The Average Cost to Clean & Seal Floor Tiles

Considerations

• Home improvement stores carry a wide range of products to clean and seal tile and grout. Costs can run from $100 to $150, depending on how you want to seal your tile. If you hire a professional contractor to do the work, he will likely use commercial equipment, cleaners and sealers and price the work based on the floor’s square footage. To give an example, a professional contractor can charge up to $200 to clean and seal a 16-by-16-foot area of tile.

Cleaning

• The simplest solution to clean tile and grout is tile and grout cleaner. Depending on the size of the floor, the cleaner costs $10 to $20. Follow instructions on the product. You can also clean tile with diluted bleach, which costs less than $2. If tile is very dirty, tile and grout cleaner works best. Use a deck brush to scrub the floors and a small scrub brush on corners and edges. Mop up cleaner with a cotton or rayon string mop and hot water. Mop the floor several times with clean hot water to remove all of the cleaner. Allow the floor to dry completely by using a fan.

Sealing

• You may choose to seal the grout around the tiles first, then seal the tiles. Grout sealer comes with a small application sponge to roll the sealer around the tiles. These products cost less than $10. The two types of tile sealers are water-based and impregnating. Water-based sealers allow tiles to breath, while impregnating sealers penetrate tiles and grout to create a protective barrier. The products are applied differently, so follow instruction labels for best results. Sealers cost $40 to $100, depending on quality.

Making the Decision

• Cleaning tile and grout that can be accomplished within a day from start to finish. Staff at home improvement centers can help you select the right products for your tiles and suggest the best approach. Hiring a professional contractor is also an option. Using high-quality products keeps tiles cleaner longer.