Why does grout go gray in a newer home?
Grout is porous. Mopping pushes dirty water into it, and after a few years the lines look darker than the tile even when the tile is clean. That’s soil in the grout, not the color it came in.
We deep clean the tile and grout, then you can choose to have the grout sealed so it resists stains longer. Kitchens, entries, laundry rooms and shower floors are the usual spots. See tile and grout cleaning.
Upstairs laundry leaked into the ceiling below. What now?
Second-floor laundry rooms are convenient until a washer hose bursts or a drain backs up. The water runs through the subfloor and into the drywall ceiling of the room below, and it can keep spreading for hours.
- Turn off the valves behind the washer or the main shut-off.
- If the ceiling is sagging, stay out from under it. If water is near light fixtures, turn that circuit off at the panel if you can do it safely.
- Take photos, then call or text us at (865) 255-9692, any hour.
Washer water is Category 2, gray water, so it gets cleaned and disinfected after drying. More on water damage restoration.
How do you find out how far the water went?
Water in a two-story house rarely stays where you see it. We use moisture meters on the floor, walls and ceiling below to map the wet area, open only what needs opening, and set air movers and dehumidifiers. We keep taking readings until the materials are dry. We work with your adjuster and document everything along the way. See insurance help.
How often should you clean carpet in a newer house?
New carpet still collects soil in the same places: the top of the stairs, the hall outside the bedrooms, in front of the couch. Cleaning before those traffic lanes turn gray keeps them from matting down. Low-moisture VLM cleaning dries in about 30 minutes to 2 hours, which is handy in a house with kids. Truck-mounted steam is the pick for heavier soil and pet spots. Read about carpet cleaning.
Can you get soap scum and mildew off shower tile?
Yes. Shower walls and floors build up soap scum, hard water film and mildew in the grout lines, especially in a busy family bathroom where the fan doesn’t run long enough. We deep clean the tile and grout, rinse it, and can seal the grout afterward so it’s easier to keep clean. If the caulk is black with mildew deep down, we’ll tell you it needs replacing rather than cleaning.