See How a Grout Cleaning in Riverside, CT, Prevented Severe Damage On This Couple's Bathroom

August 20, 2018

Having just moved into their new home six months prior, this couple in Riverside, CT was very excited to re-decorate the place to better suit their taste. Everything went well until they came across their main bathroom. Even though the classic white-tiled surface matched their decoration, the dirty-looking grout outweighed its appearance. They decided to take on the hard task of cleaning the grout themselves, trying several methods and cleaning products, most notably, bleach.


Over time, they noticed the grout lines did not get any better. In fact, they got worse. Not only were they darker than before, but they also started to give off a strange smell. This made the couple realize they needed professional help, which prompted them to go online and search for a grout cleaning in Riverside, CT. They quickly came across Sir Grout of Greater Fairfield County website and after seeing some of the testimonials given by customers, they decided to schedule a free in-home consultation.

Without a doubt, cleaning grout is a difficult task for most homeowners. Whether it is in their bathroom, where grime and scum build up after each shower, or in their kitchen, where food can find its way into grout, taking on the laborious duty of grout cleaning is nobody's preferred way to spend time. Additionally, more often than not, people's solution usually involves bleach or bleach-based products in some capacity. Little do most people know, that decision alone can become more costly to them and their home than they realize.

A couple of days later, our team of professionals arrived at the couple's house. As soon as they entered the bathroom, they noticed the moldy, grime-filled grout lines in the bathtub. Upon closer inspection, they could see the expansion joints around the tub were almost disintegrating, causing water to seep into it like a sponge. Our experts asked the homeowners if they had been using any cleaning products on their grout.

The couple admitted to having used bleach several times in an attempt to clean the grout, which gave our techs a complete understanding of the situation at hand. Bleach had been eating away the grout lines which allowed moisture to seep in and cause further damage and mold growth. As a result, our team offered a grout cleaning service for the shower's surfaces and a re-grouting for the cracked expansion joints, which the customers agreed to.

Generic bleach-based products for shower cleaning are rather common, but prolonged use of these products can potentially damage your surfaces or simply make things worse. What most people do not know is that these products are not the most practical solution to issues such as the ones seen in the before picture, and here are a couple of reasons:

• Bleach does not actually clean mold: one of the main reasons for keeping your grout clean is to ensure mold and mildew are not allowed to grow there. This causes it to lose its color and a whole set of other problems. What most people do not know is that bleach cannot effectively remove mold. At first, it might look like it has been removed, however, that is not the case. It is merely being cleaned off on a surface level, which means it is bound to come back sooner or later.


• Bleach is easily diluted: when you first apply it, bleach can be very powerful. However, it is easily diluted by most things, including water. This means that it will lose its effectiveness over time, especially in places with high levels of moisture such as showers. This makes it a very unfit option for keeping your shower surfaces well maintained.


• Bleach can heavily damage your surfaces: whether you are cleaning tiles or the fixtures between them, bleach can potentially cause heavy damage to your surfaces. Remember that this is a highly reactive and caustic substance, making it capable of wearing out the protective coatings or sealants on your surfaces. They can gradually cause your grout lines to crack beyond repair and require a full replacement or other unnecessary expenses.

Our team went back to the customers' home to start with the restoration process a few days after they set the appointment. They started by coating the surfaces with pH-neutral tile and grout cleaner, then letting it sit for a few minutes to ease the removal of the dirt and grime. This cleaner is safe for tile and grout, and it has enhanced properties that can help inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, mold and microorganisms. They then used a high-speed scrubber to thoroughly clean the grout lines. Our techs replaced the cracked mold-riddled expansion joints surrounding the bathtub to eliminate the possibility of any moisture migration into the walls.

They continued the process by applying our proprietary sealant, ColorSeal. This is both a waterproof and stainproof coating that will protect grout for a long time, making it easier to clean and preventing any kind of organic growth. It also helped this bathtub achieve the pure-white-look the owners desired for their bathroom. Finally, the bathtub was buffed with our own brand of Tile Armor, which keeps the surfaces protected from soap and hard water residue.

After they were done, our team showed the results to the homeowners. They were thrilled with the results our professionals had achieved and complimented them for their hard work. As seen in the before and after pictures, the changes were drastic and left the customers with a brand-new looking bathroom.

In order to keep the shower area in its current state, our techs gave the couple some advice before leaving. First, they recommended cleaning with a pH-neutral cleaner such as Sir Grout's Natural Hard Surface Cleaner at least once a week. Unlike bleach, these cleaners do not damage grout or tile and do not leave any kind of residue. They also suggested keeping the bathroom ventilated, in addition to using a drying cloth after cleaning to completely dry off the bathtub's surfaces and to prevent any form of organic growth from happening.

Are your grout lines in awful condition? If you live in Riverside, CT and happen to be going through a similar situation to that of these customers, do not hesitate to contact Sir Grout of Greater Fairfield County for a grout cleaning service. Call us at (203) 763-1332 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this website to schedule a free in-home evaluation today. Do not forget to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest information and promotions.

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