The floors are available in a myriad of options, but the tile remains an attractive option among the owners. Unlike hardwood floors, tile floors are durable, waterproof, easy to install and available in a variety of styles. Most importantly, they don't require as much maintenance as the carpets. However, if you want your floor to look like new for years, you must learn to clean it properly. Here are the best options when it comes to cleaning your tile floors, whether it's ceramic, vinyl or stone.
Clean your floors regularly
Do not wait until your floors become dirty, as you may want to avoid the use of strong chemicals that will degrade your tiles in the long term. Besides, who wants to spend hours kneeling on the floor just to clean up the tough spots? To avoid these problems, you should give your floors some maintenance on a regular basis. Cleaning floors routinely or even everyday may seem tiring but, it's not as hard as you think. Just follow these simple steps.
1. Bar your tile floors every day with a soft broom or vacuum cleaner to remove loose dust and dirt. Remember, you should never use a straw broom because it scratches the tile.
2. Believe it or not, clean the floor with warm water once a week will keep your tiles clean and shiny.
3. Dry the floor immediately when cleaning with a wet mop to prevent new dirt from being small in humid areas and becoming hard to remove fats.
4. Clean up spills, including water, immediately using absorbent cloths. However, for dirtier spills such as pet accidents or raw meat, you have to clean with a cleaner or disinfectant. Since strong chemicals can ruin your tiles, try spraying only the area where you have spills.
5. Place a doormat on both the outside and inside of your home to remove the tracking mud or water on your tile floors. This step is especially important during the rainy and snowy seasons.
Apply deep cleaning solutions from time to time
Do you see your dirty tile floors no matter how often you clean it? Try a stronger cleaning solution. These deep cleaning solutions will eliminate greasy residues and stains without damaging your tiles.
1. Clean the floor with a mixture of ½ cup white vinegar and a gallon of warm water. The acidity in vinegar can function as a natural degreaser, especially useful for the kitchens. You can also use ½ cup of alcohol as a substitute for vinegar.
2. Clean stains with a mixture of equal parts of scorching powder and warm water. Spread the mixture on a stain with a clean cloth and let stand for 5-10 minutes. Then rub the area with a soft brush and rinse thoroughly with warm water and a cloth. Repeat the process until the stain is removed.
3. Mix fresh water with dish detergent to remove stubborn grease stains. Make sure you get all the soap out as you can create a layer on the floor that makes the situation worse.
Be aware that acids such as vinegar and other cleaning products erode natural stone tiles. Therefore, only use special neutral pH cleaners to safely clean stone tile floors. Mild dishwashing detergent, oxygenated water, cornstarch and baking soda are good natural cleaning options.
Do not forget to clean the grout
Never overlook the importance of grout, as shiny grout (e) will make your tile floors look bigger and newer. Before using commercial cleaners, try cleaning your grout with a simple mixture of baking soda and water:
1. Saturate the grout with the pasta.
2. Let the dough stand for a while or even at night, depending on how dirty it is.
3. Rub the grout with an old toothbrush.
4. Rinse pasta with warm water.
If your grout does not look as bright as you would like, you may use a non-toxic cleanser such as oxygenated bleach. Add water to the bleach powder based on the product instructions and rub the solution over the grout with the edge of a sponge. Repeat if necessary. Finally, rinse the floor with lukewarm water to remove the residue.
Whether you choose to use baking soda or oxygenated bleach, you must apply a grout protector after you finish cleaning, avoiding dirt in the future.
Like other areas of the house, the best maintenance is always the precaution. If you follow these steps and clean your tile floors regularly, you will look the same again in the coming years.