How to Get Dirty Floors White Again

Hither's Exactly How to Clean Your Tile Floors (No Matter the Material)

Have intendance of your tile floors with a gentle paw and a few smart cleaning techniques that will keep your tiles and grout looking like new. Learn how to clean your tile floors, how to clean tile grout, which cleaning products and tools to use and how often your floors need to be cleaned.

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Your kitchen or bath isn't fully clean until y'all've scrubbed the floors. Although you don't have to tackle this job every time you wipe down the countertops, information technology'due south important to keep an eye on your tile floors for signs of dirt or crud. A hazy film or muddy grout are both indicators that your floors need more a cursory sweeping. When it'southward fourth dimension to clean your tile floors, be sure to employ the proper technique for your type of tile as the recommended cleaners and mops vary between materials. These are the all-time ways to clean your tile floors no matter what material information technology's made of.

using cord mop on tile floor

How to Clean Tile Floors of All Types

You wouldn't wash a stainless-steel fridge with a cleaner meant for an enamel surface. The same concept applies to your tile. While tile floors are incredibly durable, certain kinds of tile need to exist cared for in a special way. Ceramic and porcelain floor tiles are fairly low maintenance, while coarse tiles such every bit slate, marble, granite, or limestone require individualized care and often specific cleaners.

Bath with blue and white plaid wallpaper

How to Clean Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Floors

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are incredibly durable, and a few easy cleaning tips can keep these types of floors looking sparkling. Follow this uncomplicated procedure to clean ceramic and porcelain tile:

1. Make clean up loose droppings: Sweep or vacuum your tile floors regularly to keep them from getting dull. Ceramic tiles may be resistant to dirt, but sand and grit can tedious the glazed surfaces.
2. Choose the right floor mop: Clean tile with mild detergent and clean water using a rag or chamois-type mop rather than a sponge mop. These mops are best for cleaning tile because sponge mops tend to push dirty water into the grout lines, making them harder to make clean. Be sure to modify the h2o frequently while mopping; dirty h2o equals a cloudy floor.
3. Be on the look for tile stains: If y'all find a discoloration, first try to make up one's mind what type of substance fabricated the stain. Employ the advisable cleaner for the stain for the most constructive make clean.
4. Lookout for soap residue: If your tiles await hazy even after cleaning, you might be dealing with soapy residue. Remove the film with a nonabrasive all-purpose cleaner. You could also try a homemade cleaner with balmy acid (such as fresh lemon juice) on ceramic or porcelain tiles (merely never on stone tiles).
5. Dry the tiles: Don't allow your glazed tile floors air-dry as the sitting water will form water spots. Accept care of that by drying the floor with a clean, lint-gratis cloth immediately after washing.

Editor'southward Tip: Be kind to your knees and dry out tiles the piece of cake way: Utilize your pes to slide the cloth over the floor.

master bath with dual sink and white tub plus blackness tile flooring

How to Make clean Stone Tile Floors

Be careful when you're working with natural stone tile like slate, granite or marble. Chemicals in traditional cleaners tin damage the surface of these materials. Instead, clean your stone tiles with cleaners made specifically for natural rock.

• Slate Tile: You may also use a mild detergent on slate tiles, equally long every bit it doesn't contain acidic properties, such as lemon or vinegar. If your slate tile is coated, avert water spots by drying the tile right abroad with a soft towel.
• Marble Tile:Marble makes stunning tile, but it'southward also high-maintenance. Avoid cleaning marble tile with annihilation that has an acidic PH level. Cleaners with lemon or vinegar should exist avoided, as they can etch the surface of the tile. Also stay away from anything that may scratch the marble, such as brushes with tough bristles or scouring powders.
• Granite Tile:Like slate and marble tile, granite tile needs to be cleaned with a mild detergent that is pH-neutral. A harsh cleaner risks leaving streaks or discoloration on the tile. You lot also may want to vitrify a polished granite floor to continue information technology looking shiny and clean.

black and white bathroom floor tiles

Credit: Adam Albright Photography Inc

How to Clean Resilient Tile Floors

Made from materials similar linoleum, vinyl, cork and safe, resilient tile is a keen selection if y'all want a surface that'due south piece of cake on the feet and needs minimal maintenance. Go on these tips in listen when cleaning your resilient tile floor:

• Vinyl Tile: This super resilient flooring type is too easy to maintain. Just sweep or vacuum up droppings and mop with a vinyl cleaning solution or water and vinegar. Never employ an abrasive cleaner or scrubbing tool on vinyl as it may scratch the surface.
• Linoleum Tile: Though it's often mistaken for vinyl flooring, linoleum is a very different material that has specific cleaning requirements. Later on sweeping or vacuuming, wash the linoleum tile with linoleum flooring cleaning solution or Borax detergent and water. Rinse make clean and permit the floor dry. To protect your linoleum floors, utilize a coat of wax or liquid wax and buff to a smooth every 3 to 6 months.
• Cork Tile: The cleaning care your cork tile needs volition vary based on the finish on your tiles. If the cork surface is sealed with polyurethane (nearly cork floors are), clean with water and mild detergent or white vinegar, and so rinse well. If the cork is unfinished or waxed, follow the cleaning instructions for polyurethane only apply solid or liquid wax once the tile is dry.

Editor's Tip: Never use a steam mop on whatsoever of these tile types. They are not designed to stand up upwardly to extreme heat or excess moisture.

cleaning tile floor with blue cleaning brush

How to Clean Tile Grout

The real hugger-mugger to a slap-up-looking tile floor is clean grout. Because grout is porous and absorbs grease and other stains, it tin exist tricky to keep clean. Here's how to get your grout to await similar new:

1. Make a DIY grout cleaner: Skip commercial cleaners and instead brand a paste of baking soda and water.
2. Scrub grout: Rub it on the stain, let information technology sit overnight, then scrub the stain in the morn with a potent nylon brush (a metal brush will impairment the grout). Echo as necessary.
3. Seal grout: Apply a silicone-based sealer to the grout to repel hereafter stains. This works all-time when done 10-fourteen days subsequently the grout is installed or renewed.

Note: In that location's a lot of argue almost whether yous should use a steam cleaner to "deep clean" your tile grout. Some say it's a swell way to revive dirty tile, while other pros say it can damage your grout in the long run. A steam mop typically won't impairment grout that's in adept shape and sealed, but if your floor is older or the grout is damaged in any mode, the steam could accelerate the damage and may crusade pitting and discoloration over time. Frequent use could also increment your risk of damage.

How Ofttimes to Make clean Tile Floors

To go on your tile looking make clean and residue-costless, we recommend a regular cleaning schedule of both dry and wet cleaning.

• Dry make clean: Vacuum or sweep at least one time a week or whenever y'all can visibly come across (or feel) debris. A soft-bristle vacuum attachment can exist used on tile floors of any type, but it may be difficult to fit it into corners or tight spaces. Use a mitt broom and dustpan to finish the job.
• Wet make clean: Plan to mop the tile floor in your kitchen once every two weeks and your bathroom tile floor once a week (germs tend to build up in bathrooms). Take the fourth dimension to spot make clean your grout once every few months or whenever it'southward looking dingy.

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Source: https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/how-to-clean-tile-floors/

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