Hey guys. I clean carpet with a challenger OP machine. I am getting ready to do my First T&G job...floor. I will be using the grout brush attachment on my challenger.

I do not own a TM or portable. What is the best way to extract the slurry...mop or wet dry vac? I think vac. I need all suggestions on procedure/steps on performing a job like this. It's about 1100 sf lobby. Any chemical suggestions, any thoughts will be appreciated.

Thanks

Lou

Wet-Dry vac will work fine, add defoamer to the tank. Many great tile & grout cleaners, need to know what kind of tile, is there a finish on it already or a sealer? Last time cleaned? How dirty is the tile. Not giving you a hard time but many cleaners can be purchased locally and cleaners for some tile may harm others like marble etc.
Will you be color sealing? If you are using an acid cleaner be careful and mask metal surefaces and baseboards. If your not colorsealing you should be able to get buy with an alakaline cleaner.

excellent advice.

If you do not have any defomer, try using some vinager, it works as well and is dirt cheap! I also do not think that there are any chemical reactions to other solutions/chemicals.

You will need a small mop though, just to do the final clean, make it pretty.

Another substitute for the defoamer or vinegar is SOAP.

A small bar of soap like you get in your room at a hotel/motel works wonders.

Simply place it in the waste basket in your machine, and it will break down the foam that builds up.

If you use the defoamer or vinegar, pour it into the far end of your vacuum hose so that it lines the inner side of the vac; hose all the way to the waste tank

Hope this helps.

Ooroo,

Shorty.

I've seen the light, and changed my wicked ways.
www.get.shorty.com.au

Thanks Jeff, and everyone else, I appreciate the tips. What I have is ceramic tile which has not been cleaned in over 4 years, about 30% of the grout is black the rest looks fairly good.

On the Vinegar, how much should I add to 5 gal wet vac?

Which cleaner is used for what? Alkaline for Stone, Acidic for ceramic? What is the rule of thumb here?

Thanks again
Lou

For the Vinegar, I use from 2-4 ounces,
it is cheap so a little extra works, put some in in a bucket and up the hose it goes!

Tile and Grout is tricky the wrong stuff and poof, you blow off or crack the top layer of the grout. Seek assistance from Rick or David or Jeff.

They have much more experience than I do, as well, I normally use natural stuff that Rick can get for you as well. I also use some of the nasty stuff, but that is another story that goes back to the education part.