This is what you should know before you whip out the steam mop.
Its a popular method for cleaning everything from floors to upholstery, and its highly effective.
You cant treat every spot in your home with super-hot steam, of course.
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In some cases, steam cleaning can damage certain materials, like unsealed wood floors and laminate.
But what abouttiled floors and walls?
Can steam cleaning actually damage the grout that binds the tiles together?
Heres what to know about steam cleaning grout and whether or not steam can really damage it.
Can Steam Cleaning Damage Grout?
Steam cleaning is wonderfully effective at eliminating dirt and grime, thanks to its high temperatures.
Its generally unwise to steam clean anything that cant withstand moisture and increased heat.
Tiles and grout, on the other hand,cantypically handle lots of warm water and steam without degradation.
(Think of how many hot showers they have to stand up to!)
Understanding Grout
Grout is typically a composite of cement, water, and sand.
The grout remains hardened to keep the tiles bonded but can becomevulnerable to damageand deterioration over time.
When cleaning tiled floors or showers, however, steam cleaningcanalso loosen the grouts mixture of sand and cement.
The key is knowing whether your grout is sealed or not.
Sealed grout can stand up to the high temps and moisture, whereas unsealed grout isnt as durable.
Any cleaning can damage grout when it is unsealed if Im being totally honest.
