Floor tile and grout maintenance is one of the most difficult and time-consuming cleaning tasks that facility service providers (FSPs) can encounter, due to the porous nature of many tiles, which allow grit and grime to become embedded. 

In addition, grout often discolors, leaving a dirty, unsightly appearance.  And, in serious cases, mold and mildew can develop and present serious health consequences for FSPs and building occupants, and can even damage the floor.
 
Mark Brown of Brilliant Tile and Grout Cleaning, in Ventura, California, exclusively cleans tile and grout. Additionally, Brown has employed a unique way of completing this often arduous task.
 
“In the past, the only way to really clean grout was to use highly acidic cleaners and get down on your hands and knees and scrub the floor," says Brown. "This method is time-consuming and not all that effective, and breathing those chemical fumes can’t be healthy.”
 
Instead, Brown suggests a safer and easier technology that utilizes high-pressure extraction to clean grout. An example of this technology is the King Cobra 1200 dual surface extractor from U.S. Products, a machine that cleans both hard surfaces as well as carpets. This machine features a wand for carpet extraction and a hard-surface “turbo” tool for floor, tile, and grout work.

The cleaning process involves the following four steps:
1.   Sweep or vacuum the floor area to remove surface debris.

2.   Apply cleaning chemicals as needed. These should be mopped on the floor and not sprayed to protect the health of the cleaning worker and indoor air quality.

3.   Allow the chemical to “dwell” on the area for five to 10 minutes.

4.   Use the extractor’s hard-surface, high-pressure turbo tool to clean the floor area. Approximately 2.2 gallons of water penetrates the floor per minute at approximately 1,200 psi.  A rotating, high-pressure head inside the unit turns at 1,400 rpm to assure even and multiple cleaning passes.

5.   The machines auto-dump/auto-fill system ensures there is no work stoppage from tanks that need to be re-filled or emptied and the floor dries within minutes.

The system cleans approximately 1,000 square feet per hour—considerably faster than the traditional “hands and knees” method. And since this is a dual surface cleaner, it can also be used as a hot water carpet extractor.

Brown’s business has been profiled in several business journals, not only because his cleaning specialty is rather unique, but also because the high-pressure extraction system is very effective. 

“Quality service is important to me and my business,” he says, “and the high-pressure extraction system makes floors look like new.”