3 Steps to Cleaning Grout on Your Stone Floors

Homeowners whose natural-stone floors start looking unsightly because of dirty grout lines may question the very purpose of grout in the first place. As long as tiles are being installed, grout lines must separate them, particularly with tiles made of expensive materials such as marble. Installing stone tiles without grout, even when they’re rectified and milled to precision, will likely result in broken tiles after just a few weeks of foot traffic.

The reality of grout lines is that they’re like magnets for dirt particles and grime, which is a less than ideal situation for homeowners, and the best course of action is to keep them clean. Here are three recommended steps to follow when cleaning grout between your natural-stone flooring tiles.

1. Dust Off the Entire Floor

You probably already know brooms and vacuum cleaners are off limits for natural-stone floors, so you’ll want to start with a gentle floor sweeper and give the area a thorough dusting. The next step will require getting down and close to the grout lines. The cleaning tool to use for this step should be the gentlest grout brush you can find. Don’t use harsh brushes made for cleaning bathrooms or kitchens.

2. Only Use Natural-Stone Cleaner

No matter how careful and precise you are, any cleaning solution you use for the grout lines will splash onto the tiles, whichis why you should only use astone-safe grout cleaner such as Granite Gold Grout Cleaner® for this step. After dusting off the grout, spray thecleaner directly on the lines. Since this cleaner is safe for your tiles, you can allow it to sit between two and five minutes before scrubbing. There’s no special technique for scrubbing, but make sure you don’t brush so hard that pieces of grouting start to come off. Make sure to rinse with warm water once you’re finished. Since the final step involves cleaning the tiles, the grout lines don’t have to be completely dry.

3. Clean and Seal the Tiles

Much like you need to use a specially formulated granite cleaner for your countertops, you need to use a cleaner that’s safe for flooring made of natural stone. Try to make it a point to clean the entire floor after you’re done with the grout lines. Otherwise, you may end up with an uneven look. You can now use a mop to wipe the natural-stone cleaner you spray, and you should finish with a sealant application because it will help with keeping your grout lines clean. You can buff the tiles for a shinier look if they have a polished finish, but make sure to not apply polish because this will make them very slippery and dangerous.

For additional tips on caring for grout and surfaces made of granite, marble, travertine, and other types of natural stone, call the Stone Care Experts at Granite Gold® today at 1-800-475-STONE (7866). Don’t forget to like our Facebook page for even more great tips on keeping natural-stone and quartz surfaces looking good as new.