Top Ways to Take Care of Your Ceramic Tile Floors
A well-maintained tile floor can perfectly combine style with function and uplift the feel and look of your home. But you must be careful when choosing cleaning products because deep cleaning your floor tiles with some cleaning agents can cause discoloration or dullness. Also, debris, dirt, and spills can lead to unwanted grout lines in your tile floors if not regularly cleaned and maintained.
Before jumping onto floor cleaning and maintenance, you must know what floor material you have. You cannot use the same cleaning product on the tile floor as on the ceramic floor. The damage done can be irreversible in certain cases. No matter the floor material, it can hide dirt, bacteria, and other microorganisms, leading to serious health problems.
What Are Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles?
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are both manufactured from clay. They differ mainly in how they are processed and finished. Both types of tile are used in kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas like patios and decks. While porcelain tiles are generally more expensive than regular ceramic tiles, they are much easier to work with because they require less installation skill.
The most common type of ceramic tile is called “regular” or “standard” ceramic tile. This tile is usually sold pre-glazed and ready to go. Regular ceramic tile is typically installed over a cement backer board and sealed with a clear sealant. A grout line is added between each tile.
A different type of ceramic tile is known as “porcelain” tile. Porcelain tiles are very durable and easy to clean. They are also available in many colors and patterns. Porcelain tiles come pre-glazed and are installed directly onto a subfloor without a cement backer board. Porcelain tiles must be sealed with a special sealing product.
While there are many benefits to installing ceramic or porcelain flooring, there are some drawbacks. For example, porcelain tiles are heavier than regular ceramic tiles. Also, porcelain tiles do not conform well to uneven floors. If you plan to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, consider adding a layer of concrete under the porcelain tiles to ensure a level installation.
1. Regular Floor Cleaning
Although ceramic tiles are easy to maintain, some extensive cleaning techniques, like scrubbing using steel wool, can scratch the tiles easily. Hence, for regular cleaning, it is recommended that you sweep, vacuum, or mop using any mild cleaning agent mixed with warm water to wipe your tiles.
This should be done at least once a week to prevent the buildup of grime, skin shells, debris, and animal hair on the floor. Make sure you get into the corners where dirt tends to pile up.
Since all kinds of flooring materials, be they tiles or mosaics, are susceptible to being infected by bacteria and dust, regular cleaning is necessary. Using dusters and wipers can control the growth of germs and prevent dust particles from scratching the tiles. This also keeps allergens and pathogens from spreading through the air.
2. Use Flexible Mops For Reaching all Corners
When cleaning an office area or your bedroom, one can miss out on some nooks and corners. These are the spots where germs get the chance to outgrow over time. Some flexible mops can then come to your rescue. They can get into the corners of your house or office and clean up the unattended/forgotten areas.
3. Use a Floor Steam Cleaner
I have recently bought a steam mop for this exact job. The tiles in my bathroom are white, and the original grout was white. However, the previous owner decided to paint the grout black for strange reasons. I bought a steam mop from Amazon and, along with the knife, removed all of the black paint and cleaned the white grout so that it was back to normal.
How To Deep Clean The Tiles
Ceramic flooring is one of those things you don’t think about unless something goes wrong. But it does go wrong sometimes. And when it does, it needs some serious attention. It’s easy enough to do yourself, though, with a few tools and a little elbow grease. You might even find that doing it yourself saves money over paying someone else to do it for you.
The key to removing stubborn stains on your ceramic floor tiles is to start with the most obvious ones. Dirt and dust tend to stick to the tile’s surface, making it easier to wipe off. So take care of the big stuff first.
After that, try to figure out what caused the stain in the first place. Was it food? Sweat? Did something spill on the floor? Whatever happened, there’s a good chance that it wasn’t permanent. A quick scrub with warm water and soap will usually help loosen up whatever stuck to the tile. Then rinse it off thoroughly.
If that doesn’t work, you can always use a chemical soak with a mild detergent. There are plenty of options, including Tile Doctor’s Deep Cleanse Plus product. This solution contains enzymes that break down the toughest grime and stains. Just make sure you follow the instructions carefully. Don’t let the mixture sit too long, or it could cause damage to the finish.
Once everything looks good, give the whole area a thorough once-over. Make sure every square inch gets cleaned, and check the grout lines. If anything seems out of place, fix it immediately. Otherwise, it’s likely to continue growing over time.
And finally, seal the floor. Ceramic tile picks up moisture pretty easily, so it’s important to keep it dry. Use a damp cloth to apply a thin layer of wax. Follow the directions on the label, and allow the wax to dry completely before walking on it. If you want to add a couple of coats, feel free. Remember, the more layers you put on, the harder it will be to buff out later.
How To Clean Grout
For working professionals, focusing on the details isn’t always possible. This can lead them to miss out on the grease-absorbing grout every time they do their regular cleaning. It also isn’t affordable to hire a cleaning service too often. It’s often the grout that removes the shine of your tile floors.
What you must then do is devise a cleaning method yourself. You can make a paste of baking soda and water, apply it on the grout and let it sit overnight. The next morning, you wet a soft-bristle brush and scrub the grout with it. Repeat this process for a few days until the grout returns its original color. The application of a silicon-based sealer can prevent future stains.
How to Clean Ceramic Tile After Grouting?
Ceramic tiles require grout to hold the individual pieces together. Grout is a porous material that helps make the tiles stick together. Once grouted, however, grout can become stained or dirty over time. And while some stains can be wiped away with a clean towel, others can cause permanent damage to the surface. Use a homemade grout cleaner and a clean cloth to clean.
How To Clean Stains In The Grout
Wear a decent pair of gloves if you think of using chemicals to clean the grout. Use a sponge with a rough surface and warm soapy water to scrub the grout. If this fails after several attempts, you may need a stronger solution. make sure you have gloves if you use any domestic solutions.
Use fresh water to wipe away and wash the grout after cleaning it, and then use a soft dry cloth to clean the grout and check your work. You could also use a spray bottle to clear the dirty grout surface you are cleaning.
Hire a Professional Cleaner For Deep Cleaning
Cleaning the house daily can be a difficult task for working professionals. This increases the chances of your place being infected and developing unwanted clutter. A professional cleaning service can then come to your rescue. The trained professionals use their skills to understand the requirements of your place.
They use special skills and equipment, like a rotary scrubber, to clean and polish floors. They use cleaning products suitable for your floor tiles. Their cleaning devices and techniques can clean grout lines and make the floor shine.
Some Best Practices
Clean Regular
One should make it a habit to sweep, vacuum, or damp mop the floors regularly to avoid dirt and dust from getting embedded in the tile and grit from dulling your floor’s glaze. Make sure that dirt and spills do not get a chance to settle on the tile floors.
Try to do a spot test with your choice of detergent or cleaning solution to prevent permanent damage. Regular cleaning does not necessitate equipment, such as a tile floor cleaner machine, but boosts your tile’s gloss and shine.
Change Water Frequently
While mopping, change the hot water as soon as it gets cloudy to avoid leaving a film of grime on the tile. This is the same as you would when you wash a car. You do not want to add dirty water to your floor, which makes no sense.
Prevent Water Spots
When mopping, squeezing out the excess water when you dip the rag into the solution or water is essential. It is essential to avoid excessive water as on drying; it can lead to water spots. The mop should be damp and not soaking.
Try white vinegar or soda to remove excess spots. If water or soap residue builds up, your tiles look hazy and discolored. If your tile is prone to forming water spots, it is best to dry it with a clean, dry cloth as soon as you finish mopping.
Take Care of Your Grout
Seal the grout after you have installed your tiles. This keeps dirt and other unwanted elements from being able to penetrate the grout. If you leave your grout unprotected, it may develop mold and soon get dirty. By cleaning it regularly, you can keep it as it should be.
Repair or Replace Damaged Floors
Damaged tiles can accumulate dirt and dust, distracting your mind from the elegantly tiled floor. So repair or replace a cracked or damaged tile as soon as possible. Tiles tend to brake when not fitted properly to the surface, and a heavy foot can cause this easily. Nothing is worse than broken tiles, especially if you have young children, as the particles are sharp and can cause injury.
Avoid accidents
Kitchen and bathroom tiles are easily damaged by dropping items from cupboards onto the floor. The tiles in our kitchen are mustard, but underneath the topcoat, they are dark grey tiles. The chipped tiles look terrible, and it always looks like the floor is dirty around the sink and cooker area due to the chips on the floor.
Choose a Good Quality Tile
Our biggest mistake for our floor was choosing a tile that chipped easily and left a dark mark when it was chipped. Our house has a beige tile, and it looks terrible where it has chipped. It looks as if the floor needs cleaning all the time.
make sure you enquire about the color of the tile and choose a tile that does not chip easily, and you can repair the chip with some paint that matches. Otherwise, you will have small dark patches all over your floors.
This is an excellent and popular video showing you how to clean your kitchen tiles.
Conclusion
Tiled floors always make for an impressive flooring option. It is elegant, cost-effective, and designed to last. Although cleaning the house isn’t a difficult task if done regularly, the only obstacle that comes in the way is time and efficiency.
Regular maintenance may leave the floor looking spick and span but lacks the equipment and techniques to remove the microscopic germs hidden undercover or between the tiles. When you hire a professional cleaning service for a scheduled deep cleaning, they not only disinfect your floors but also sanitize the carpets, curtains, and upholstery. This makes your house a healthy place and restores the glow of your floors for a longer period.
What about some fancy floor cushions or other floor ideas for your home decor.