Tips on How to Clean Different Types of Floor Tile
Tile is an excellent undemanding flooring option and works especially well in bathrooms and kitchens, where drips and accidents are likely to occur. However, even the lowest maintenance floor needs to be thoroughly cleaned sometimes. You'll also need to clean the grout around the tiles. Your home's or office's tiles and grout lines will be one of the most difficult and messiest parts to clean. It gives you the feeling that there are many bacteria present once you notice the grout lines getting dark or yellow.
Only after you've scoured the floors are your kitchen or bathroom truly clean. It's crucial to keep an eye out for filth or crud on your tile floors, even though you are not required to complete this task every time you clean the counters. Your floors will require more than a quick sweep if there is a murky coating on them or if the grout is filthy. Use some shrewd cleaning methods to maintain the new appearance of your tile and grout by taking good care of your tile flooring.
When cleaning your tile floors, be careful to follow the right procedure for your particular type of tile as suggested cleaners and mops differ between types. No matter what kind of material your tile floors are constructed of, the following are the simplest and safest ways to clean them at home.
Cleaning Porcelain or Ceramic Tile Floors
Although it's frequently difficult to notice the accumulation of dirt under your feet, the two most popular types of tile flooring, ceramic and porcelain, are simple to clean. Use almost any type of cleanser to clean ceramic or porcelain tiles, whether it's all-purpose, dishwashing liquid, or plain white vinegar; ceramic and porcelain tiles are quite durable and don't etch or lose their sheen fast. To clean ceramic and porcelain tile, just follow these easy steps:
- Vacuum or sweep the tile - To prevent dulling, frequently sweep or vacuum your tile floors. Despite being dirt-resistant, sand and grit can degrade the glossy surfaces of ceramic tiles. Make sure to enter any corners because dirt likes to collect there. Hair and dust are readily removed with a microfiber duster.
- Add warm water to the cleaner - Use a rag or chamois-style mop rather than a sponge mop to clean the tile using your cleaning solution and clean warm water. Due to sponge mops' propensity to force unclean water into the grout lines, which makes them more difficult to clean, these mops are the ideal type for cleaning tile. To keep it moist and not soaked, squeeze out the extra water. Also, be sure to replace the water regularly because murky floors result from using unclean water. Use even, gentle strokes to clean the floor with the mop.
- Look for stains - If you see a stain, try to identify the material that caused it first. For the best cleaning results, choose the right cleaner for the stain.
- Don’t forget the grout - Apply a cleaner designed for grout to the area with a sprayer. Using baking soda, mild soap, and hydrogen peroxide, you may also create your own grout-cleaning paste. Use a brush to apply the cleanser, then scrub the surfaces with care.
- Dry the floor - If your tile is likely to develop water stains, dry it out as soon as you finish mopping with a clean cloth.
Cleaning Stone Tile Floors
The surface of this sort of tile can be harmed by the chemicals in conventional cleaners. Instead, use cleansers designed especially for real stone to care for your stone tiles.
- When sweeping natural stone tile floors, use a soft-bristled broom because they scratch considerably more easily than ceramic and porcelain.
- For a marble tile floor -Never use anything to clean marble tile that has a PH level that is acidic. Lemon and vinegar-based cleaners should be avoided because they may erode the tile's surface.
- For a slate tile floor - As long as the detergent doesn't contain acidic ingredients like vinegar or lemon, you can use it on slate tiles.
- For a granite tile floor - Using a mild detergent with a neutral pH is necessary to clean granite tile. Using a strong cleaner runs the danger of staining or leaving streaks on the tile. In order to maintain the floor appearing sparkling and bright, you could also choose to buff it.
Cleaning Terra Cotta Tile Floors
Terra cotta is comparable to ceramic tile in that both are manufactured from earthy clay that is naturally formed into tiles and fired until it becomes firm. If you're cleaning terra cotta tile flooring, keep these suggestions in mind:
- Every week, vacuum before damp-mopping the floor with light soap and water.
- Oxalic acid and water can be used to get rid of stains (never use acidic cleaners like vinegar or ammonia). After removing the stain, rinse by moist sweeping with a soft cloth.
- Use soft brushes instead of hard ones, especially wire brushes. Terra cotta tiles are rather brittle and are prone to being scratched.
- Your floors will be stain-resistant and easy to clean if you treat them with a water-based sealer every year.
Cleaning Resilient Tile Floors
Resilient tile, which is made of materials like linoleum and vinyl, is a wonderful choice if you want a surface that's comfortable for walking on and requires little to no upkeep. When cleaning your resilient tile floor, bear the following advice in mind:
- For a vinyl tile floor - Use a producer-recommended cleaning solution or a solution of water and vinegar to wipe the floor after sweeping. Avoid using abrasive cleansers since they could scratch the flooring.
- For a linoleum tile floor - After sweeping, use a linoleum flooring cleaning solution or a solution of borax and water to clean. To keep the floor's luster, add a coat of wax and buff it every three to six months.
Contact A Licensed Tile and Grout Cleaning Company
To maintain your floor shining and clean, try these basic steps on a regular basis. Always use suitable, environmentally friendly cleaning products designed specifically for your tiles, and be sure to carefully consult or read the labels. If you are unable to do the cleaning yourself, you can contact a nearby cleaning service like Watsonville Carpet Cleaning. We provide a wide selection of floor cleaning packages for homeowners and businesses in Watsonville, CA. Call us today at (831) 618-8744 for a free estimate!
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