Best way to clean tile floors

 

How to Clean Tile Floors?


Everyone loves to see their homes clean and spotless all the time. Not only does a clean house look good to oneself, but it also fills a person with pride when a guest mentions how beautiful, neat and tidy the host’s house really is.

So I tried to discuss in detail the different ways ‍and best way to clean tile floors on how to keep the different types of floors in your house clean and tidy.

We know of all the hard work people put into making their house look picture perfect, starting from dusting the furniture’s on a daily basis to making sure the garden does not start growing unwanted weed. But what most of us do not pay attention to that much is the floor we walk on.

The two most common floor types seen in every household are mosaic floors and tile floors. The first floor option is way easier to take care of as you will not find it coming loose or undone due to years of pressure on them. However, tile floors are much more complex to deal with.

Then also

Tile floors also come in a wide range of different and unique variations such as marble tiles, porcelain tiles, granite tiles, etc. The list of different material and textured tiles found on the market now can go on and on.

Cleaning tile floors, on the other hand, can be both fun and time consuming at the same time. However, the end result is also worth it.

So, we are sure you are reading this article because you probably have tile problems in your lovely abode as well. We suggest you to keep reading this article regarding the best way to clean tile floors, especially if you are someone who recently just moved into a new house alone for the first time ever.

By the time you are done reading this article, we will make sure you are completely well prepared when it comes to tackling loose and stubborn-dirty tile floors in your home.

best way to clean tile floors

Best way to clean tile floors of all types?

Even though the process or equipment’s required for cleaning varies with the different types of tile floors, the basics of it are still the very same. First and foremost, all you will be required to do is put on your safety goggles and mask as well as your hand gloves for protection from sticky gunk between the tiles and broken shards of tile pieces.

 

How to clean ceramic and porcelain tile floors?

These two types of tile floors can get very dirty real quick, which is why you need to pay special attention to these two types of floor all the time. They also tend to chip around the corners easily.

In order to clean ceramic and porcelain tile floors, make sure you are always using a soft bristled brush when cleaning between each tile, so as to not further trigger the chipping process.

Make sure to use a high quality yet soft textured floor cleaning detergent as well, because you do not want stain the floors with harsh colours and chemicals.

 

Clean up loose debris

You will want to make sure to always check for loose debris and then clean them up after you are done cleaning ceramic and porcelain tile floors, as the loose debris can easily injure your feet if you walk on the floor without shoes.

 

Choose the right floor mop

There are tons of different types of mops you can make use of when cleaning ceramic and porcelain tile floors, however just make sure that whatever you choose is soft and light on the floor. Do not go for the squeegee mops as they cannot clean between the tiles top easily.

 

Be on the look out for tile stains

Stains can show up pretty easily on ceramic and porcelain tile floors, and unless removed or lightened immediately, you can expect the stains to stay on the tile floors for a very long time.

It is better if you start searching for tile stains as soon as you are done cleaning up the loose debris, and then wipe away the stains so that they do not start to harden away later on.

 

Watch for soap residue

Alongside making your floor super slippery and dangerous to walk on, soap residue will also trigger ceramic and porcelain tile floors to gradually start decaying. The harsh chemicals remaining in soap residue is something you do not want lying around unattended to on your expensive ceramic and porcelain tile floors.

 

Dry the tiles

Always make sure to let your ceramic and porcelain tile floors dry completely before you start walking on them with shoes on. These two tile types can get stained pretty easily so you will want to stay off of them until they are completely dry.

 

Editor’s Tip

It is always a better idea to take care of your ceramic and porcelain tile floors with utmost care and dedication, as these two tile types are more or less high maintenance. The less you take care of it, the faster the tiles will start decaying and then eventually break down into pieces.

How to Clean Tile Floors

How to clean stone tile floors?

Unlike ceramic and porcelain tile floors, stone tile floors are much easier to deal with (and by easier to deal with, we mean comparatively here). Stone tile floors do not start chipping away that easily and they are much stronger and more resilient in general.

 

Slate tile

You should always use soft floor detergents when dealing with slate tile floors as you do not want to taint the floors with any kind of detergent residue or dye. Make sure to use a soft mop for cleaning, however it is totally fine if you use a squeegee mop on this kind of floor.

 

Marble Tiles

Marble tiles are probably the most chic looking and interesting tile types ever created. The intricate crack lines throughout each tile add a hint of modernism and sophistication to a house. They are also not hard to clean at all as all you need is a soft bristled mop and high quality detergent. Make sure to let the floor dry before you walk on them.

 

Granite Tiles

Similar to slate tiles, granite tiles also tend to hold onto harsh chemical stains so you will want to go for a light weight floor detergent when cleaning this kind of tile material. You can use any kind of mop on this kind of tile as they also dry off pretty quick and easily.

Of course if you want to spend a little more to clean the tiles, then Aloe MPD® 2x Ultra from Forever Living Products would be best. A small amount of Aloe MPD® 2x Ultra with a rag is enough for this.

 

How to clean resilient tile floors?

Now unlike the previously tile types that we just mentioned, some tile floors are much harder to clean because they tend to be quite stubborn with stains and marks to some extent. But this however, does not mean that they cannot be dealt with efficiently. What are some resilient tile floors, you ask? Continue reading below.

 

Vinyl Tiles

Vinyl tile floors are hard to deal with since they easily trap in gunk in between each tile. For this, you need to always deep cleanse the floor. One of the easiest ways to deep cleanse vinyl tile floors is by making a simple DIY mixture of apple cider vinegar and a gallon of warm-hot water. Mix the two together and then use your soft bristled mop to wipe the floor.

 

Linoleum Tiles

You can clean linoleum tile floors in the exact same way you clean vinyl tile floors, and this is by creating the same apple cider vinegar and hot water mixture. For extra cleanse, you can also add in a drop or two of dishwasher soap to the mix and then use your mop to dampen and wipe the floors.

 

Cork Tiles

Cork tile floors can leave a lot of debris around if they are not mopped on a weekly basis. You should either use a soft and neutral detergent for wiping the floor, or simply make use of a soft bristled broom to brush between the cracks.

 

Editor’s Tip

It is quite important to always clean out the loose debris left by tile floors of any kind from time to time. The debris are usually harmless, however sometimes they might be sharp cornered, which then can easily pose a threat to you and to your loved ones walking around barefooted.

 

How to clean tile grout?

Next, you will want to clean out the dirty and stubborn grout that forms in-between each tile. This part is not hard to do at all.

 

Make a tile grout cleaner

First and foremost, all you need to do is make a tile grout cleaner. You can either purchase a tile grout cleaner from the market, however that can be expensive. Why not simply DIY your way through with this instead of spending extra money over the cleaner, right?

You can easily make your own tile grout cleaner with the simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

Create a 50:50 mixture of vinegar (any kind) and water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and use it on the grout a few minutes before you start scrubbing. The mixture will help soften up the grout, hence making it easier for you to get rid of them later on.

Make sure to always brush out the debris from the tiles before you spray on the mixture, so that the entire area stays dry and does not get muddy and dirtier.

 

Scrub grout

Once the grout is softened up, all you need to do is take your scrubbing tools and start cleaning out the grout. You can use hard bristled gloves here or brushes to do the scrubbing.

 

Seal the grout

Make sure to seal the tile grout at least 72 hours after you have scrubbed the grout. It is a good idea to stay off of the floor where the grout has been scrubbed until you apply the grout sealer on the top.

A grout sealer is very important as it helps to keep everything in place while also reducing chances of the tiles becoming stained due to the grout again at some point. However, most non-ceramic tile floors do not require grout sealants.

 

How often should you clean your tile floors?

You should obviously be aware of your tile floors condition; however you do not want to over clean the floor from time to time. You should always gently clean your tile floors with a soft bristled brush and a soft mop on a daily basis, but make sure to perform deep cleansing procedures on tile floors only once or twice every week. Deep cleansing too often will actually loosen the tiles from their places.

 

Dry Clean

You can always go for dry cleaning on a daily basis, as long as it is done with a soft bristled broom stick. Dry cleaning every day will help keep the debris off of the floor, hence keeping you and your loved ones safe from injuries due to sharp clutters.

 

Wet Clean

Unlike deep cleansing once or twice a week, you can and should perform soft wet mopping on tile floors every day. Just make sure to use a neutral floor detergent while cleaning and you will be good to go.

 

Maintenance Tips in a pinch

Tile floors are not too hard to take care of at all, if you know how to deal with them. You can have the best tile floors in the neighbourhood simply by lightly brushing, dusting and mopping your tile floors every single day.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the best way to clean ceramic tiles floor?

Ceramic tile floors do come off as high maintenance at first, however they are surely not too hard to deal with at all. But regardless of how easy they are to clean and all, you should always opt for DIY cleaning solutions instead of chemical based solutions for cleaning your ceramic tile floors as chemically induced solutions speed up the process of staining and decaying of the tiles.

Create a simple mixture of apple cider vinegar and a gallon of Luke-warm water whenever you want to clean the tiles.

 

  1. How do you clean really dirty tile floors?

Cleaning really dirty tile floors is not any different than cleaning your everyday tile floors. All you need is a good mop and brush, a high quality cleaning solution with a neutral pH and you will be good to go.

 

  1. What is the best mop for tile floors?

The best kind of mop for tile floors are the ones that come with soft bristles. Water is much easier to squeeze out from this kind of mop, so your floors will not be flooded with unnecessary amounts of water, while also not becoming too dry due to over squeezing.

 

Cleaning and maintaining the quality of your tile floors does not have to be a hard job at all. With the right equipment’s, solutions and knowledge, you can easily turn your dreaded cleaning session into a fun and worthy one.