While your tile floor may look nice, it is there primarily for one purposes: to be walked on. The constant treading upon, combined with dust and other debris that end up on the floor, can cause it to get pretty dirty. Because a tile floor is made of different components (the tiles themselves and the grout in between) and different textures, cleaning it can be a difficult task.
The first step in making the cleaning of your tile floors easier is to maintain them properly. This means that you should give your tile floor a "mild" cleaning every now and then, instead of waiting for the grime to build up. The more often you clean the floor, the easier it will be.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that even the most minor spill or soiling should be wiped up immediately. For instance, you might not worry about coming instead from the rain and leaving a few wet footprints behind. However, even this small amount of water can, over time, cause damage to your tile floor.
There are a couple things you can do to keep the floor clean and in good shape. First, you should sweep it often, to preven dust and debris from getting settled. Any moisture that gets onto your floor can combine with the dust, resulting in grime. In addition to sweeping, using a damp mop is an easy way to keep to the floor well maintained. Rather than using strong chemical-based cleaners, this can be done just by using a soft dust mop and warm water. Simply dip the mop into a bucket of warm water, wring it out thoroughly, and go over the entire floor.
Cleaning
If your tile floor requires a more thorough cleansing, then you'll likely have to get down on the floor and do some serious scrubbing. There are many different cleaning solutions you can use to help you clean the tiles and grout, from chemical cleaners to more natural, homemade solutions. However, the type of tile floor you have will help determine what kind of cleaning product you use. Here are some tips to keep in mind when determining which cleaner is best for your floor:
- There are countless cleaning products available on the market. If you decide to use one of these, make sure you select a product that is designed for whichever type of tile you have.
- If you decide to make your own cleaning solution, do some research to make sure you won't cause any harm to the tiles. For instance, though vinegar can be used for cleaning vinyl tiles, it can seriously weaken marble or stone tiles.
- Textured tiles can get dirt caked into them. To make sure they're cleaned properly, you may have to scrub each tile individually.
- Cleaners with bleach or ammonia can affect the color of the grout between tiles. If you have colored grout, use a cleaner without those substances.
- Oxygen bleach, which is actually color-safe, is a great option for cleaning grout and the tiles as well.
Though it may be a hassle to clean your tile floor, sometimes it has to be done. After you give the floor a thorough cleaning, it will pay off to keep up with the maintenance described at the beginning of this guide. The more minor cleaning you do, the floor will be in better condition, and you won't have to do a major cleaning as often.