Clean Tile Flooring

Tile flooring is a durable choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas of the home that might get wet from time to time. With the proper care, tile flooring can look like new for years. Learn basic tile flooring care, deep cleaning techniques, and how to clean stained grout. These techniques are appropriate for both ceramic and faux tile flooring. Also, don't forget not to over clean.

Steps

Basic Tile Flooring Care

  1. Sweep or vacuum the floor daily. This removes loose dirt, food crumbs and other pieces of debris that can accumulate on tile floors. Dirt that is allowed to sit in wet areas can quickly turn into hard-to-remove grime.
    • You should also sweep or vacuum the floor before mopping or cleaning it.
    • Run a dry cloth duster or dust mop over the floors after they have been swept.
  2. Mop the floor with warm water. If the floor doesn't have stains or require heavy cleaning, running a damp mop over the floor will be sufficient to keep it clean. Cleanse the mop in fresh warm water after mopping one section of the room, and repeat until the entire floor is mopped.
    • For everyday shine, simply run a clean damp dusting cloth over the floor.
  3. Dry the floor. Whether you use water or water mixed with detergent, run a dry mop over the floor when you're finished mopping. This will prevent new dirt from quickly accumulating and staining the grout.
  4. Clean up spills promptly. If you drop a glass of juice or even water, clean it up right away. The longer it sits, the more time it will have to soak into the grout. Dried orange juice and other sugary liquids also tend to become annoyingly sticky.
  5. Clean the dirtier spills with disinfectant. If your pet has an accident or you drop raw meat on the floor, spray a disinfectant directly over the spot and wipe it up right away.
    • If possible, limit the disinfectant to the area where the spill occurred. Strong chemicals may degrade or stain tile flooring.

Deep Cleaning Techniques

  1. Mop the floor with warm water and a vinegar solution. Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with a gallon of water and proceed to mop as usual. If the floor still doesn't look as clean as you would like, mop the floor again using fresh water and detergent.
    • Rinse the floor with clean warm water after you are done washing it. It is important to remove all residual soap from the tiles so it doesn't remain on the floor to attract and hold dirt.
    • Do not use vinegar or chemicals on marble flooring. See How to Clean Marble for information on safely cleaning stone floors.
  2. Remove stains from tile floors. If a spill is left to sit for awhile, it can stain your tile floor. Make a paste to spot clean the area.
    • Prepare a paste using a 50/50 mixture of scouring powder and warm water.
    • Rub the paste on the stain using a clean cloth, and then allow it to sit for five to 10 minutes.
    • Scrub the area with a soft brush, then wash the area with warm water and a cloth to remove all remains of the paste.
    • Repeat the process if the stain is still visible.
  3. Clean mildew from tile floors. Tile floors in bathrooms tend to get mildew sometimes. The best prevention method is to air out the room after you've showered and keep the floors dry. If mildew does accumulate, an ammonia solution should take care of it.
    • Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands. Make sure the room is well ventilated.
    • Prepare a 50/50 solution of water and ammonia.
    • Scrub the area using a soft brush and the ammonia solution.
    • Rinse the floor with clean water after the mildew is gone.
  4. Remove rust spots from tile floors. You probably won't have to do this often, but if you do, cleaning with kerosene does the trick on rust.
    • Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands.
    • Dampen a clean cloth with kerosene.
    • Rub the rust stain away using the kerosene rag.
    • Wash the area with warm water to remove residual rust and kerosene, then repeat the process if the rust is not entirely gone.

Cleaning Grout in Tile Flooring

  1. Try a pencil eraser. This household trick is great for cleaning small sections of stained grout. Simply run the eraser of a number 2 pencil over the stain until it is gone. Use a clean white or pink eraser.
  2. Use baking soda. Most dirty grout can be brightened using this natural method.
    • Make a paste with baking soda and water.
    • Apply it to the dirty grout using an old toothbrush. Scrub the paste into the grout well.
    • Wash the grout with warm water when you are finished.
    • For the tougher stains, allow the paste to sit for a few minutes before you start scrubbing.
  3. Remove tougher stains with bleach. If natural methods don't work, try a bleach solution.
    • Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands.
    • Mix a 75/25 solution of bleach and water if your grout is white. If the grout is colored, you will have to use plain water. Do not use bleach on colored grout as it may remove the coloring.
    • Use a toothbrush or the edge of a sponge to clean the grout with the solution. Take care not to get the bleach solution on the tiles.
    • Rinse the floor with warm water after you are done to remove all traces of bleach.
    • After the floor is completely dry, carefully apply a coat of grout sealer to the grout between the tiles, to prevent it from absorbing dirt in the future.

Tips

  • You can also purchase a grout brush from the hardware store that is designed for cleaning grout on tile floors.
  • Hand washing and drying one section of a tile floor at a time often provides better results than mopping.

Related Articles

  • Clean a Floor

Sources and Citations

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