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To clean tile counters and backsplash, you can use a store-bought tile cleaner or a mixture of a one-half cup of dish soap, one-half cup of water, one and two-thirds cup of baking soda, and a couple tablespoons of vinegar. Wipe the surfaces clean, then dry them.

For floors, you can do daily sweeping to remove dirt. Once per month, clean the floors with a solution of one gallon of warm or hot water and one-fourth cup of vinegar.

The best cleaner to remove soot depends on the surface material and the type of fire, but consider dish soaps or degreasers, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, and hydrogen. Low-oxygen fires often leave behind greasy soot, which is best removed with dish soaps or degreasers. Baking soda can be useful for absorbing soot deposits from carpets, followed by rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean the set-in stains.

Unless you have epoxy grout, you should reseal your grout after cleaning. This is especially true if you’re in a high-moisture area like your bathroom or kitchen. Sealing your grout has a lot of advantages, like helping your tiles last longer and making it easier to clean the grout the next time.

If you happen to skip this step, you’re likely to have grout problems down the road like cracking or grout falling out. You may also notice damage to your tiles.

The first step to resealing is a thorough steam cleaning of the tile and grout. You can do this by renting a tile and grout cleaner for $80 a day. Once you’re done cleaning the floor, it’ll cost $30 to $40 per quart for sealant. Or, you can hire a pro who will charge $1 to $2 per square foot for cleaning and resealing services.