Choosing the right tile for your home can be challenging, but knowing the pros and cons of various types can help you make an informed decision. There are many options for tile flooring, including ceramic, porcelain, natural stone and glass. Depending on your preferences and budget, it’s important to choose the best fit for your project.
Durability
The durability of tile is an important factor in choosing the right type. This means that tile must be able to stand up to a wide variety of conditions over time without deteriorating. The most durable type of tile is porcelain, which is made from a refined clay and fired at a high temperature to make it hard and dense. Porcelain is also characterized by a low absorption rate, which makes it virtually impervious to water damage. It’s an excellent choice for high-traffic areas, especially bathrooms and laundry rooms. It’s also a good option for kitchens, since it is resistant to stains and spills.
Aesthetics
The aesthetics of tile are one of the most important factors to consider when you’re shopping for a new tile floor. It’s a good idea to choose a tile with a realistic look that will blend in with your interior design. Aesthetics can be a difficult subject to understand, but it’s an essential one to tackle when you’re working on a renovation project. When you know exactly what you’re doing, you can select the right type of tile and avoid costly mistakes.
Water Absorption
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing the right type of tile is water absorption. Ceramic tiles are categorized according to their water absorption rate. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) assigns water absorption ratings based on a procedure that tests a tile’s permeability to water. This includes boiling the tile and measuring its gain in weight after being saturated with water. Impervious or porcelain tiles have less than 0.5% water absorption, vitreous porcelain has 0.5-3% and ceramic tiles have anywhere from 3-7%. These ratings are critical for bathrooms, where it is crucial that the tiles absorb only a minimal amount of water.
Cost
Not only does the type of tile you choose impact the aesthetics of your space, but also it affects how much money it costs to install and maintain. Ceramic tiles are the most affordable option and come in a variety of colors, shapes, and styles. They are manufactured using clay and then shaped and fired, which results in a glazed or unglazed surface that is both beautiful and durable. If you want a tile with an intricate pattern or unique shape, your project costs may increase since these require more time to cut and arrange. Hexagonal tile, for instance, costs a bit more due to their unconventional shapes and edges that need to be cut to fit the overall design.
Maintenance
Regardless of the type of tile, proper maintenance is essential to keeping it looking its best. It can help extend the life of your tile, protect it from damage and reduce the risk of asset failures. Ceramic tiles and porcelain floors are relatively low maintenance, but stone and other natural materials require more specific care. If you want to keep your tile clean, sweep it regularly with a vacuum or dust mop. Maintaining your tile and grout keeps it clean and helps prevent mold, mildew, rust, stains, and other problems from occurring. Moreover, it also removes allergens such as dirt, pollen, fungi, and bacteria from the area.
Vacuuming is an essential part of keeping your home clean and free of pet odors. Not only does it remove hair and dander from carpets, but it also helps keep your respiratory system healthy. Pet hair and dander can build up in your carpets much faster than it does in your own hair, which means that it’s a good idea to vacuum often.
Wash Removable Sofa Parts
Removable sofa parts like pillows, cushions and throw blankets can be a great place for pet odors to accumulate. Make sure you wash them as soon as you can after being used. You can do this by hand or with an upholstery attachment on your vacuum hose. These come with brushes to help pick up hair and dander from your upholstery. Using white vinegar on stain-causing areas is also effective. Spray it on the affected area and then blot with paper towels or a T-shirt. Another natural solution is baking soda, which can absorb odors and leave the fabric smelling fresher. It should be applied sparingly to avoid leaving stains.
Apply A Fabric Refresher
You can use a fabric refresher to remove pet odors from sofas, curtains, and other fabrics. It is safe and effective to use on most fabrics and can be used as a spot cleaner or in a fabric dryer. Unlike spray air fresheners, fabric fresheners go to the source of odors. They are specially formulated to eliminate bad smells and leave your fabrics smelling fresh again. Apply a bottle of Fabric Refresher to any fabric in your home that has pet odor. These stains are caused by your pet’s urine or fecal matter, which contains bacteria that produces ammonia with a bad smell.
Wash Throw Pillows
Nothing adds a pop of color and texture to a room like a few throw pillows. However, if you have pets in your home, it can be difficult to keep those pillows looking and smelling their best. To remove pet odors, it is important to wash your decorative pillows on a regular basis. How often will depend on how frequently they are used in your home, but a monthly washing is typically enough to keep them fresh and free of pet odor.
Sprinkle Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural odor absorber that works especially well in pet-occupied areas like carpets and other upholstery. Simply sprinkle baking soda on the area, let it sit overnight, and vacuum up afterward. Alternatively, you can mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the affected areas. This will remove most pet odors. In addition, baking soda will also help kill fleas and other insects in your carpets. It’s a great way to prevent these bugs from infesting your home again, since they feed on the fibers of your rug and can damage them very easily.
When it comes to investing in the interior design of the household, the furnishings create a substantial portion of the expense. Plus, they take much time and effort to decide on a style and the overall aesthetic you want to design.
Once each space has been dressed, the intention is that these spaces will endure the test of time.
That means withstanding abuses, tolerating care and upkeep, and still finding ways how to keep furniture looking new within the confines of a budget. Consider these suggestions on how to keep your furnishings spotless.
Tips for Keeping Your Furnishings Spotless
When you invest significant time and effort in selecting the primary furnishing that speaks to the aesthetic of your home, not to mention the monetary investment, the idea is to enjoy extended longevity with the pieces.
No one wants to have to replace substantial pieces after merely a year. You can contribute to the lifespan by participating in proper care and maintenance of your furnishings.
By making a habit of keeping it clean, you will avoid the potential for stains or other damages. Let’s look at tips on spotless upkeep of your primary furnishings.
Read labels before attempting to clean any new piece
Regardless of the material, it’s essential to pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions before attempting to clean any new piece, especially if you’re trying to discern how to remove stains from furniture.
In most cases, the suggestion is to incorporate a neutral or mild sanitizing solution or when choosing to steam clean the fabric. When spot cleaning, gently go over the soiled area with either steam cleaning equipment or a soft bristle brush using a mild solution recommended by your manufacturer, dabbing and blotting the area instead of rubbing.
Bleaching agents should be avoided in attempts to remove stains from the material. The result will be discoloration and destructive to the fabric. In that same vein, an abrasive bristle brush rubbing the surface will result in the shredding of the threads showing as “scratch marks” in the material.
The market is rife with “stain-proofing” products
As a rule, many stores offer products meant to “stain-proof” different materials like upholstery, leather, and varied fabrics on furnishings. A suggestion is to work with the manufacturer that sold you the items to find an adequate solution you can apply to your specific pieces.
You can either apply it or have it professionally applied before delivery from the manufacturer. While it will be an additional investment, the cost will be returned since the professional stain-proofing usually comes with a warranty or guarantee.
Additionally, your pieces should have an extended lifespan since the product will protect them from things like pet stains, ink, wine, and other abuses that can ruin your furnishings.
Final Thought
A key component to keeping furnishings spotless and looking new is prevention. While we all love our fur babies and want guests to feel comfortable when visiting, no one wants to replace substantial pieces of furniture in a matter of a few years.
It’s wise to invest in stain-proofing to enjoy your living spaces. As an added precaution, try to keep pets comfortable in pet beds meant especially for them, off the sofa.
When indulging in snacks and drinks, start a new tradition with visitors where everyone gathers in the kitchen or an area you can designate for guests, where the effects of spills and stains will be less damaging. If stains occur, always make sure to use a mild solution recommended by your manufacturer, and be sure to dab the spot or blot the area, don’t scrub. Scrubbing will set the stain.
With an adequate care plan in place for your new furnishings, you’ll enjoy your new pieces for years to come.
Many people are desperate to know how to clean carpet stains, and in their desperation, they often make mistakes that can damage their carpets or make the stain worse. We want to help you ensure you don’t make some of the most common mistakes when cleaning your carpet.
Do Not Rub
Rubbing the carpet aggressively is bad for the fibers of the carpet. You can worsen the stain by rubbing it harshly. It is better to dab at the stain to get it out from the surface without deepening it into the fibers.
Do Not Wait
While you may need to call in a professional cleaner, you don’t want to wait to deal with a stain. You’ll want to deal with any stains as quickly as possible, even if you can’t get perfect results right away. It’s best to prevent spills from soaking into the carpet as soon as possible.
Watch for Chemicals
Chemicals aren’t evil, but using a lot of them isn’t for the best. You don’t want to just dump all the cleaners you have on the stain and see what works. Using too many chemicals can cause damage to the carpet and leave an unsightly residue. Always be sparing with the chemicals you use and add chemicals gradually.
Always Test Your Product
People often just attack the stain without testing the cleaning product. This is a mistake because you always want to test the product on a small patch of your carpet before using it on a large patch. Products can cause discoloration or other fiber issues. Thus, it is best to test products on a small part of your carpet in a discrete area (such as a corner rather than in the middle).
All Spills Don’t Require the Same Treatment
Many people have a go-to treatment for their carpets, but the issue with this mindset is that not all stains respond to treatments in the same way. Thus, it’s so easy to use a product you think will work but isn’t actually designed to fix your problems.
Deodorizing Products Are Damaging
Deodorizing products market themselves as being great for making your home fresher, but the issue with these products is that they can hurt the fibers of your carpet, making it look worn and dingy before its time. Don’t use deodorizing powders on your carpet!
Choose a Professional Cleaner
Too many people are hesitant to involve professionals. It’s normal to want to fix spills or other floor issues yourself, but when you try to do it all on your own, you can make stains worse or simply don’t have the quality tools required to get the best results. Just like you have to see a doctor for regular check-ups, regular cleanings from professionals is vital to your floor’s health.
What Is the Best Carpet Cleaner?
At Lov ‘N Care Carpet Center, we are a company in South Amboy, NJ, and we have the full range of floor-care services you need for your home to feel like home because the best carpet cleaning products will depend on the nature of your damage and floor.
Having stained or dull floors can be stressful and discouraging, but whether you need your carpets cleaned or services for hardwood and tile floors, we’ll give you the help you need for your home to sparkle like it’s new. We’ve been doing this since 1948, serving those living in South Amboy, Perth Amboy, Old Bridge Township, East Brunswick, and Hazelet. Our experts will be glad to help.
Meta description: Grout is a filler and form of sealer between tile spaces. It is an essential part of the process but gets dirty, too. Here are easy ways how to clean grout.
Grout tends to get very dirty and grimy when left for too long without a good clean. Here are ways how to clean grout and ensure your tiled sections look as good as new.
#1 Vinegar and Warm Water
Try a solution of vinegar and warm water to clean your grouted areas. Allow the vinegar to sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing it off with a stiff, bristled brush. A toothbrush works, too, but only covers smaller sections. There are many other brushes to choose from that will do the job.
#2 Use a Proper Brush
When it comes to grout and cleaning, you need a stiff-bristled brush. Softer fibers may not be able to work down tougher dirt and grime.
#3 Use a Steamer
If you wondered does steaming grout work, you’re not the only one. Steam cleaners provide maximum cleaning for minimum effort since the steam does the job for you. Steamers also come with various brush attachments to cater to soft or hard grout. Steam over the area and complete with a microfibre fitting to dry up.
#4 Use Three Ingredients
Use baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and a dash of dishwashing liquid. Allow the paste-like mixture to sit, then clean off with a sponge. For tougher dirt, use a firm brush.
#5 Baking Soda, Vinegar
Create a baking soda and vinegar paste like the hydrogen peroxide variation. Then apply the paste to the areas. Some dirt will wipe off, while others need a bit of scrubbing. Sometimes a rinse with warm water is all it needs after the application.
#6 Chlorine Bleach
Chlorine bleach is another easy method to clean dirty grout. Apply the bleach and water and scrub. Use protective gear.
#7 Store-Bought Magic Sponge
There are many store-bought grout cleaners, and one is like a soap bar or sponge and allows you to apply it to the areas. The dirt is supposed to come off easily.
#8 Vinegar Spray
Use water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply the spray, allow it to sit and then rinse off and dry. For tougher grout, scrub, rinse, then dry.
#9 Keep Your Hand on It
Maintenance cleaning of grout will go a long way to ensuring it doesn’t get too grimy.
Don’t forget, always use protective gear when cleaning grout with DIY and store-bought chemicals.
Get in touch with us! Whether you need light or heavy-duty cleaning of carpets, upholstery, furniture, or more, our specialized Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center team is waiting to assist you.
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