September 2021 Newsletter

Tile & Grout Cleaning in Fort Wayne

how to maintain your tile & grout floors

Tile & Grout Got You Down?

Have you ever spent all day on your hands and knees scrubbing your tile with so-so results?  That’s because gravity is working against you!

The good news is, Distinctive has the state-of-the-art equipment, the safe cleaning solutions and the perfectionist mindset to clean and extract the dirt from your tile and grout floors with excellent results. 

6 Myths About Tile & Grout

Myth #1:  Mopping is good enough.

Mopping evenly spreads the dirt around the floor and into the corners.  Gravity causes the dirty water to absorb into the grout, which results in dirty grout lines.  Dirt can also be lodged into the pores and pits of some tiles.  In a kitchen, grease from cooking can be difficult to remove from tile and grout floors on your own.

Myth #2:  Using dish soap to clean tile and grout is effective. 

Dish soap can leave a sticky residue if not rinsed properly. This residue can stick to the inside of the grout and attract dirt.

Myth #3:  Bleach will remove stubborn stains from grout. 

Bleach causes grout to slowly deteriorate, weaken, and break apart over time. It can also ruin the shine on glossy tile surfaces in addition to harming the grout.  Use neutral cleaning solutions and wax-free products for upkeep, and have your tile and grout professionally cleaned and sealed every year to reduce the risk of mildew, staining and discoloration.

Myth #4:  Using a wire brush to clean grout lines is a good idea.

Wire brushes are easy to find and can seem like an effective way to powerfully blast out stubborn dirt accumulating in your grout. However, hard scrubbing with a tough wire brush can remove much more than the dirt and grime – it can damage the tile as well as the grout.

Myth #5:  Applying sealer after cleaning is a gimmick.

Grout is basically sand, which means it is porous.  Applying a sealer can make it easier to keep clean, so your floor looks better longer.  Sealer will protect your grout from spills that make it susceptible to stains.  Do you have pets??  Unsealed grout will absorb pet urine deposits, trapping stains and odor-causing bacteria.  Sealing your grout will help give you more time to clean up accidents and avoid developing embarrassing odors.

Myth #6:  Tile & grout is maintenance-free.

Just like any other household surface, tile and grout require cleaning and maintenance.  A routine professional, deep cleaning is recommended for the long-term health of your grout.  The professionals at Distinctive can help with this!

Benefits of Tile & Grout Cleaning

  • Health

    Contrary to popular opinion, hard surface flooring such as ceramic tile and grout is not maintenance-free nor does it stay cleaner than carpet.  Yet, most people deep clean their hard surface flooring less often than their porous flooring, like carpet and rugs.  Regular tile and grout cleaning is necessary to maintain your health and your family’s health.

  • Appearance

    You just feel better when your tile and grout is clean and shiny!  After a deep cleaning, you will no longer have dull grout lines or grimy tile.  You will love the way your tile floors look!

  • Investment

    Tile and grout cleaning – especially a restorative, deep cleaning – will extend its life, which will protect you from costly premature replacement.

How We Keep Your Tile & Grout Floors Clean:

Distinctive’s alkaline tile & grout cleaning solution is a high-performing, oxidizing cleaner.  It attacks dirt, grime and oily soils.  After dwell time and agitation, the floor is rinsed and extracted with high pressure and hot water – removing all traces of dirt from your tile and grout floors!

Learn More About Our Tile & Grout Cleaning Process In the Video Below

Did You Know Distinctive Cleans Tile Showers?

You use your shower everyday.  It should be one of the healthiest areas of your home.  However, over time, hard water, soap stains, mold & mildew can build up on your tiled shower and can be difficult to remove using over-the-counter cleaning products.

With an eye for detail, Distinctive uses steam and specialized sanitizing solutions, to remove bacteria and germs.  Streaks, hard water spots and soap stains on the tiles are removed with care, leaving behind a smooth clean surface that looks brand new.

A sealer can be applied after cleaning to help the grout stay cleaner longer.  While this is optional, it is highly recommended due to the porous nature of grout.

tile shower cleaning

Before

tile shower cleaning

After

Your carpet, furniture, rugs, and tile are begging for an end-of-summer cleaning!

Enjoy a cleaner, healthier home this season.

To schedule an appointment for any of our Expert Cleaning Services:

Distinctive Cleaning & Restoration - Trivia

Your Chance to Win a $15 Gift Card is Greater Than You Think!

What was Johnny Appleseed’s given name?

A.  John Crawford

B.  John Chapman

C.  John Wayne

D.  John Honeycrisp

A random winner will be drawn for a $15 gift card to your favorite locally owned Fort Wayne business on September 14, 2021!

July/August Trivia: 

How many gallons of water does an Olympic size swimming pool hold?

Answer:  660,000 gallons

Congrats to our winner who chose a gift card to Coney Island!

Distinctive Cleaning & Restoration Fort Wayne - Client of the Month

“Absolutely wonderful job cleaning our kitchen tile! We were planning on replacing this flooring as our light grout lines had become so dark and dirty over the years.

We decided to try out Distinctive and they restored it to looking brand new again!!!! We are sooooo excited and will be absolutely using them for any tile cleaning or carpet cleaning needs from here on out. Wonderful customer service! Thank you!!!”
– Mr. & Mrs. McKinney

Thank you for being such wonderful customers! 

Read more of our 5-star reviews on Google here.

Earn FREE Cleaning With Our Referral Reward Program

Instead of spending money on advertising, we want to reward our friends who help our business grow.  Refer new clients to our company and get rewarded with 10% of their first invoice as a cleaning credit valid for any of our services at your next appointment. 

Refer your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues and start Earning FREE Cleaning today!

Pet of the Month Distinctive Cleaning & Restoration Fort Wayne, IN

Shadow

What a sweet 9-year-old standard poodle!  Shadow was so happy to welcome us into his home.  He chilled out on the sofa and the floor while we cleaned his owner’s carpet and tile.  Doesn’t he look handsome after a fresh haircut??

P.S. Do you have a furry family member that has had an accident or two recently?  Are you noticing an odor?  We can help with that!  Learn more about our pet stain and odor removal services below.

B&A Pic

Before – Tile Cleaning

During – Tile Cleaning

After – Tile Cleaning

This tile and grout transformation was incredible!  Years of dirt build up and high traffic from a busy family with pets created a dull, dirty, brownish tile. 

After a thorough cleaning, the true color of the tile and grout could shine through.  Our customers were thrilled with their clean tile and grout floors!

Visit our Tile & Grout Cleaning page here to see more cleaning photos

Tip

6 Simple Tile & Grout Maintenance Tips

tile and grout cleaning

1.  Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum!

Dirt, mud, grit, and sand can get ground into the tile and grout from heavy foot traffic.  This abrasion will cause soiling and damage.  A vacuum will extract the dirt.  A broom will push the dirt into the grout lines.

2.  Just say “NO!” to floor waxes.

These can be difficult to remove from ceramic tile floors. As long as your floor is properly sealed and maintained, you should have no need for these products.

3.  Many tile cleaners are acid-based and their use should be limited.

Always read the manufacturer’s directions.  All acids, no matter how weak, will etch marble surfaces or damage the tile’s glaze or polish.  Do not use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces.  In addition, avoid any cleaner that contains harsh abrasives.

4.  Furniture in hard surface areas could cause serious damage.

Teflon or felt can be used on table and chair legs to prevent abrasive damage caused by the furniture.

5.  Protect your tile floors with non-slip mats or area rugs.

Dirt collecting carpet mats should be placed in frequently used entrances and shaken out weekly.  Be sure the underside of the mat has a non-slip surface.  We recommend taking these up and cleaning the floors under them every month.  We provide a high-quality rug pad to keep rugs in place and to protect the flooring underneath – learn more here.

6.  During winter months, leave shoes that may have salt or liquid de-icer on them at the door.

Chemicals used in these products cause rapid and irreversible damage.

Local (1)

Natural Stone Polishing & Cleaning

Distinctive can clean your ceramic and porcelain tile and vinyl plank.  However, natural stones such as granite, marble, limestone or travertine require polishing to stay shiny and beautiful.

For this service, we recommend Steve Manter with Stone & Tile Solutions.  He provides stone restoration services in Fort Wayne, including cleaning, sealing, restoring and polishing stone floors, showers, and countertops.

VCT (Vinyl Composition Tile) Stripping & Waxing

Many commercial locations install VCT flooring that look like small tiles without grout in between.  This style of flooring first needs “stripped” of old dirt and wax.  Then it is “waxed” with layers of wax to return the luster of the floor.

For this service, we recommend Erin Schimmels with Schimmels Solutions.  He provides commercial flooring restoration and maintenance in Fort Wayne, primarily on VCT & wood floors.

Fun in Fort Wayne - Distinctive Cleaning & Restoration

FEATURED EVENTS

Be A Tourist In Your Own Hometown – Sunday Sept. 12 – Visit Fort Wayne’s most famous landmarks, buildings, museums and more.  Learn more here.

Johnny Appleseed Festival – Sept. 18-19 – The 46th annual festival returns to Fort Wayne.  Learn more here.

Fort Wayne Astronomical Society – Catch a close-up live view of the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and more – for FREE!  Learn more here.

Visit Fort Wayne

Downtown Fort Wayne

Current Fort Wayne

Riverfront Fort Wayne Events

Fort Wayne Parks Fall Fun Times 2021 Brochure

Whatzup

Fort Wayne Trails

DNR’s 2021 Indiana Recreation Guide

From our family to yours, we wish you another month of health & happiness!

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