Different things need different care and so does your flooring. Your ceramic tiles might be one of those floorings that needs the least care and attention, however, they do get dirty and pick stains. If they are left unattended then they will start deteriorating sooner than expected. Hence we have these tips to clean your ceramic tile floors like a pro and keep them looking new and shiny. Learn how to clean your ceramic tile floors, how to clean tile grout lines, which cleaning tools and products to use and how often your floors need to be cleaned.
Your kitchen or bathroom might not feel very clean until you have scrubbed the floor with a cleaning fluid, disinfectant or soap. However, doing that every day might not be possible for everyone and definitely not required on a daily basis. You might do a cursory sweeping on a regular basis but keep an eye out for a hazy film on the tiles or a dirty grout line.
Let us point out some pro tips from our in house flooring experts that will help you take over cleaning your ceramic tile floors like a pro.
How to Clean Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Floors– Top DIY Tips
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are incredibly durable (check out the Pros and Cons of Ceramic here), and a few easy cleaning tips can keep these types of floors looking sparkling. Follow these simple steps to clean ceramic tiles and keep them looking like new. :
Let’s Get the Correct Cleaning Tools for Your Ceramic
There are multiple types of mops available in the market, however, not all types of mops work for tiles. Choose a rag or chamois type of floor mop rather than a sponge type mop. Sponge mops can push the dirty water onto the grout lines and make them dirtier. Usually, you would clean a ceramic tile floor with mild detergent or soap and water. Be sure to change the water frequently while mopping; dirty water equals a dirty unhygienic floor.
Dust, sand and Loose Debris
Sweep and vacuum regularly to keep your ceramic tiles looking clean and shiny. Ceramic tiles are dust resistant, however sand, and grit can end up dulling the glazed surfaces.
Soap Residue can make your floor look patchy
Soap and hard water might leave marks and stains on your shiny ceramic to make them look patchy and bad. However, they are not difficult to take care of and you could remove the film with a nonabrasive all-purpose cleaner. Or, you could just use a homemade cleaner made up of some lemon juice and water.
Tiles need some drying
Your ceramic tiles should be wiped with a lint-free cloth or mop immediately after your wet mopping or washing. Wet ceramic tiles, will develop stains and watermarks if allowed to air dry and make them look discolored and patchy.
Tiles are easy to clean but a clean grout is a key to great looking Ceramic floor
Tiles are glazed and are easy to clean, the difficult part is the porous and absorbent grout. Grout can quickly become dirty and black and be a show stopper. We already discussed ways to avoid getting them dirty, but here are a few more pro DIY cleaning tips for a clean grout.
You can use a DIY grout cleaner with a paste of baking soda and water. Apply this to the grout and leave them overnight. You can then scrub them off the next morning with a nylon brush. A hard metal brush will damage the grout.
You might also want to seal the grout with a silicone-based sealer to repel future stains. This works best when done 10-14 days after the grout is installed or renewed.
A simple regular routine of dry and wet cleaning routine will help you keep your ceramic tile floors looking like new, shiny and stain free.
Dry cleaning routine
Vacuum or sweeping is your best bet here. Do a weekly routine of vacuuming using a soft bristle attachment to remove the dust and debris on the dry floors. Use a broom and dustpan for the corners or for those small jobs as soon as you see them.
Wet cleaning routine
Plan to mop the tile floor in your kitchen once every two weeks and your bathroom tile floor once a week (germs tend to build up in bathrooms). Take the time to spot clean your grout once every few months or whenever it’s looking dingy.
Tips to Clean Your Ceramic Tile Floor
- Let’s Get the Correct Cleaning Tools for Your Ceramic- Mop is better than a sponge
- Dust, sand and Loose Debris- Remove them with weekly sweeping
- Soap Residue can make your floor look patchy- Clean them with lemon and water
- Tiles need some drying- Dry them with a lint-free cloth
- Groth Cleaning- With baking soda paste
- Dry cleaning routine- Weekly vacuuming or sweeping
- Wet cleaning routine- Scrub with mild detergent and water