Cleaning Tile Floors
Initially you must have been in a dilemma whether to install tiles for flooring or use hardwood. And then you made the decision of installing ceramic tiles for flooring in your new home. One of the biggest advantages of ceramic tiles over hardwood flooring is that the tiles are easier to clean and maintain. Many people find cleaning tiles a tedious task which is far from true. There are some simple, yet effective methods that help in cleaning tiles in less time.
Tips to Clean Tile Floors
Ceramic tiles are found in two varieties: the glazed ones and the unglazed ones. The glazed ones have a shiny coating on them and are easier to clean while the unglazed ones lack this coat and hence, are more prone to gathering dust and dirt. On the other hand, cleaning vinyl tiles is easier than cleaning ceramic ones. The following are tips and techniques used for cleaning ceramic tile floors.
- Vacuuming the floor is essential before cleaning tiles with suitable cleaners. Therefore, the first step is to sweep the tiles with a suitable duster to remove all the dust and dry dirt.
- Using tap water is the best floor cleaning method. You can simply use clean tap water and mop the floors. The mop or the cloth meant for cleaning should not be too wet.
- Tile floors cleaning with vinegar and water is the best way to get rid of the stains caused by foodstuffs or spills of any kind. You can make a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water and mop the floors with this water.
- Ammonia can also be used as a tile cleaner on several tiles, except ceramic ones. It is not advisable to use ammonia to clean ceramic tiles. You can add 2 tablespoons of ammonia in a bucket of water and use this solution to clean tiles.
- The ordinary detergent or soap used at home is another effective product for cleaning tile floors after installation.
- Lastly, if you have installed expensive ceramic tiles, you can find cleaning products directly from the manufacturer. It is recommended to read the instruction before using any such products.
- Steam cleaning can be done with the help of steam cleaning machines available in the market where high pressure water is used for cleaning.
Grout is more prone to discoloration as time passes. Unfortunately once the grout gets discolored, the tiles also seem untidy. The following are the techniques for cleaning grout in between the tiles.
- Hydrogen peroxide is the best way of cleaning grout from tiles. You can add cup of hydrogen peroxide to 1 cup of water and use this mixture to clean the grout.
- Tiles and grout can be cleaned effectively with the help of bleach. Before cleaning tiles with bleach, it is essential to rinse the floors first as bleach can cause reaction when used with other products.
- Hot water and vinegar can also be ued for cleaning grout from between the tiles. Make a mixture of vinegar and hot water and spray the mixture on the grout to clean it.
- You can even clean the grout merely by soap water and a toothbrush.
- Lastly, if the grout is completely discolored and cannot be altered, it is better to remove and re-install it.
