I have light beige 18" procelain tiles and off white grout.

It gave our kitchen such a snazzy look!

P.S. Towel drying sounds like a big project but all that is done is to put an old towel over the head of another mop and rub it on the tile. Swish, swish... Bravo-it works.

 

[BevL]

I agree with painting your grout - we did ours - did it myself and it was a lot of work but it cleans up pretty easily now.

 

[caribbeansun]

Steam = water, water with grout seems like a bad idea to me. I think you should look into grout cleaning solution rather than attempting to clean them with essentially hot water.

 

[JudyH]

Soon I will have a new house with all light tile floor and bathroom shower and walls, with white grout. Is the consensus that this should all be sealed? With what product?

My son sealed his kitchen years ago with something from a big boxstore and his high traffic areas are quite gray.

Holmes on Homes, DIY, doesn't reccomend sealing.

Ron, do you know any good company in your area who does sealing? I will be in Venice.

 

[klpca]

Thanks for all of the feedback. I had forgotten about the grout paint - I actually used that back in the late 90's to go from brown grout to ivory. It worked very well and lasted until we updated the tile. I think we'll look into having that done instead.

 

[Phill12]

We had Sears who came out and do our lower floor kitchen walkway and bathroom. It was not worth the money as all they did was a half ass job and seems every 15 feet they were back to us for another charge. Seems like sitting in front of a slot machine in Tahoe.

We bought two different steam units and neither did any good.

Seems only way was the old way of on your knee's:annoyed:

PHILL12

 

[judyjht]

Don't waste your $$$ - I did it and it did absolutely nothing!! just good old elbow grease and bleach from now on..
I would like to hear more bout the painting and sealing though?? Good for a shower??

 

[Passepartout]

I seal my grout every couple of years with a silicone product. It works good, but you have to get the grout clean first. As said, there is just no easy way to do that. Elbow grease, bleach and brushes. Not my favorite job. Not even close.

Jim

 

[klpca]

Thanks for the real life feedback Phil & Judy. That's kind of what I expected because I can't see this stuff coming clean with just hot water, but I was hoping that I was wrong.

Btw, my current cleaning method (when I do it) is to use a Mt. Clean magic eraser, and I use Clorox foaming cleanser on the tough spots. It really does a nice job. I just don't have the time right now - I have about 500 square feet of tile and I find that I run out of gas about half way through. Maybe tomorrow....

 

[Drempan]

very helpful tips for a newbie like me