Tile Floors: What You Need to Know

Tile floors are a big investment that many homeowners know to be true. But keeping them clean can pose a challenge, especially if you have a large family, cook often, and host frequently. Before you invest in tile floors, we wanted to give you three pointers.

Fact 1: The bathroom and kitchen will likely get dirty
The bathroom and kitchen are two of the most high-traffic areas in your home, so it’s inevitable that your tile floors will pick up humidity, mildew, soap scum, and other oils. Whether your tiles are brand new or five years old, Triple S will help you get them sparkling clean again.

Fact 2: Your tile grout will stain
Notice those lines between your tile, also known as grout? They will easily get dirtied up by spills, makeup, cooking oil, and other types of stains. They easily seep through the lines between the tile, especially if yours is pure white! Your best attempt at camouflaging any dirt or oil stains is to opt for a darker grout color. However, if you’ve already settled on white, don’t panic! Seek a professional to seal your grout and keep your floors protected.

Fact 3: You will need to clean often
Aside from the weekly sweeping and wiping down, we recommend that you get a professional cleaning and sealing every 6 months to a year. This is will combat the seasonal stains that your tile and grout encounters.

For every cleaning you schedule with Triple S, we give you a fresh bottle of Balance Neutral PH Cleaner so you can take matters into your own hands and keep floors looking fresh and sealed all year round! Of course, you should still call the experts for the best results.

For professional grout and tile cleaning, call the textile specialists at Triple S. Nobody knows more about the care and maintenance of natural tile and stone than we do.

We have three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street
Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue
Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

What to Know Before Choosing Kitchen Backsplash

Gone are the days of plain tile in the kitchen. Nowadays, homeowners are choosing bright backsplash to decorate their home. But with different materials and colors to choose from, how do you know which design to choose? Here are three main points to take note of:

The focal points
The more you know about focal points, the easier it will be to decide on a backsplash. The two primary spots the eye gets drawn to the most in your kitchen are the space above the range and above the sink. Choose a design that compliments these kitchen appliances best.

Design mixing
Don’t be afraid to play mix-match with your tile. In fact, sticking with a monochromatic look can actually take away from the investment you put into your backsplash. Experiment with complementary colors and play with patterns by composing the tiles vertically for a more contemporary look.

Materials
There are different backsplash materials, such as ceramic and porcelain. While they look similar, they hold one main difference: one is significantly stronger. Both are made from clay, but porcelain is more dense and durable, which means more resistance to moisture and cracks.

Once you’ve settled on a kitchen backsplash design, be sure to keep it clean. At Triple S, we can keep tile and grout looking new with professional cleaning and sealing! We use top notch cleaning solutions and machinery to deep clean and rinse away residue. To learn more about our cleaning services, visit us on the web.

Triple S has three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street
Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue
Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

Green Cleaning the Bathroom

Cleaning up your bathroom for spring? Put the bleach aside!

Nowadays people are finding new and eco-friendly ways to clean up their home, and for a good reason! Harsh chemicals cause environmental damage and are hazardous to your health. So why not try these green cleaning tips instead?

Little by little
If given extra time in the morning (or at night), make it a daily habit to clean up after every shower. Overtime, that icky black mildew can grow and grow. So wipe up the surface with a non-bleach cleaner. And if you can, reuse your towel twice before tossing in the laundry.

Natural scents
Don’t let your bathroom stink up! To keep it smelling fresh, squeeze several drops of essential oil, such as eucalyptus or peppermint into a small vessel and let it sit on your countertop. In the guest bath, leave a few options for your visitors to enjoy!

Showerhead cleanse
Showerheads can become clogged with mineral deposits, so skip the harsh chemicals and fill a plastic bag with undiluted white vinegar. Then, tie the plastic bag over the showerhead and let it work its magic overnight. Lastly, scrub the surface clean with a toothbrush - should be good as new!

Airing it out
While the best way to prevent mildew is to turn on the exhaust fan, another eco-friendly and energy efficient option is to crack open the window when showering. This will allow the steam to escape before you fog the windows up!

Looking for more green cleaning tips? Turn to Triple S! We proudly serve Norwalk and the surrounding regions and can help you efficiently clean your tiles, grout, countertops, and more! We are a family owned business with over 50 years of experience.

Triple S has three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street

Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue

Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

Stop! Keep Dirt at the Door

April showers will be here soon, which means you'll be kicking up more dirt in your tracks. Fortunately, you can stop the dirt from ruining your beautiful floors by following these steps:

Choose a good mat. Welcome mats come in all shapes, sizes, and textures. You’ll want to choose one dependent on the amount of foot traffic your enterence receives. For example, if you (and guests) use the front entrance more often than the back entrance, you will keep floors cleaner by purchasing a heavy-duty mat for both inside and outside. For your outdoor mat, choose coir matting or vinyl-backed synthetic turf. For the inside mat, go with nylon or olefin with rubber backing.

Wash your mats. It seems like an obvious step, but many homeowners often overlook this important task. Mats get dirty extremely easily, so hose them down and scrub them with dishwashing liquid and warm water. Let them air dry and make sure they are completely dry before putting them back to prevent your floors from warping.

Create a shoeless zone. Make your home a shoeless zone for everyone. Encourage your family and friends to take off their shoes before entering your home or to wipe thoroughly on both the outdoor and indoor mats. People will respect that you want a clean home and spotless floors - just make it easy for them to oblige (a shoe rack or basket is a good idea).

Don’t forget about paws. People aren’t the only one’s with dirty soles! Before your pet returns from being outside (especially in the rain), wipe their paws and dry off their fur. You’ll be keeping your floors clean, but also keeping your furry friend cozy!

Will you think twice before walking into your home with muddy shoes? We know we will!

At Triple S, we know how important it is to keep your floors clean, fresh, and bright! We offer professional cleaning services for all of your textiles and more. Triple S is a family owned business with over 50 years of experience and are here to help you keep your home looking and feeling Clean, Fresh, & Bright!

Triple S has three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street

Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue

Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

Getting Rid of Allergens in Your Home

Spring is right around the corner and you know what that means! Pollen will be filling the air and making allergy-sufferers sick once again. Keep your drapes and furniture clean with these professional services. 

Tile Cleaning and Sealing. Whether you have grout, marble, granite, or porcelain floors, constant foot traffic can make allergies worse. By hiring a professional to clean and seal these surfaces, you can get rid of those hard-to-clean dirt marks and tough dust.

Rug Cleaning. Oriental and area rugs need care too! Although rugs don’t carry as much pollen as other textiles do, removing those everyday spills, dust, and unhealthy allergens are key to keeping the air in your home clean, fresh,and bright. Many professional cleaning companies also offer green cleaners to eliminate the use of harsh and unnecessary chemicals in your home.

Fabric Keeper Maintenance. When it comes to hardwood and tile, you can scuff dirt up in the air if you don't clean regularly - that’s where Fabric Keeper Maintenance comes in. This type of professional service will pick up soils and make fabric look and feel cleaner longer.

Keep allergies at bay this Spring by taking advantage of these professional services and vacuuming on a weekly basis. At Triple S, we offer these professional cleaning services and more. We are a family owned business with over 50 years of experience and are here to help you keep your home looking and feeling Clean, Fresh, & Bright!

Triple S has three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street

Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue

Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

#TipTuesday | Cleaning Bathroom Tile & Grout

With all the constant use your bathroom gets on a daily basis, why not keep it clean as can be? Whether you have natural stone or ceramic tile in the bathroom, here are a few tips to help you keep everything looking spotless:

Scrub & Rinse - Cleaning your shower stall or countertops with a chemical solution? Be sure you scrub well and rinse with clean water, as to not leave a greasy film behind. For your shower stalls, simply retract your showerhead and rinse or use a wet cloth if yours isn’t removable.

Clean Weekly - Scrubbing your shower and countertops isn’t exactly what you want to do on your day off, but just think about how fresh your bathroom will feel! Take even just a few minutes to clean dirt from your bathroom tiles each week or every other week. Not only will your bathroom look fresh, but it will also help to eliminate mold and mildew.

Go Pro - Try professional stone and tile cleaners, like the Fusion Every Day Cleaner for stone and tile from Triple S. This is an ideal, streak free cleaner that is safe for all your natural stone, tile, and grout surfaces - effective for countertops, backsplashes, and shower walls. Did we mention how great it smells too?

Of course, the best way to get a spotless bathroom is to hire a professional grout and tile cleaning company. At Triple S, we can make your tile and grout look new again with professional cleaning and sealing! We use top notch cleaning solutions and machinery to deep clean and rinse away residue. Plus, we give you a free bottle of our famous Balance Neutral PH Cleaner for easy, everyday use. To learn more about our grout and tile cleaning services, visit our website.

Triple S has three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street
Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue
Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue