Alkaline vs Acid Based Cleaners

AriStone Cleaning and Restoration has a couple of different cleaners we use and for different circumstances.  For natural stones, we have a natural stone cleaner made specifically for travertine, granite, and marble, and for ceramic and porcelain tiles, we have two specific cleaners we use.

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When it comes to cleaning ceramic and porcelain tiles and the grout lines, we have two cleaner options we choose from depending on what your grout needs.  There is the Alkaline cleaner and the Acid wash cleaner.  Both do an excellent job for different aspects of tile and grout cleaning.

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Typically we stick to using the Alkaline cleaner because the word “acid” sometimes makes people nervous.  Alkaline cleaners are safe and have very low VOC's that they omit during the cleaning process.  This tile and grout cleaner is excellent for removing dirt, grease, and grime from within the grout lines and off the tiles surfaces.  The alkaline cleaner we use is called Modern Clean by Modern Stone Technologies.  

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We can use this cleaning agent on many different tile and stone types, but we use it for our ceramic and porcelain customers as often as possible.  As always, after cleaning your grout, we highly recommend sealing the grout lines because once we open those pores, your grout will be more absorbent until it dries out.  One good thing is that the pores of the grout will not be as absorbent as they are after we acid wash.

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Acid washing is excellent for multiple reasons.  It helps remove grout, grout haze, helps with deeper stains, and it preps the grout to take color sealing.  The acid wash we use is called Easy Etch, and it is made by Modern Stone Technologies as well.

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After installs, there can be a haze grout the grout or even grout left behind.  Acid washing helps break down the grout and haze and lifts it off of the surface of the tiles.  Installers will do their best to remove as much of this as possible, but there is always a chance that some may be left behind. That is where we come in.

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Cleaning tile and grout with the acid cleaner also helps pull out staining that the alkaline cleaner may not have tackled.  Even though the acid wash can help pull the stains out more so then the alkaline cleaner may have, there is no guarantee that the stains will be removed completely.  As we have stated, grout is very absorbent when it has not been sealed.  If you let stains seep in for too long, they may be permanent staining now.  We highly recommend sealing the grout once you have cleaned it always.

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The acid wash cleaning is also the cleaning process we use to prep the grout for color sealing.  Color sealing is a penetrating sealer with a color pigment in it.  This grout color sealer will stain your grout back to one uniform color.  Before being able to color seal, we need to do the acid wash cleaning to open up the pores of the grout allowing the grout to accept and absorb the color seal better.  This process is the only process for ceramic and porcelain that will make the grout and tile look new again.

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As you can see, both cleaners have a role when it comes to cleaning your tile and grout, and each of them does a fantastic job for different purposes.  Tile and grout cleaning is essential because it helps with your tile and grout's longevity, it keeps your tile floors looking new longer, and it helps prevent grout staining in the long run.  We highly recommend having your tile and grout professionally cleaned every 12-18 months, and the grout sealed every two years.  This is the best maintenance plan for ceramic and porcelain.  Side note the color seal lasts longer than the clear sealers, and our company offers warranties for the color seal and out hybrid solvent sealer.

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For more information, check out our website at www.travertiencleaningaz.com or give us a call at 480-352-2987.  We look forward to answering your questions and working with you soon.

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