The Real Reason Your Tile & Grout Get So Dirty

The first thing people might notice in your shower or bathtub is the dirty tile and grout. Most grout contains calcium, which reacts with the water to form hydroxyapatite, a mineral that lines the teeth and makes up about 10 percent of your body’s calcium. Tiles and grouts are especially prone to stains because they absorb color fast and don’t break down easily. 

Why Does My Tile and Grout Get So Dirty?

The longer your tile or grout is exposed to hard water, the more it’s likely to get stained. To avoid hard water stains, you can limit the exposure with a water filter or use a water softener if the water has a high dissolved solids level. You can also avoid areas with high water traffic or buy a grout with higher stainless steel content, so your grout doesn’t easily absorb the iron.

What Causes Hard Water Stains?

Hard water contains lots of dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, or sodium chloride. When these minerals are present in high concentrations, they can cause spotting, discoloration, and hard water stains. You should expect to see these stains on your fixtures, countertops, and other surfaces. The deposits are most commonly caused by:

• Poorly maintained household plumbing
• Leaky septic systems
• Low water pressure in your home

When hard water flows through these paths, it leaves behind deposits called “scum” and “grit.” Fortunately, hard water deposits are very easy to remove. You can:

• Rinse off hard water deposits with a mild, non-surfactant-based soap
• Sweep up hard water deposits using a broom and dustpan
• Use a gentle cleanser to remove hard water deposits

Grout Cleaning for Hard Water Stains

Hard water stains can appear on just any surface. For some surfaces, you can use a chemical peel, and for others a physical peel. Hard water may cause problems with your pipes, but it is also a common cause of stains.

For stains on your fixtures, you can try using a steel wool pad to remove the build-up of mineral deposits. Hiring a plumbing technician is the next best option if that doesn’t work. Hard water can stain your home’s surfaces, furniture, and even your clothing.

Most cleaning products are not made to remove hard water stains. You can use a special cleaner formula or try a water-soluble stain remover like Nettlesol or Tea Tree Oil.

Is Hard Water Staining a Problem?

Hard water can cause a variety of problems in your home, including stained floors, grime in your pipes, and discoloration in your bathtub or shower. However, if your water is hard, you might not even know. While most people assume that hard water causes scaling on shower walls, it’s actually caused by deposits of calcium and magnesium.

If you’ve been asking why is my tile and grout dirty, the aforementioned tips have given you the answer. For help, contact Valley Carpet Cleaning serving Granada Hills since 1989.

Categorised in: Tile and Grout Cleaning

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