Keeping your tiles clean and grout lines spotless can be quite demanding. That said, over time, grout accumulates dirt and grime or mildew to such a degree that it makes your floors and walls appear dirty.
You can manually scrub grout to make it look nicer, but let’s face it, it is tedious, time-consuming, and inefficient. This is where tile grout cleaner machines come in. Such machines would make this chore much quicker, easier, and effective.
However, with several choices at one’s disposal, selecting the correct type has become very perplexing. You can’t just choose any machine you come across as certain variables, such as cleaning technology and the brush’s size, influence the machine’s functionality. Moreover, an ideal grout cleaner must be compatible with the type of tile, easy to operate, and strong enough to remove stubborn dirt.
This guide will take you through what you should look for when buying a grout cleaner machine. You will read to the end and know how to find the best suited for your needs.
1. Understand Different Types of Cleaning Technology
Tile grout cleaner machines apply different technologies in cleaning, and understanding how each works will lead you to choose the best machine for your needs.
The common types are steam cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, and mechanical scrubbing.
- Steam cleaners use hot, high-pressured steaming that loses dirt and thus kills germs without requiring chemicals. Hence, the best option you may consider over a completely chemical-free choice is eco-friendly and sanitizes grouts while cleaning them.
- Ultrasonic cleaners use sound waves to take the course to break up the dirt on the tile surface. These machines have a soft mechanism and may be apt for delicate surfaces.
- Mechanical scrubbers use spinning brushes with water or cleaning solution to scrub out dirt. For instance, the Original Electric Grout Cleaner 1 Machine + 1 Brush is so powerful and very effective for stubborn stains or when grout is very dirty; thus, they are ideal for households with heavy traffic or commercial establishments.
Therefore, choosing the right technology depends on how dirty your grout gets, how often you clean it, and your budget.
2. Consider Surface Compatibility
Secondly, it is necessary to select a grout cleaner machine that is compatible with the tile type you have. Different tiles require different cleaning methods since not all machines are safe for each surface. Besides, tiles can be made from ceramic, porcelain, stone, marble, or glass- all reacting differently to cleaning.
For example, steam cleaners are generally safe for ceramic and porcelain tiles. Steam can seep into the porous surface of marble or travertine tiles and discolor them, so they don’t fare well under such treatment.
Moreover, if your home has different types of tile, look for a machine that offers multiple cleaning modes or comes with various attachments. A machine with interchangeable brush heads and variable pressure settings will let you easily switch between light cleaning on more delicate surfaces and deeper scrubbing on tougher grime.
3. Focus on Ease of Use
A grout cleaner machine should make cleaning easier, not harder. Therefore, ease of use is one important factor that you should not look over, especially if you will be cleaning regularly.
Thus, choose a lightweight machine that’s comfortable to handle and easy to move around.
Additionally, machines with long power cords or rechargeable batteries are also more convenient because you won’t have to keep switching outlets or stop in the middle of cleaning to recharge. Those with adjustable handles and swivel heads are a plus, too, because they make cleaning at corners or under furniture less of a chore.
4. Check Power and Performance
Power and performance are the most integral parts of a grout cleaner. The more powerful the machine, the easier and quicker it can deep clean tough grime off grout. Generally, steam cleaners measure power in pounds per square inch.
A good range of 45 to 60 PSI works well for most home or commercial cleaning jobs. Consequently, with high temperatures and consistent steam pressure, machines can break down stubborn dirt while sanitizing grout lines.
In addition, mechanical scrubbers derive their power from the speed and strength of the brushes. Therefore, when choosing a mechanical scrubber, pick the one that can adjust in speed and is of more use, as that would allow control over whether it should go hard or soft in cleaning.
Besides, some models have dual-rotating brushes or oscillating heads, allowing much more coverage and quicker cleaning.
5. Know the Brush Type and Size
Lastly, the performance of a grout cleaner machine largely depends on the type and size of the brush. Grout lines are usually narrow, and using the wrong brush size makes it difficult to clean such tight spaces.
Therefore, selecting a machine with brushes that will fit into the grout lines is very important.
Similarly, a few grout cleaners offer small, usually narrow brushes. These are good to go down into the deep grout lines. Also, some provide additional sizes for different wide or narrow grouts which is useful because you can switch between brushes depending on what surface is being cleaned.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right grout steam cleaner is not a matter of selecting the first one that comes into view; several factors need to be considered, such as the type of cleaning technology, compatibility with the tiles, ease of operation, and the power of the machine. And last but not least, the brush’s type and size make a lot of difference from a cleaning perspective.
