A Professional Grout Cleaning Left This Homeowner's Bathroom in Ambler, PA, Looking Spotless

March 13, 2024

Choosing the right house can be very difficult. There's a lot to decide –style, size, price, condition, comfortability– but the first thing you need to decide on is the neighborhood. This young woman was about to buy her first apartment. She thought of living in a quiet, yet enjoyable place and the area of Ambler in Pennsylvania seemed to have all the characteristics she had been looking for. Ever since she visited the town for the first time, she fell in love with the small friendly community, plus, she had found her perfect home choice; a small, cozy, neat place with minimalist style. Except for some adjustments, it was her dream house. The bathroom was the first on her list of changes she wanted to make. It was her favorite room in the house, but after some years of usage, it looked aged with dirty and stained grout lines. Luckily, it was nothing a good Ambler grout cleaning company couldn't solve.


As soon as she moved in, she wanted to transform the bathroom into her private sanctuary, a place to take a bath and relax after a long day at work. However, the brownish color of the grout lines was disturbing for her. She then decided to deeply clean the surface using every cleaning product recommended by professionals to get rid of the "grime" she thought that was covering the grout lines… Nothing seemed to work. She knew it was time to get professional help. The only setback was not knowing of any hard surface restoration company. She went online and looked for an Ambler grout cleaning service and found Sir Grout Bucks PA among the top results. The homeowner then decided to visit our website and schedule a free in-home consultation.

On the set date, the team of professionals arrived and the client walked them to the bathroom, which according to the expert eye, the problem wasn't because it was stained. The client was surprised to learn that it was a matter of style, rather than cleanliness. The experts told her that the grout lines had been colored with a dark gray shade that didn't match with the color of the tiles. The homeowner asked them if there was a solution and the crew suggested a grout cleaning to begin with. They then recommended removing the dark gray caulk to replace it with white, and to also lighten the color of the grout lines with ColorSeal. Since it was a multistage procedure, the team had to return a different day to perform the service.

• Cleaning stage

The experts went back to the owner's home on the planned day and started the task. The crew began the restoration process by deeply cleaning the surface, even though it had a neat and well-maintained appearance. This initial stage consisted of using soap-less cleaning products and a high-speed scrubber to remove the dirt, grease, and any soap scum that the regular cleaning routine might have skipped. After scrubbing the dirt off the tile surface, they steam cleaned it to get rid of any mold and mildew within the grout lines.


• Removing caulk

Caulk is an indispensable sealant for every tile surface, especially in those that are frequently exposed to water, such as bathrooms. Sealing the enclosure and expansion joints of showers and bathtubs is crucial to prevent further damage, such as water leaks, crumbling grout, loose tiles, and even mold and mildew growth. It is imperative to repair any signs of deterioration–cracks, chips, musty smell–before it becomes worse and causes the tiles to loosen and the grout to crumble. Although there weren't any visible signs of deterioration in this shower's caulking, it was helpful to check there wasn't any damage within the tiles.


• Color sealing

Grout allows permeation of grime and water, which can deteriorate the entire surface if not taken care of properly. The constant exposure to water in damp places like showers can lead to stains, cracks, peeling, and crumbling grout. For this reason, it is necessary to seal grout lines as soon as they are installed to prevent permeation and damage.

ColorSeal is a state-of-the-art, water-based, non-toxic sealant designed to seal the pores of the grout, making them last longer with a uniform appearance. Our proprietary ColorSeal is water-, stain-, and mold- and mildew-resistant and can last as long as the grout itself if properly maintained. It comes in different colors, allowing our customers to personalize their surfaces according to their taste. This homeowner chose a light shade of gray that highlighted the beauty of the tiles.


• Re-caulking

After having protected the grout lines, it was time to seal the enclosure of the shower. The team used Epoxy Caulk, which is a tough material that can completely seal the joints of any tile surface. Just like ColorSeal, Epoxy Caulk is resistant to spills and mold and mildew, making it easier to clean. It also comes in a wide variety of colors to choose from; this client decided that a white shade would perfectly complete the design.

As soon as the team finished their work, the homeowner was shown the results. She was thrilled with the new appearance of the bathroom. The woman thanked the team for the amazing outcome, she said it looked like it had been just installed for the first time.

At Sir Grout Bucks PA, we like to educate our customers to preserve their hard surfaces in good condition for as long as possible. Following our policy, the experts told the client information regarding care products and methods for tile surfaces. They also explained some common mistakes and how to prevent them.

Soap-less cleaners

When applying maintenance methods and products to your tile surfaces, it is important to choose the appropriate techniques and cleaners. Even though tile can be very hardwearing, their appearance can easily deteriorate if not correctly maintained. Soap-based cleaning products, for example, can leave a film on the tile surface—a thin layer of soap residue that sticks to the tiles and grout lines, attracting grime. You'd think that dirt would disappear just by cleaning, however, the new film of soap will stick to the old one, creating a brownish, waxy surface. The team said it was possible to prevent this unappealing result by using pH-neutral, soap-less cleaning products, which clean the tiles and grout lines, protecting their appearance.

Damp mops or cloth

As mentioned before, grout is naturally porous. Therefore, it is imperative to keep it as dry as possible to prevent any absorption of liquid thus deteriorating the surface. Also, avoid using too much water when cleaning tile surfaces. The experts recommended using a damp mop or cloth to remove dirt. This may sound a little contradictory given that bathrooms are constantly exposed to showers and baths, but this is why removing the excess water after taking a shower or a bath is essential.

Cleaning routine

We have stated that tiles can show signs of deterioration, such as cracks, chips, looseness, among others. However, scratches are one of the most common signs of damage and they mainly occur after walking on the dirt in the bathroom. The professionals recommended the client to remove dirt on a regular basis.

If the grout lines of your tile surfaces look brownish or stained, even after you've cleaned them, they may need a grout recoloring. Fortunately, Sir Grout Bucks PA has the best professionals in the hard surface restoration industry who are highly trained to provide quality services at a fair price. For further information, fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this page or call (215) 709-8125. We will gladly assist you.