Your tile floor can last a lifetime if properly cared for. In fact, some tile floors can last upwards of 75 years! Tile floors can be a great investment for your home.
So, wondering how to clean your tile floors for tile floor maintenance? Keep reading to learn some tile floor cleaning tips to keep your tile looking great for years to come.
How Often Should You Clean Your Tile Floors?
You should sweep or vacuum your tile floors at least twice a week to get rid of any dirt and grime that can dull the finish. This is called dry cleaning your floor.
Then you should do a wet clean, or mop, every two weeks in your kitchen and once a week in your bathroom. Don’t forget to spot-clean your grout at least every two to three months.
When you clean the grout lines, use a cleaning cloth or flat mop because sponge mops tend to just put dirty water into the grout lines.
How to Clean Tile
Before you mop your floor, sweep up all the dust and dirt. Use a mixture of warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap or a vinegar mixture for porcelain or ceramic tile. Make sure you add fresh water often to avoid using dirty water to clean. Work in small sections, and wash and dry each section at a time.
1. Use Even Gentle Strokes
When you use your mop, make sure you follow a pattern in the room. You want to make sure you hit every inch of the floor.
2. Clean the Grout
Use a cleaner specifically for grout. Or you can mix a bleach solution. Make sure your use gloves when dealing with bleach. Let the mixture sit on the grout for a few minutes before you rinse it off.
3. Erase Stubborn Grout Stains
Have a difficult stain on your grout? You can use a pencil eraser. Just take the eraser and pretend you are erasing a mistake on paper.
For more stubborn stains, take a sponge or toothbrush and a solution of three-quarters bleach to one-quarter water and apply directly to the grout lines. Avoid getting bleach directly on the tile. Then you can rinse with warm water.
4. Dry Your Floor
Your tile floor can get water spots. To prevent water spots on all types of tile floor, use a dry, clean cloth to wipe it dry immediately after you mop the floor.
Cleaning Natural Stone Tile
For marble, granite, or slate floors, you can use almost the same method but there are a few things to keep in mind. You have to use a soft-bristled broom when sweeping because natural stone floors are more susceptible to scratches than porcelain or ceramic tiles.
You also have to use the right cleaner for the floor because the natural stone can handle acidic cleaners like vinegar. The cleaner needs to be pH-neutral and mild to avoid discoloring the tile.
If you have granite floors, you will need to clean and seal granite to protect it just like you do for granite counters.
Expert Tile Floor Cleaning
Tile floor cleaning is vital to keep your tile looking great and also to help it last. Be sure you use the right solution for your type of flooring. Don’t forget to dry the tile after you clean it!
Looking for more great home cleaning tips? Keep exploring our site today!
