Learn How to Clean a Tile Floor the Right Way

You can probably hear your grandmother’s voice now— “The room isn’t really clean until the tile has been scrubbed!”

She’s not wrong. Floors need to be maintained just like all surfaces of the home. However, you don’t need to be washing the tile floors as a daily chore.

If you’ve never properly been taught how to clean a tile floor, there’s no need to worry.

You only need to know some basic steps to the process and how to care for the specific material of tile you have in your home. Professional Carpet Systems is here to give you the top tips and tricks on maintaining your tile floors, just like the experts do.

How to Clean a Tile Floor- All Types

The first step to maintaining your tile floors is identifying the material you’re working with. There are over 20 materials to choose from when installing a fresh tile floor. That’s a lot of different tiles to keep up with. Luckily, the tile floors in your home should be made of just one material.

Some are more durable and easy to clean, while others are more sensitive and require specialized products. Here is a list of the most common types of tiles found in today’s homes:

• Ceramic
• Porcelain
• Slate
• Mable
• Granite
• Vinyl
• Linoleum
• Cork
• And more.

Maintain your tile floors properly by vacuuming or sweeping about once a week to keep the debris from building up. For the kitchen, you should mop the tile floors every two weeks. However, you should clean the tile floors in the bathroom weekly to eliminate the germs.

Cleaning all tile floor surfaces follow some of the same general steps:

FIRST, sweep or vacuum the floors. Otherwise, you’ll push around dirt, sand, pet hair, and crumbs. Your mop isn’t designed to pick them up. So be sure to always start cleaning a tile floor by removing debris.

NEXT, choose the right cleaner and type of mop for the specific material of your tile floors. And remember to refresh the water-detergent mixture frequently to avoid haziness and trapped dirt.

THEN, it may be wise to dry the floors to prevent unsightly water spots.

And that’s it! Simple right?

Continue reading to learn how to clean a tile floor according to its unique material.

The Right Way to Clean Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

Ceramic and porcelain tiles require a similar cleaning approach. Both are remarkably durable and generally easy to maintain compared to other tile types. Below, we provide a few tips on how to clean a tile floor made of ceramic or porcelain:

1 | Remove Debris and Dirt.

Start by sweeping or vacuuming your floors. These resilient tiles can still lose their shine when caked with sand, dirt, and other debris.

2 | Choose Your Mop and Cleaner.

For porcelain and ceramic tile floors, avoid using a sponge mop. A sponge mop will push the grimy water into the grout of your tile, making your grout dirtier and creating more work for you in the long run. Instead, use a chamois-type mop or a handy cleaning rag.

Additionally, you’ll want a mild cleaner mixed with clean, warm water. Remember to change the water often to avoid a dirty, cloudy haze.

3 | Get Rid of Any Soapy Residue.

It’s not uncommon for floor soaps to leave behind an unsightly residue. There is an easy fix for this common occurrence. Use a mild all-purpose cleaner to wipe away the film. Or create your own cleaner with fresh lemon juice and water.

4 | Dry the floor.

Don’t let your ceramic or porcelain tiles air-dry. Instead, soak up the excess moisture with a lint-free cloth before moving on to your next cleaning task. This will help prevent water spots.

PRO TIP– To avoid your knees aching after drying the floor with the cloth, step on the cloth and slide your foot around. There’s no need to kill your knees.

What Should You Do About Stains?

If you notice any stain spots while cleaning the tile, take a closer look and see if you can determine what made the stain. Different substances may require specific cleaners. Then, you can grab the right product from your cleaning closet or on your next trip to the grocery store.

What Should You Avoid Using on Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles?

Harsher chemicals, like bleach and ammonia, can damage these tiles, especially porcelain. Ensure you avoid using these cleaners. If you come across a stubborn stain, there are many methods to remove it without using damaging substances.

Cleaning Stone Tile Floors

When you first laid your stone tile flooring, you were likely warned the material requires special care. But that doesn’t mean you always follow this golden rule or even remember the tips provided to you.

No problem! That’s why we are here to help.

There are several stone tiles, the more popular ones being marble, slate, and granite. It is critical to treat these materials with care if you want them to continue to look brand-new and last a long time in your home. In fact, most will require a specialized cleaner.

How to Clean a Tile Floor Made of Slate

As always, begin with thoroughly sweeping or vacuuming your floors. When choosing a detergent, avoid products containing lemon and vinegar. Mild cleaners will be most successful at cleaning the surface while not damaging the sensitive material.

Especially if your slate is coated, be sure to gently dry the floor to prevent water spots.

How to Clean a Tile Floor Made of Marble

Marble is one of the tile floor materials that are most challenging to maintain. Use cleaners with a neutral acidic level, avoiding lemon and vinegar. Furthermore, never use gritty powders or a scrub brush with a rough texture. Marble can be easily scratched, so it’s best to reserve those tools for other household chores.

How to Clean a Tile Floor Made of Granite

Like any stone tile, use a mild cleaner with a neutral PH. If you clean the tile flooring with a harsh product, you’ll likely be left with discoloration and streaks, which can become permanent.

Polished granite floors also need to be buffed every once and a while. This will renew its shine and make it look freshly installed.

What About More Resilient Tile Floors?

Resilient tiles are excellent for minimal maintenance and have a softer texture for your feet. These types may include vinyl, linoleum, cork, and even rubber.

Because these materials are built to be durable and easy to clean, we have just a few tips to help you ensure your flooring lasts as long as it should and looks squeaky-clean!

• For vinyl, use a vinyl-cleaning product or simply mix some water and vinegar. Although this flooring is tough, you will still want to avoid abrasive chemicals and harsh scrubbing tools.
• Most cork floors are sealed with polyurethane. If your cork tile flooring is like most, have it sparkling like new by using a mild cleaner or vinegar combined with water. Then, rinse and dry the floor after you’ve mopped. The same method applies to cork flooring that is unfinished or waxed. However, there is an added step of using fresh wax at the end.
• Linoleum requires cleaning with a specialized cleaner or a borax detergent mixed with water. You should rinse and dry your linoleum tile and coat it with wax. Also, buffing this material every few months will keep it shiny and fresh.
• It’s best not to use a steam mop on these alternative tile floor materials. In most cases, they do not respond well to heat and excess moisture.

How to Properly Clean Tile Grout

To really make your tile flooring look good as new, cleaning the grout is a must. Grout is often tricky to maintain because it grips grime, dirt, and stains. Not to worry, follow our expert tips to keep the grout clean:

• While there are grout-cleaning products you can buy locally, most people prefer to use a mix of baking soda and water. It works just as well and costs a fraction of the price of commercial cleaners.
• Apply the paste to the grout and allow it to sit overnight. In the morning, scrub with a nylon brush.
• Avoid using a metal brush on grout. The harsh material can damage your grout.
• Seal the grout with a silicone-based product. This will help prevent the grout from being stained in the future.

Have Your Tile Floors Looking Their Best 

If your tile floors are still looking rough even after all your strenuous efforts, call on the experts at Professional Carpet Systems.

We are the Tampa Bay team you can trust to get your tile looking its best, no matter what material.

Call us today to get started and have your floors looking good as new!

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!