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(401) 496-9106Are you a homeowner wondering, what is the best cleaning solution for ceramic tile floors? If so, you’re certainly not alone! Ceramic tile offers a durable, attractive surface under foot but needs proper cleaning to avoid damage and clouding. Additionally, the wrong cleansers can leave behind a sticky, unpleasant film that only attracts more dirt.
Above all, the right cleaning methods can help extend the life of your home’s tile, hardwoods, and carpeting! Regular cleaning also ensures a more hygienic space and improved indoor air quality. With all these in mind, check out some cleaning solutions for your home’s ceramic tile floors.
First, note that plain water is often very effective for cleaning ceramic tile! Second, ensure you sweep the tile before cleaning, to remove as much abrasive debris as possible. Third, always mix store-bought cleansers according to their directions. Never assume that a stronger solution is somehow more effective at cleaning tile floors!
Additionally, you might use a stiff brush or another tool on an unobtrusive area of tile before your entire floor. This simple step can alert you to damage caused by improper tools and materials!
In addition to sweeping your tile floors, use a credit card or plastic knife to remove any stuck-on debris. Don’t use anything sharp on the floors, as this can scratch tile and loosen grout. Also, ensure you use a clean mop every time you’re ready to tackle those floors. Dirt, grit, and grime clinging to a mop can just make those floors even dirtier than before!
Start with a clean bucket and fill it about 3/4 full with warm water. Next, add a half cup of white vinegar. Lastly, give it a good squirt of dish soap, using a brand without added moisturizers. Stir this mixture gently until the dish soap dissolves.
Then, mop your ceramic tile floors with this mixture. Rinse the mop head with clean, warm water before putting it back into the soap bucket! Lastly, run a clean, damp mop head over the floors to remove the soap mixture. Run your mop under hot water and rinse the floors as often as needed to remove all soapy residues.
After rinsing, you can allow the floors to air dry. However, running a clean rag over them will prevent water spots. Also, this last step will help remove even more dirt, dust, and other debris. You can also check the rag for dirt levels and note if the floors need another mopping!
Your tile won’t look clean if the grout holding them together is dirty, dingy, and dull! Unfortunately, grout might not respond to cleaners used for tile. However, you can try a few simple homemade cleaning products and get that grout sparkling white once again.
First, mix a bucket of clean, warm water with oxygenated bleach, following the instructions on the bleach packaging. Second, use a spray bottle or scrub brush and apply the bleach mixture to those grout lines. Lastly, let the mixture sit on the grout lines for at least 30 minutes, to help loosen dirt and grime.
After soaking, use an old toothbrush to scrub the grout and push the mixture even deeper into the material. Use a clean, damp towel to wipe up this mixture as you go rather than letting it sit on the grout. Then, rinse all the grout with a clean, damp mop and repeat this process as needed. Consider adding a grout sealer after cleaning, to help keep grout clean.
The best way to make a ceramic tile floor shine is by using a simple soap and water solution for cleaning! Add a generous squirt of dishwashing liquid to a bucket of warm water and mop the floors vigorously. Next, rinse with a clean, damp mop.
Doing this every day or several days throughout the week will help remove dirt and grime that dull ceramic tile. Also, use a soft-bristled scrub brush to remove built-up dirt in areas as needed. Lastly, add a ceramic tile sealer to keep the floors clean and shiny!
Vinegar won’t damage ceramic tile as long as you use it correctly and don’t overdo it! Vinegar overuse strips protective coatings from ceramic tile and dries out grout and adhesives. However, in the right mixture, vinegar not only cleans but also kills germs, bacteria, and mold.
To use vinegar on your floors, combine a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray this on your floors in a generous amount and let it sit for several minutes. Next, use a damp cloth or wet mop to pull up the mixture and dirt. For heavily soiled areas, use undiluted vinegar and this same process.
When using vinegar, ensure you rinse it thoroughly. This step will keep it from stripping floors and help remove its acrid smell. This can be an effective solution for ceramic tile floors but be advised, if the combination isn't correct you may do more harm than good.
Baking soda is an excellent choice for getting stains out of ceramic tile! Add baking soda to water and mix it into a thick paste. Next, rub this paste onto the stain with a stiff-bristled brush. Lastly, wipe it away with a clean, damp cloth, and repeat as needed.
Also, peroxide is an excellent choice for cleaning stains, especially blood, red wine, and markers. Squirt some peroxide on the stain and let it sit and then wipe with a cloth. You can also add peroxide to your baking soda paste mentioned above! Use an old toothbrush or scrubbing brush and push this into the stain, then wipe away.
Above all, try to avoid stains on tile floors in the first place with regular floor sealant. Adding sealant every year or as needed means an extra layer of protection against stains. Regular mopping also helps remove food debris and other messes before they can stain your floors.
First note that professionals often have access to heavy-duty cleaning solutions not always sold in mass market stores. Second, professionals might use scrubbers and other machinery to get tile clean and pristine. Lastly, a floor cleaning pro will have experience and knowhow when it comes to cleaning tile safely yet effectively.
With this in mind, you might note how a professional cleans tile and grout. First, he or she will sweep and even vacuum the floor, to remove loose debris. Next, a contractor will use a damp rag or mop on the floor, to pull up even more dirt.
Applying floor cleaner is next. Note, commercial cleaners often have the same materials as you use yourself. For example, many commercial cleaners use peroxide, oxygenated bleach, or baking soda. Then, a commercial floor cleaning contractor might use a heavy-duty brush to scrub the floor. Also, he or she might use a steam cleaner to loosen dirt and debris.
Lastly, your floor cleaning contractor will typically extract all that dirt and grime. They might use the same extracting wand as used for carpet shampooing. However, some will use a damp mop or cloth, for thorough cleaning.
In addition to cleaning, a professional contractor will usually add a coat of sealant. As said, this offers an added layer of protection for the floor, protecting it from dirt and damage. They might also apply spot cleaners to dirty grout, to ensure a clean appearance.
Homeowners should avoid using a steam cleaner on their tile floors. One reason for this is that steam can loosen grout and other adhesives. Two, steam is dangerous and can risk injury to the skin and eyes! Instead, use hot water, baking soda, and vinegar to remove ingrained dirt from floor tiles.
Start by adding hot water to a bucket and using a clean mop to apply the water to the floor. Next, add hot water and white vinegar to a spray bottle in a 50-50 mix. Let this solution sit for about five minutes and then remove with a damp mop. Lastly, apply peroxide to tough stains and wipe off, for a thorough clean.
Note, if this doesn’t clean your floors thoroughly, repeat the process but use a scrub brush instead of a damp mop. Ensure you rinse and extract all your cleaners off the floor. Consequently, they should be sparkling clean and look like new.
Pine-Sol is safe for ceramic tile; however, it can eat away at grout between those tiles! In turn, avoid diluting Pine-Sol in a bucket and using it over the entire floor. Instead, make up a small mixture and dab it on dirty areas with a rag.
Afterward, ensure you rinse all the Pine-Sol off the floor. You might also want to use hot water to rinse, to ensure a thorough clean. Additionally, hot water can reduce the smell of Pine-Sol, which many homeowners find to be somewhat overpowering.
Bleach is one of the most effective disinfectants for tile floors and is very affordable as well! To use bleach on your floors, pour 1/3 cup chlorine bleach into a gallon of warm water. Next, mop the floor with this solution. Ensure you overlap each stroke for maximum cleaning and disinfecting.
Let the solution sit on your tile floor for five to ten minutes. Then, rinse with a clean, damp mop. Go over the floor as often as needed to remove all bleach residues. Drying the floor with a clean rag can also help avoid water marks.
To keep your home’s floors as clean as possible, avoid wearing outdoor shoes inside the house. Also, clean those floors regularly, especially in high traffic areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. A homeowner might also keep a spray bottle of floor cleaner on hand. You can then spray dirty areas and wipe that dirt away between full-scale mopping!
Sealant is also an excellent choice for keeping dirt out of tile pits and pores. If you’re not sure how to add sealant or when it’s been added last, call a floor cleaning contractor. He or she can check the condition of your floors and note if they need cleaning and sealing. They also know the best cleaning solution for ceramic tile floors when they complete the job.
Ceramic floor tile is known for its durability and strength. However, it’s not indestructible! Check out some common causes of damage and how to keep that tile in good condition over the years:
Lastly, consider that regular cleaning by a pro also helps protect tile floors! Deep cleaning and sealing remove damaging dirt while protecting tile against wear and tear. This service ensures your floors always look their best!
Carpet Cleaners of Rhode Island is happy to give you information on the best cleaning solution for ceramic tile floors. Hopefully, you found it helpful! For expert floor care, call our Rhode Island carpet cleaning contractors. We’ll schedule a FREE quote and ensure a thorough clean you’re sure to love.