Learn expert tips for tile and grout cleaning for pet friendly homes. Safe, pet-friendly solutions remove messes, stains, & protect your flooring long-term.
With so many chemicals out there, how do you know that the ones used for tile and grout cleaning are safe for your pets? Well, I am gonna walk you through different kinds of chemicals and which ones are safe for pets and which ones are not safe for pets.
Hopefully, this helps you make a more informed decision when hiring a professional tile and grout cleaner for your pet-friendly home.
This question can only be answered by the company you hire to clean your tile and grout, but hopefully, they say yes, and if you are not sure, I am going to walk you through the ways to identify if they do and if they are properly neutralizing the chemicals they are using.
First, let's start by talking about tile and grout and what it takes to get the flooring clean.
Tile, whether it is ceramic or porcelain, is a kiln-fired tile and is stain-proof, which means it cleans very easily with little to no chemicals needed.
READ: Does Cleaning Your Tile and Grout or Stone Floors Impact Selling Price?
Natural stones like travertine or marble are porous, and dirt and moisture absorb into these tiles, so it can take some work to get them clean.
Grout, no matter what tile it is between, is very porous and takes the majority of the damage and staining. Grout is where different chemicals are needed to properly get it cleaned.
With all this being said, if you want your tile and grout to be properly cleaned, it is usually gonna take some work, professional equipment, and professional cleaners to achieve the desired results.
Tile and grout cleaners fall into 2 categories: Alkaline or Acidic. Alkaline falls on the scale above 7PH, and Acidic cleaners are below 7PH.
Since it would be really, really hard for you to decipher whether the cleaner your professional is using is safe or not, one way to do so is to ask the company for the SDS sheets and check the ingredients yourself. I would concentrate more on the method of cleaning than the cleaner.
Honestly, a lot of cleaners out there are fine to use within the house as long as they have been properly neutralized, and to do that, you need to have the proper equipment and rinse.
One chemical you never want in your house is Muriatic Acid; it belongs nowhere near tile and grout cleaning, nor in the house. It is very rare, but we have run across contractors using this acid to try to clean grout.
READ: Myths About Tile and Grout Maintenance
With it being 2020, any professional company should have a truck-mounted unit and, at the very minimum, a portable extractor. The old school way of a scrubber and a mop bucket just can't compete with these machines, both in power and proper rinsing capabilities.
These machines are at the top for the best equipment; they are powered by full-size engines with a blower for suction, a powerful pump for water pressure, and a heater capable of heating the water to 250 degrees.
truck-mounted units are the most capable to get the tile and grout its very cleanest and neutralize the chemicals used, that is because it will have an SX-15 that will clean at 1500 PSI, between 3.0 GPM - 5.0 GPM, and the water heats up to 250 degrees.
Let's break this down real quick. If your professional cleaner is cleaning your floors for an hour, and even by the smaller 3.0 GPM, that means He/She just used 180 Gallons of water to clean and neutralize your floors. If your professional is using an acidic cleaner, this amount of water is needed to properly neutralize the floor.
You can also read about our: Keeping your tile and grout looking its best after a great cleaning
Portables are your next option for professional cleaners; these have been around longer than truck mounts and are definitely less expensive, but they carry the same concept.
They will have vacuum motors for suction and a pump for water pressure. Some have heaters, but will usually only heat the water to 150 degrees or so. The pumps are usually around 1.0 GPM, so they don't rinse as successfully as a truck-mount, but they do rinse.
Some are capable of the higher pressure of around 1000 PSI, and those are the ones you will want on your job if they are using portables.
This is not what you want to see when you hire a professional tile and grout cleaner. I take nothing away from elbow grease, but unfortunately, a mop bucket has no way of lifting the dirt and chemicals from your floors.
This will leave your floors with dirt left behind and chemical residue.
Here is a list of things to do before your scheduled cleaning.
READ: How To Clean Your Tile, Grout & Travertine Flooring
For tile and grout cleaning for pet friendly homes, it’s important to use cleaning solutions that are safe for your furry friend while still removing pet messes effectively.
Many pet owners worry about pet urine or hair lingering in high traffic areas, which can lead to stains and discoloration if not addressed.
Using professional tile cleaners and steam cleaning helps sanitize tile flooring without exposing pets to harsh chemicals, making cleaning easier and maintaining a safe home environment.
Pets often run across tile flooring, dragging debris or causing minor scratches near furniture and in bathrooms. After professional cleaning, applying a grout sealer is highly recommended to protect the grout lines from future spills or accidents.
Proper sealing ensures that travertine flooring, porcelain tile, or granite surfaces stay clean longer and helps prevent pet hair, dirt, or pet messes from penetrating the surface, reducing frequent maintenance.
READ: Benefits Of Tile and Grout Color Sealing
Many homeowners with pets notice that high traffic areas require more frequent attention. Routine care with warm water, pH-neutral cleaners, or steam cleaning is effective for keeping tile floors free from pet urine, hair, and other messes.
Proper tools and techniques prevent stains and scratches while maintaining the natural beauty of the stone. For long-term protection, use a grout sealer and carefully treat travertine flooring or porcelain tile, making ongoing cleaning solutions easier to apply and keeping your home safe and fresh for your furry friend.
This tile flooring was in bad shape and needed a good cleaning, we started by applying our alkaline cleaner, letting it dwell and then power washing the tile and grout. After the cleaning, we applied our grout sealer to protect the grout from staining and discoloration.
This Tumbled Travertine Flooring was in a rental home and badley abused, we came in and applied our stone safe cleaner, scrubbed the travertine flooring with our rotary scrubber, then we power washed the floor to remove the built up dirt and debris. After the cleaning we applied an penetrating sealer to protect the travertine from staining and discoloration.
Experience: 27 Years
Industry: Natural Stone, Tile and Grout Cleaning and Restoration
Cody has been in the Natural Stone, Tile and Grout service for 27 years, his knowledge and experience in this field helps get your job done correct the first time. If there is anyone you want on your job site it's Cody.
Location: Serving the Phoenix metro area
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