How to Clean Tile Floors: The Best Way to Keep Them Sparkling and Clean
Are you tired of looking at dull and dirty tile floors? Keeping your tile floors clean and sparkling doesn't have to be a hassle. In this blog post, we will share with you how to clean tile floors and provide tips and tricks on maintaining their shine for years to come. If you want your hard floors to look their best, hiring a professional cleaning service is also a good idea to ensure they are properly cleaned and maintained.
Tile floors are a popular choice for many households due to their durability, easy maintenance, and versatility in design. However, even the most beautiful tile floors can lose their shine and become dull and dirty over time.
Fortunately, cleaning tile floors doesn't have to be a daunting task. You can keep most hard surfaces and your tile floors sparkling and looking their best with the right tools and techniques.
In this blog, we'll be sharing some helpful tips and tricks on how to clean tile floors, as well as some valuable advice for keeping them looking shiny and well-maintained for an extended period.
Whether you're a new homeowner or have been living with tile floors for years, this guide will help you get the most out of your investment and keep your home looking its best.
What You'll Need
Instructions
How to Clean Ceramic or Porcelain Tile Floors
Although it's frequently challenging to detect the accumulation of loose dirt from under your feet, ceramic or porcelain tiles are the easiest to maintain.
Tiles of ceramic and porcelain don't typically scratch or lose their luster. To clean a ceramic tile or porcelain tiles, you can use almost any cleaner, including an all-purpose cleaner, dish soap, or plain white vinegar.
1. Vacuum or sweep the tile floor
To protect hard surfaces on your tile floors from becoming dull, sweep or vacuum them frequently. Despite being dirt-resistant, sand and grit can damage the glossy surfaces of ceramic tiles.
Make sure you go into any corners because dirt likes to collect there. Dust and hair are readily removed with a microfiber duster. If possible, consider using a vacuum. While cleaning tile, vacuums are the best tool for extracting dust and dirt.
2. Mop the tile with warm water and mild detergent
Use a cloth or a microfiber mop rather than a sponge mop to clean the tile floor with clean water and mild detergent. Dip the mop into the solution, then squeeze off the extra liquid to keep it moist rather than soaked.
Microfiber mops are ideal for cleaning tile since sponge mops drive unclean water into the grout lines, making them difficult to deep clean.
Smoothly and evenly sweep the floor with the mop. To ensure that every part of the floor is noticed, use a pattern as you go through the floor.
3. Replace the water regularly
The water will inevitably become darker and dirtier as you rinse the mop or rag. Have a second bucket of clean water nearby to soak and wash your used mop. You can then resume mopping by dipping into the clean soapy bucket.
4. Clean the tile grout and remove tile stains
Spray a grout-specific cleaner on the grout or prepare a bleach solution while wearing gloves to prevent the bleach from getting on your skin. Rinse it off after letting it sit for a while.
Remember to keep an eye out for tile stains. If you see any discoloration, attempt to identify the source of stains first. Then, apply a stain remover. For the best cleaning results, choose the right cleaner for the stain.
5. Dry the tile floor with a clean cloth
When you're done, and you notice the haze or water spots are forming, make a solution of white vinegar and hot water and wipe a clean cloth over the surface to remove it.
Your glossy tile floors shouldn't be allowed to air dry completely because the stagnant water will cause water stains. To avoid it, dry the floor as soon as it is washed with a clean, lint-free cloth.
How to Clean Tile Floors Made of Stone
Please be careful when dealing with natural stone tiles, such as slate, granite, or marble. Traditional cleaners' harsh ingredients can harm the surface of these materials. Instead, use cleaners designed especially for natural stone to care for your stone tiles.
1. Slate tile floors
With slate tiles, you can also use a mild detergent with no acidic ingredients like vinegar or lemon juice. If your slate tile is coated, dry it with a soft towel to prevent water stains as soon as possible.
2. Marble floor tiles
Although marble makes gorgeous tiles, it requires a lot of upkeep. Never use anything to clean marble tile with an acidic PH level. Lemon and vinegar-based cleaners shouldn't be used because they can scratch the tile's surface. Also, avoid anything that could harm the marble, such acidic cleaners such as scouring powders and brushes with firm bristles.
3. Granite floor tiles
Like slate and marble tile, granite tile must be washed with a gentle pH-neutral detergent. Using a strong cleaner runs the danger of staining or leaving spots on the tile. A polished granite floor may also require buffing to keep it appearing neat and sparkling.
How to Clean Resilient Tile Floors
Even though a steam mop or steam cleaner may seem like a quick fix, vinyl linoleum, and cork tile floors aren't intended to withstand extreme heat and dampness. If you're cleaning resilient tile, please make sure to take these recommendations in mind.
1. Vinyl tile floors
Clear the area with a mop or vacuum, then wipe with vinegar, water, or a vinyl cleaning solution. Never go scrubbing the vinyl with an abrasive cleaner, scrub brush or tool, as this could cause scratches.
2. Linoleum tile floors
Clean the linoleum tile with water and a cleaning solution for linoleum floors after sweeping or vacuuming. Dry the floor after rinsing it well. Put a layer of wax or liquid wax and polish to a shine to maintain your linoleum floors.
3. Cork tile floors
If the cork surface has been sealed with polyurethane, thoroughly rinse it after cleaning it with water and a mild detergent or white vinegar.
Follow the cleaning recommendations for polyurethane if the cork is unfinished or waxed, but apply solid or liquid wax once the tile has dried.
Easily Achieve Sparkling Clean Tile Floors for Your Home
Maintaining the cleanliness of tile floors requires regular attention and care. However, it doesn't have to be a daunting task.
Following the tips discussed in this article, you can achieve sparkling clean tile floors without a sweat.
With these simple steps, you can keep your tile floors looking brand new and extend their lifespan. So, start cleaning and enjoy the sparkling results!
Also, don't miss our ultimate how-to guide on cleaning your living room, where we share invaluable tips and tricks for maintaining a spotless and organized space.
FAQs
How often should you clean your tile floors?
To remove the dust that might dull the tile floor's shine, a tile floor should be dry cleaned, swept, or vacuumed at least two times a week. Every two weeks, mop the tile floors in the kitchen and once a week in the bathroom. Once every two to three months, give the tile grout a spot cleaning.
Will vinegar damage a ceramic tile?
As vinegar is quite acidic, it is okay to have vinegar solution clean porcelain or ceramic tiles. However, it should not be used on terra cotta, marble, or granite, which should be cleaned with a pH neutral cleaner.
Do you rinse a floor after mopping?
After mopping, you typically don't need to rinse your ceramic, porcelain, or vinyl floor. However, certain stone tiles must be damp mopped after washing with detergent.
