Tips for Tile and Grout Cleaning

To keep your floors looking great for many years to come – follow a few rules and tips:

• Always sweep and vacuum your floor before mopping to get rid of any dry soil or dirt as possible
• Always rinse after you mop
• Avoid bleach and other harsh chemical cleaners that might break down sealants

Ceramic tile floors are a popular flooring option. They’re durable, but like all floors, they need to be taken care of with proper cleaning. Here are some more tips on how to clean tile floors.

Sweep or vacuum your tile floor a couple of times a week. Sand and grit can dull and scratch the surface of your tile, once you have removed the dirt, you are ready to mop. Mix a mild detergent with hot water and apply with a ray or chamois mop instead of a sponge mop. A sponge mop will just push dirty water into the grout, where the pores will just absorb the dirt. Chang your bucket of cleaning solution often so you won’t have a dirty mop that leaves a film of dirt on your floor. If you do end up with a hazy film on your floor you can remove with an all-purpose cleaner. Make sure that it is non-abrasive so it won’t scratch the floor. You can also make your own cleaner by mixing lemon juice or vinegar with hot water. Apply it to the floor and then buff dry with a clean cloth. You can use a towel that you push over the floor with your foot.

Keeping the grout clean is one of the most important things to know. If you have dingy looking floors, it is usually because of the grout is dirty. Remember that the grout is porous and easily absorbs dirt, grease and other materials. Spray the grout with a commercially prepared grout cleaner, you can also use a mild bleach solution. These chemicals can be harmful, so remember to wear gloves at all times, and if you have to scrub the grout, allow your cleaner to sit around 10 minutes and then use a toothbrush or another small scrub brush.

• For stubborn grout stains, you can mix a paste of baking soda and water, apply this to the stain, let it sit overnight and then scrub with a nylon brush. Don’t use a metal brush as it will scratch the tile. Let the grout air dry, then put on a silicone-based grout sealer to resist future dirt and stains.
• If you have ceramic tile that has been stained by coffee, tea or juice, wash the tile surface with hot water and detergent, then blot with hydrogen peroxide. For grease stains, wash with club soda and water, or a commercial floor cleaner. For ink stains, soak a cloth in diluted bleach and lay it on top of the stain, leave the cloth until the stain is gone. Rinse thoroughly when done.

To keep your floors looking great for many years to come, you know how to clean the ceramic tile floor correctly.