| When people hear about using acidic cleaning supplies | | | | with water according to the manufactures |
| they are often frightened about the harmful effects | | | | instructions. Then you apply it to the ceramic tile |
| these acidic cleaners can do to their health and their | | | | grout and you should see a fizz effect on the grout |
| home. What many people fail to realize is that they | | | | as the urea acid cleaner reacts with the grout. This is |
| come into contact with acidic products many times in | | | | a micro abrasion effect and will cause the very small |
| their daily life. | | | | dirty top layer of the cements in the grout to wear |
| Vinegar and bleach for example are acid based | | | | away. Then you will be exposing the clean grout |
| products and many people use these products for | | | | underneath. After the tile and grout is rinsed you will |
| cleaning purposes. These are examples of acetic acid | | | | see the beautiful new grout that you never thought |
| products and they were never designed for any | | | | existed. |
| type of tile or grout cleaning purposes. While vinegar | | | | When talking about acidic tile and grout cleaning it is |
| and bleach are generally safe for household use they | | | | generally understood that this type of cleaner is for |
| can leave a nasty residue and film on your tile and | | | | cleaning the grout in a ceramic tile installation. No |
| they can actually discolor and break down the | | | | acidic products should come into contact with any |
| cement in your grout. | | | | type of stone surface as they have the potential to |
| Other types of acid products that people use for | | | | etch the surface. Additionally you must be extremely |
| cleaning purposes include muriatic, sulfamic and | | | | careful that you do not get any acidic products on |
| phosphoric acids. These acids can be found in many | | | | your stainless steel appliances as this will also etch |
| harsh and industrial cleaning solutions and can be | | | | the stainless steel. |
| extremely harmful to your health. While there are | | | | After you clean your tile and grout with an acidic |
| some valid uses for these chemicals in the | | | | cleaner you should always clean the surface again |
| construction and restoration industry they should only | | | | with an alkaline cleaning solution. The alkaline cleaning |
| be used by experienced contracting professionals. | | | | solution will neutralize any left over acidic residue. This |
| There is one type of acid that is fairly safe to use | | | | acidic residue can over time cause the cement in |
| with general protection and that is a urea acid | | | | your grout to break down if it is not neutralized. |
| cleaning solution. This is generally regarded as a green | | | | Then of course your should always seal your grout |
| eco friendly type acid cleaner. Of course you should | | | | to protect it from future dirt and stains. To learn |
| still use gloves and not get the cleaning solution on | | | | more about how to use an alkaline cleaner to clean |
| your skin but it is generally safe to use. | | | | and neutralize your tile and grout you can read the |
| You should mix the urea acid cleaning solution mixed | | | | alkaline tile cleaning page on our website. |