How to Clean Tiled Floors Correctly.

Ceramic and porcelain floor tiles shouldn’t require much cleaning effort, but doing it right can mean the difference between beautiful flooring and something streaky and unattractive. Read on to find out how to take care of yours.

General cleaning.

The cleaning methods for glazed or unglazed tiles are the same. Ceramic floor tiles need regular sweeping or vacuuming, especially when they attract outside dirt and food debris. For speed use a dustpan and brush to quickly clean an obvious area. It is important to not allow little stones or sand to damage the surface.

Crockery or glassware breakages scatter shards some distance. Do sweep the whole room for safety. A single shard of glass could scratch your tiles and become hazardous if walked on.

After sweeping any type of tiled floor, a mild all-purpose detergent plus a sparing quantity of hot water is perfect for mopping. A rag mop or chamois mop is ideal. Stronger acidic or alkaline fluids can damage tiles if it isn’t rinsed afterwards. Please avoid abrasive fluids, especially on a highly polished surface. Glazed surfaces become dull by dirt particles. Clean your polished tiles with a microfiber cloth or mop with a minimum amount of non-streak product.

For deep cleaning, mix equal parts of white vinegar with hot water and possibly a small amount of detergent. Always change the mop water when it looks dirty.

A soap-scum residue, can feel sticky under-foot or look streaky on a polished surface. This residue attracts further dirt and potentially damages the tiles. You should mop with clean detergent-free water afterwards, to prevent this problem.

Stains.

Especially if you have designer tiles you’ll want to avoid stains. Most food or drink based stains are easily removed with a detergent and hot water. Otherwise use a bleach spray or diluted bleach and a nylon brush. Clean any food or drink spillages promptly, otherwise you can be left with a sticky surface or stained grout.

Grout cleaning

Grout is porous and easily stained. Some people reluctantly view grout marks as part of the character of ceramic tiles. When these stains occur, they easily stand out next to your cleaned surface. Do promptly clean the grout between the tiles to avoid a stain from becoming too comfortable. A pencil eraser can remove some marks as well as black marks from shoes on tiles.

Use cleaning gloves and an old tooth brush. Avoid a wire brush because this will scratch your tiles. 50% hydrogen peroxide and water is ideal for stubborn marks or mildew on grout lines. A grout cleaning spray and a grout brush are also good investments. Be careful of coloured grout if you are using a bleaching product, do test a hidden area first. For stubborn stains, leave the cleaning fluid on the stain for at least ten minutes before cleaning.

For very stubborn grout stains, make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water and apply with a toothbrush. Or leave the budget-friendly paste in-situ overnight before cleaning in the morning.

The author has written and published articles on a wide range of topics including Small Business Advice, Tax and Accounting, Interior Design, House Renovation and Project Management.