One of the reasons you might hire a grout cleaning service to come into your home and do your grout cleaning for you is that they have equipment available to them that the average home owner does not. If you clean your grout yourself, then you probably use a brush and a cloth. These tools are perfectly adequate if you are just maintaining grout that is relatively clean already. However, if your grout has been neglected and has tough mildew or mold stains on it, then these do it yourself tools will not work. You need professional grout cleaning help.

Professionals grout cleaning services use machines to do the grout cleaning for them rather than hand tools. The most popular variety is a steam cleaner with scrubbing action. These machines are usually hooked up to a water source and heat the water to steam. Steam is pushed out of the bottom of the machine while brushes rotate in circular motions. The high pressure steam dislodges the dirt and grime in your grout and the brushes scrub it away. The machines also have suction action that gets rid of the dirty water as new steam is sprayed in.

The hotter the steam and the greater the pressure it can be delivered at, the better the clean. The hotter steam and high pressure will help to cut through stains faster. The brushes need to be powerful enough to scrub the grout, but not too powerful because you do not want to damage or dislodge any of the grout. Professional grout cleaners will ask when the last time you had your grout sealed was to make sure that their heavy duty equipment will not damage your grout.

Once your grout is clean, a professional grout cleaner will also offer a sealing service. They can reapply grout sealant for you if it has been several years since it was last applied. Grout sealant is a great way to protect your grout from not only stains, but also bacteria and molds. The professionals have the appropriate personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves that are necessary when handling these chemicals. They also can bring in large fans to ensure the proper air circulation while they work.