Do you like the look of beautiful tile in your bathroom? Many people love the design options offered with tile, but they are less excited over the grout maintenance. Grout is important because it keeps your tiles in place. Yet it is porous and light-colored, making it susceptible to both water damage and staining.

Fresh grout looks appealing, but it can quickly become mildewed and stained without proper maintenance. It can also become cracked, which allows water to seep behind the walls and cause damage. At Barner Murphy, we help all of our customers with plumbing maintenance and services. If you want to find out how to keep your grout looking beautiful, just follow a few of our quick tips.

• Wipe and spray regularly.

One of the best ways to keep your grout in tip-top shape is through daily wiping and spraying. This will keep your tiles clean and will prevent premature damage and staining. It will also save you a lot of trouble in the long run. A good squeegee is easy to use and works like a charm. Simply run the squeegee over your tile after each bath or shower. This will remove excess water. Then, spray your tile with a mild shower cleaner and

• Clean weekly.

Try to give your bathroom a deep clean at least once a week. This will keep your walls clean and fresh by removing the body oils and dirt that accumulate on the surfaces. Using a simple baking soda and water paste, rub into the grout with a used toothbrush and then rinse with water. You can use hydrogen peroxide for tougher stains but be mindful of not mixing it with vinegar.

• Treat tough stains.

Sometimes, baking soda and water aren’t enough. This is sometimes the case with tougher, deeper stains. If you need to resort to bleach, try using a bleach pen which will allow you to reach smaller spaces without compromising any surface area. Bleach is good for those times when you need just a little more cleaning strength.

If you decide that your tile really needs an overhaul, you might want to consider an oxygen-type powdered bleach. This is gentler on your tile than the liquid form and it is usually strong enough to treat the stains in question. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and mix it in a well-ventilated area. Apply with a brush, let it stand for about fifteen minutes and then rinse with water.

• Use grout renewal

Sometimes, nothing works on those tough stains. In these cases, you might want to consider grout renewal. This allows you to either renew the color of your original grout or change it to something darker. It will also help extend the life of your grout for years to come.

• Change your grout.

If your grout begins to flake or if tiles become loose, you’ll want to consider changing your grout. You should change your grout at the first sign of breakage because water can seep into your walls and create significant damage. Some people take the opportunity to change their grout and select new tile colors or designs while they’re’ at it. You can lay grout and install tiles on your own or you can call a trusted professional like Barner Murphy.

If you discover that you have water damage inside our home, there’s no need to panic. Instead, you can follow a short list of steps to help you determine how to properly solve the problem. At Barner Murphy, we provide a full range of plumbing services to help customers with a wide range of household needs.

• Find the source.

The first step that you’ll need to take upon discovering water in your home is finding the source of the issue. Water damage can be a complex issue because oftentimes, the source isn’t obvious. If you have a broken pipe, the issue is straightforward, but most water damage results from less conspicuous sources.

Do your best to control the leak by turning off the main valve in your home. Next, call a trusted plumbing service, such as Barner Murphy. If you are lucky enough to catch the leak early, you will end up with fewer issues and the severity of the damage will be less. Most cases of serious water damage are the result of slow leaks inside walls or poorly constructed bath areas. Cases like these, where the issue is less obvious, nearly always require the assistance of a skilled professional.

• Repair the damage.

This can be tricky. Before you can do any kind of work on your bathroom, you’ll need to determine exactly what has happened. In some of the more severe cases, bathrooms suffer from structural damage and mold infestation. Returning your home to a safe and inhabitable state might be a long process in this kind of situation. What’s most important is that you first assess the damage and then decide how to proceed.

• Consider a remodel.

In some cases, homeowners decide that the damage is enough to warrant a complete remodel. It will cost more initially to call in a bathroom contractor for a complete remodel, but you can count on a higher resale value of your home in the long run.

If you decide that you want a trusted contractor for a bathroom remodel, don’t hesitate to call Barner Murphy. Hiring the professionals at Barner Murphy guarantees that the source of your water issue is resolved completely.