Tile Floor Cleaning Tips

Cleaning your tile floors is simple, but so many people ignore it. They wait until the tile floor gets so dirty they can’t stand it any longer. The problem is that harsh chemicals are bad for almost every floor. You also have to work harder to get the floor clean. Maintenance cleaning will often save you serious hands-and-knees scrubbing (think “Mommy Dearest” bathroom scene, wasn't that fun?)!

No matter what type of material makes up your tile flooring, maintenance cleaning is the same:

• Dust or Sweep Often
• Damp Mop Your Tile Floors Weekly

First, get a fluffy, soft dust mop. Purchase a quality product where the dust mop part can be removed and washed. You can save money by throwing it in the wash when it gets dirty, and it can be replaced when needed. Swiffer and comparable disposable cloth dusters are great inventions, but I don’t recommend them for most floors. The cloth pushes around the dirt, often grinding it across the tile floor, which causes scratches in the surface. These dusters also can’t get into the grout on ceramic tile floors. Invest your money instead in a dust mop, a rubber prong broom, or a vacuum attachment for bare floors. They are all simple to use. Your tile floor will look much better and last longer.

Damp mopping is very simple and effective, however so few people do it! Imagine not applying harsh chemicals to your floor, not having to breathe in fumes, but still getting your floors clean. Usually, a damp mop is all it takes. You might think that a damp mop won’t get your floor clean enough. Unless you are rubbing raw chicken around on your floor or are growing bacteria in the corner as some sort of science fair project, it will usually get your floors clean – especially if you would otherwise put off cleaning them at all until they are “dirty enough.”

Pet accidents, dropped food, and other bacterial spills should be cleaned immediately with an actual cleanser when they happen. For weekly maintenance, however, you will probably be shocked at what a damp mop can do!

Fill a bucket with clean, warm water. Dip your mop in and wring it out. If you have vinyl or laminate flooring, wring it out twice. Then mop your floor. When the water starts to get dirty, dump out the water and refill the bucket with more. It’s simple, and for the average floor, that’s all you need!

When a stronger cleaning is required, try these homemade formulas:

Ceramic Tile Floors

The tile part of your floor will almost always get clean with a damp mop. It’s the grout that’s usually the problem for people with ceramic tile floors. You can try a capful of rubbing alcohol in 1 gallon of water. This will usually work well to clean the grout and the tile.

Stone Flooring

Stone tiles can be fragile and will usually require a special cleaner. Acids like vinegar will destroy marble tiles! If you want a homemade alternative to a special stone flooring cleaner, try a mild solution of dish soap and water. You only have to go over it with plain water afterward if you’ve used too much soap making the surface slick or sticky.

Professional Cleaning

Regular professional tile cleaning is important to the life and look of your tile or stone floor. Superior Carpet and Tile Care can make your old tile floor look great and give you that deep down clean feeling. We also apply a sealer that helps maintain that clean feeling, makes clean ups easier and protects the tile and grout between professional cleanings. Contact Superior Carpet & Tile Care for more information or  ask for a free proposal.