7 Ways to Clean and Maintain Tile Floors

You have a myriad of choices when choosing the flooring for your home. The most popular choice is tile because of its beauty and it's easy maintenance. Cleaning tile floors may sound like a tiresome chore, but it is really quite easy. Here are some steps that will help keep your floor looking nice.

Vacuum and Dust

Use a vacuum or a fluffy dust mop daily to remove dust and dirt before it becomes embedded in your tile and grout. This is the easiest and fastest way to maintain your flooring. Never use a straw broom for the job, though, because it will scratch your tiles.

Mop it Up

Mop your floor with warm water once a week. You can also use a mild soap to enhance your tile’s color, shine and gloss. Make sure to check with the manufacturer before using any cleansers to avoid damaging your tiles.

Don’t forget to dry your floor right after damp mopping to avoid accidents, as well as to prevent new dirt from settling into the wet area.

Clean up Spills ASAP

Use absorbent cloths to wipe up spills to avoid dirt collection and slipping. Plus, it’ll reduce the chances of stains building up on your tile.

Use a cleanser or disinfectant to clean dirtier spills. Raw meat and egg spills require a more aggressive cleaning to prevent bacteria from setting into your tiles. Since the chemicals may dull the tiles, it might be a good idea to mop the area with water.

Use Doormats

Place doormats on both sides of the doors that lead in and out of your home. This will eliminate mud or water from getting tracked indoors during inclement weather. If you have floor tiling in your bathroom, use a bath mat to keep your tiles dry.

Add Some Area Rugs

Place area rugs or runners in areas that receive high foot traffic. This can prevent dulling, scratches and dirt build-up that will occur in areas such as the entryway or family room.

Give them a Deep Clean

Use deep cleaning solutions every so often. This will help remove stains and greasy residue without damaging your tiles. Mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with a gallon of warm water. This natural approach is especially useful for kitchens. If you don’t have vinegar on hand, you can substitute it with a 1/2 cup of plain rubbing alcohol.

Fresh water and dish detergent will help remove hard grease from your flooring. A half-and-half scouring power and warm water solution will remove stains.

Pay Attention to the Grout

Don’t forget to clean your grout. You don’t have to go out and buy special cleaners for this job. Simply create a paste mixture with baking soda and water. Spread the paste onto the grout and let it sit overnight, then use an old toothbrush to scrub the grout. Rinse the paste off with warm water when you are finished cleaning.

If you follow these steps regularly, your tile floors will hold up very well over the years.