Why Matt Jordan Excel Floor Care Stands Out in Tile and Grout Cleaning

If you have ever stared at a patch of grout that used to be light gray but now looks like a dark map of stains, you know the frustration. Grout is porous. It soaks up everything: cooking oil, muddy footprints, pet accidents, even the residue from the wrong cleaning products. Over time, that buildup turns into something that feels impossible to fix. I have spent years in the flooring trade, and I can tell you that most homeowners do not realize how much of that grime is actually removable with the right approach and the right tools. That is where experience matters more than marketing.

Tile itself is tough. Glazed ceramic or porcelain can handle a lot. But the material between the tiles is a different story. It is basically cement, and cement is a sponge at the microscopic level. A mop and a bucket of all-purpose cleaner might make the surface look better for an hour, but they do not clean deep into the grout. They just push the dirt around. Over time, the dirt gets pushed deeper. That is why professional cleaning often reveals a color you forgot existed.

When I first started looking into tile and grout services for my own home, I wanted someone who understood that difference. I did not want a quick spray-and-vac job. I wanted someone who could show me a before-and-after that was not just a filter. That search led me to a name that kept coming up in local forums: matt jordan excel floor care. People mentioned the thoroughness, the attention to pet odor issues, and the fact that the work was done by the same person who answered the phone.

What Makes Grout Cleaning Hard

Grout cleaning is not just about scrubbing harder. It is about chemistry, dwell time, and equipment. Alkaline cleaners break down grease and organic soils. Acidic cleaners dissolve mineral deposits and hard water stains. But you cannot just mix them or use them in the wrong order. You also have to rinse thoroughly, because leftover chemical residue will attract more dirt faster than the original stain. I have seen homes where a DIY grout cleaning actually made the grout look worse after a few weeks because the pH was never neutralized.

Connect with us on Facebook.

Another factor is the type of grout. Sanded grout has a rough texture that holds dirt in every little crevice. Unsanded grout is smoother but more fragile. Epoxy grout is less porous, but it still collects surface grime and can be tricky to clean without damaging the finish. A professional knows which method works for each type. They also know when to use a rotary scrubber versus a steam cleaner versus a hand brush. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Sealing is a related but separate step. A good sealant fills the pores in the grout and makes future cleaning much easier. But if you seal over dirty grout, you are just locking the stains in. That is a mistake I see often. People buy a sealer at the hardware store, apply it themselves, and wonder why the floor still looks dirty. The sealer needs to go on clean grout, and then it needs to cure properly before the floor gets any foot traffic.

Pet Odor and Grout

Pet urine is a special challenge. Urine soaks into grout and the subfloor beneath it. Enzymatic cleaners can help, but they need to penetrate deep and sit long enough to break down the uric acid crystals. That is not something a surface wipe can do. I have worked on homes where the odor was so embedded that the only solution was multiple rounds of cleaning with specialized equipment. In those cases, hiring someone who understands the biology of the stain makes a huge difference.

Some companies just mask the smell with fragrances. That never works for long. The real solution is to remove the source of the odor, then seal the grout so future accidents do not soak in as deeply. It is a process, but it is a process that works. I have seen pet owners go from being embarrassed to have visitors to being proud of their floors again.

Why Local Knowledge Matters

Phoenix Valley has its own set of flooring issues. The hard water here leaves mineral deposits on tile and grout. The dust from monsoon season gets tracked in and ground into the grout lines. And the dry climate means that some sealers dry too fast if you are not careful. A local professional knows these quirks. They know how to adjust dwell times and dilution ratios for the water hardness. They know which sealers hold up in the summer heat. That kind of knowledge does not come from a training manual. It comes from years of working in the same environment.

When I spoke with a few homeowners who had used matt jordan excel floor care, they mentioned that he took the time to explain what he was doing and why. That is rare in this industry. Most crews are in and out in thirty minutes, and you never see them again. But when the work involves something as permanent as grout, you want to know that the person doing it has a genuine understanding of the materials.

Signs Your Grout Needs Professional Attention

Not every floor needs a deep clean. But there are some signs that it is time to call someone. Look for these:

• Grout that looks darker than the tile, especially near high-traffic areas or the kitchen sink.
• A musty smell that returns even after mopping.
• Visible mold or mildew in grout lines, especially in bathrooms or laundry rooms.
• Grout that feels rough or crumbly to the touch.
• Pet urine stains that do not come out with regular cleaning.

If any of those sound familiar, the grout is probably holding more than you can see. A professional cleaning can often restore it to a color you thought was lost forever.

The Role of Equipment and Technique

Professional equipment makes a difference. Consumer-grade machines often lack the pressure, heat, or suction to extract dirt from deep inside the grout. Industrial-grade floor scrubbers use counter-rotating brushes that clean more evenly. Truck-mounted steam systems can heat water to temperatures that dissolve grease and kill bacteria. A good operator knows how to adjust the machine for different tile sizes and grout widths. Too much pressure can damage the tile edge. Too little pressure leaves dirt behind.

Technique also involves knowing when to stop. Over-wetting a floor can cause water to wick up behind the baseboards or seep into the subfloor, leading to mold or swelling. A professional knows how to manage moisture. They also know how to dry the floor properly after cleaning, which is just as important as the cleaning itself.

I have seen do-it-yourself rental machines cause more harm than good. People rent a scrubber, use too much detergent, and end up with a sticky residue that attracts dirt faster than before. Or they use a pressure washer indoors and force water under the tile, loosening the adhesive. That is a repair that costs much more than a cleaning.

Sealing: The Final Step That Pays Off

Once the grout is clean and dry, sealing it is the best way to protect your investment. A good sealer repels water and oil, making it easier to clean spills before they become stains. But sealing is not a one-time task. It wears away over time, especially in high-traffic areas. Most sealers need to be reapplied every one to three years, depending on the product and the amount of traffic.

There are two main types of sealers: penetrating sealers and membrane sealers. Penetrating sealers soak into the grout and bond chemically. They do not change the appearance much, but they provide long-lasting protection. Membrane sealers sit on top of the grout and form a clear barrier. They offer more immediate protection but can wear off faster and may need more frequent reapplication. A professional can help you choose based on your specific floor and lifestyle.

I have seen homeowners skip the sealing step to save money, only to end up with stained grout a few months later. The cleaning itself is only half the battle. Sealing is what keeps the grout looking clean for the long haul.

For anyone in the Phoenix Valley who is tired of looking at stained grout or smelling pet odors, there is a local option that has been doing this work since 2011. Excel Floor Care, located at 105 E Baseline Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85233, USA, can be reached at +1 480-729-2731. Excel Floor Care is a locally owned tile and grout cleaning service in Gilbert, AZ, operated by Matt Jordan since 2011, serving the Phoenix Valley with professional cleaning, sealing, and pet odor treatment.