That beautiful travertine flooring in your bathroom is looking a bit grimy. The grout lines have darkened and the tile lacks its original luster. Giving those surfaces a deep clean could freshen up the space. But how much does tile and grout cleaning cost? Will it set you back?
The costs can vary widely based on several key factors. Square footage, tile type, grout condition, extent of buildup, and more all impact the bottom line for cleaning companies. Understanding what goes into pricing cleaning services is important for budgeting and finding the best value.
Discover what the typical costs are and critical considerations for getting an accurate upfront quote. With the right information, you can get your tiles and grout looking like new again without spending more money than needed.
Average Tile and Grout Cleaning Costs
According to HomeAdvisor, a leading home services marketplace, homeowners pay an average of $207 to have tile and grout cleaning performed professionally.
Typical ranges reported by homeowners are:
Minimum Cost: $100
This would be for a small area of tile, like a bathroom floor or wall surround that is only lightly soiled. At the minimum pricing point, you may only be able to have a single small room’s tile and grout cleaned for this amount.
Average Cost: $207
This mid-range price point is what most homeowners can expect to budget for tile and grout cleaning of an average-sized room of around 180 square feet. Things like a medium-sized bathroom, laundry room, or section of kitchen backsplash often fall into this average cost range.
Maximum Cost: $400
For larger tile installations like a big master bathroom, multi-level shower enclosure, or larger kitchen floor, you could end up paying towards the higher end of this range depending on the total square footage and how dirty the grout and tile are. Heavily soiled tile or two-level installations would be towards this maximum cleaning cost.
Expect to pay more for larger rooms or more intricate tile layouts. High-end stone and thicker grout also up the pricing.
Factors That Affect Tile and Grout Cleaning Costs
Several key factors determine pricing for tile and other grout cleaning services:
Square Footage – The size of the space directly impacts costs. Larger bathrooms, kitchens, and flooring will be pricier. Expect to pay approximately 10 to 30 cents per square foot.
Tile Type – Natural stone, porcelain, ceramic, and glass tiles vary in how much scrubbing and specialized solutions they need for cleaning. Delicate materials cost more.
Grout Lines – Thicker grout with wider spacing takes more time and effort to clean. Epoxy grout is especially challenging.
Condition – Heavily soiled and stained tiles and grout take longer to restore and may need additional cleaning steps.
Sealing – Sealing grout and tiles after cleaning provides added protection for an additional fee.
Accessibility – Hard-to-reach areas like ceilings and high walls cost more if special equipment is required.
Add-Ons – Additional services like tile repair, grout repair, caulking, and applying protective sealers affect the final invoice.
DIY vs Professional Cleaning Costs
According to The Home Depot, homeowners can save 35% on average by cleaning tile and grout themselves. However, DIY cleaning has risks of causing damage if not done properly.
DIY Tile Cleaning Cost
- Cleaning supplies: $40. To clean tile and grout yourself, you will need to purchase some basic supplies like grout brushes, scrub pads, cleaning solutions, gloves, and buckets. These items are available at home improvement stores for approximately $40 total depending on the products selected.
- Labor: Your time. The tradeoff for the lower cost of supplies is that you will have to put in significant effort doing the cleaning yourself. This means investing your physical labor in scrubbing the tile and grout, getting into hard-to-reach areas, and having the patience to handle cleaning delicate tile properly.
- Total: $40 + time investment. In total, you can expect to spend around $40 on cleaning supplies to DIY tile cleaning, but will also have to spend hours of your own time and energy doing the tough cleaning work.
Professional Tile Cleaning Cost (Average 180 sq ft)
- Labor & supplies: $207. In contrast, hiring professional tile cleaners means paying for their time, effort, and specialized equipment to do the cleaning. For an average 180 sq ft tile area, most pros would charge around $207 total for labor, supplies, and tools.
- Total: $207. While paying a cleaning company costs more than buying supplies yourself, it saves you from having to do the physical work. The total cost is what you would pay to have an average-sized room’s tile and grout cleaned thoroughly by the pros.
While DIY saves on the total dollar amount, commercial cleaning services, chemicals, and equipment yield better results and less labor on your end. Professionals also provide experience in handling delicate surfaces safely.
Factors That Increase Tile and Grout Cleaning Costs
Certain factors can significantly increase the costs of cleaning tile floors and grout:
- Large commercial spaces like restaurants
- Tile on multiple floors or levels
- Intricate tile design patterns and mosaics
- Natural stone types like marble, travertine, slate
- Heavily soiled grout needs extensive scrubbing
- Grout color sealing
- Outdated or damaged tile needing replacement
At a certain point, tile or grout replacement may be more cost-effective than continuing to clean overly damaged areas smaller than the tile.
DIY Tile and Grout Cleaning Tips
To save on costs, homeowners can clean tile and especially grout themselves using some elbow grease and these DIY tips:
- Mix baking soda and water into a spreadable paste. Apply to grout lines, allow to sit, then scrub.
- Use an oxygen bleach cleaner and a soft brush to lift stains from the grout.
- Mix 1 part vinegar to 1 part water in a spray bottle. Spray tiles and wipe clean.
- Use a steam cleaner on tile and grout to cut through soils.
- Re-seal grout lines after cleaning for added protection.
Focus efforts on grout lines first. Be gentle on more delicate tile. Using the right techniques, you can often tackle tile and grout cleaning affordably yourself.
Here are some FAQs about tile and tile grout cleaning costs:
Bottomline
The costs to professionally clean tile and grout can vary based on several factors – from the tile type to the square footage to the extent of buildup. Average costs range from $.10 – $.30 per square foot based on conditions. While DIY can save on dollar amounts, there’s a trade-off for time invested. Knowing what goes into pricing can help you budget for a refresh and decide whether to call in the pros or not. With some periodic elbow grease, your tile can stay looking sharp!
