This is How Our Grout Cleaning Specialists Removed All Traces of Efflorescence from This Limestone Shower Floor in Lincoln Park

March 20, 2017

The owner of this property, located in the neighborhood of Lincoln Park in Chicago , was tired of cleaning his bathroom and not getting the results he wanted. He decided to look online for a reputable grout cleaning company in Lincoln Park, which is how he found our website. After watching some of the video testimonials and reading a couple of blog posts, he decided to fill out the "Request a Quote" form for a free evaluation and estimate. Shortly after sending the message, one of our representatives called him to set a date for the evaluation.


On the day of the evaluation, our team of grout cleaning specialists took a look at the floor and they noticed that the grout lines were cracked in some areas and that efflorescence and soap scum had built up on the entire surface. Efflorescence is the crystallization of soluble salts that are carried by moisture to the surface of the stone or grout joints. We explained to the owner that in order to get rid of all the grime and to fix the cracks, we needed to deep clean the tiles and grout and ColorSeal the grout. The client agreed with the evaluation and estimate, so a date was set to carry out the job.

Later that week, we returned to get started. We set everything up to begin the grout and tile cleaning. To deeply clean the shower floor we used grout removal tools and scrapers to remove any traces of efflorescence and mineral and soap scum buildup. After soaking the area with our special tile and grout cleaner for a few minutes, we used a gentle scrubber to remove all dirt and mineral buildup and a steam cleaner for the hard-to-reach spots, guaranteeing to leave the area spotless. Once the floor was cleaned, we were able to repair the cracks. After, we proceeded to use an Epoxy ColorSealer on all the grout lines to even out the color of the surface and seal the grout lines to prevent moisture from getting underneath the tiles. Our proprietary product, Epoxy ColorSeal, gave it the like-new appearance you see on the photo above. All standard forms of color-seal or grout stain will not hold up on shower floors leaving only the options of cleaning or re-grouting. Standard color-seal or grout stain will crack, peel, and wash away when exposed to the harsh abuse a shower floor takes. Epoxy Colorseal has added boning properties and adhesives in it to make it bond permanently with shower floors. Once it is dry and cured, it is non-porous and won't crack, dry out, or peel, and is mold resistant. After all of the grout was Epoxy ColorSealed, we buffed Tile Armor onto the entire floor. This is a stone impregnating clear sealant that helps protect the stone and further protects the grout. This product also makes surfaces easier to clean. Tile Armor is a water-based sealant, which is non-toxic and safe for family and pets.

When the client saw the results, he was very pleased, but concerned that it would return to a bad state again. We explained that both the Epoxy Colorseal and the clear sealant we used would prevent moisture from seeping through the tiles and carrying the salts to the surface, but we made clear that he needed to use pH-neutral cleaners from now on. Unfortunately, efflorescence is like a deep infection in the substrate and it can't be guaranteed not to return. But our process helps to keep it minimalized as long as possible and can be repeated if ever necessary in the future to keep the shower floor looking brand new.

If your shower or any other hard surface in your home need cleaning and maintenance, give us a call at (773) 923-2084 or fill out the "Request a Quote" form on this page to set up a date for a free evaluation.

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