Austin SmithCeramic floor tiles look great when they are sparkling clean so it pays to know just how to get them looking like new in just a short time. Ingrained dirt will need some shifting, but when they are all clean again you will be happy you made an effort to learn how to clean it professionally.
Before anything else, the tiles should be swept, especially if you live in an area where sand or gritty soil gets tramped into the house. If this is not swept up it will etch the finish of the tiles and over time the dirt will ground itself into the tiles. In saying that, if you do live in beach areas the tiles should be swept at least once a day for that specific reason.
I still find the original ‘green cleaner’ (water and white distilled vinegar) does a wonderful job. Use these two in a 50/50 water/vinegar ratio and you will find that your tiles are left with a brilliant shine and no streaks.
The best type of setup for floor mopping is a self-wringing bucket and mop. These buckets save a lot of time, and when used the floor is not getting drenched with dirty water, but being washed with a damp wrung out mop. This combination of bucket and mop really do a great job.
Now, if you do find there are streaks, it is time to look at your cleaning equipment. If you have a reasonably large area of tiles, make sure you are using a clean solution regularly; if you’re not, dirt is just going to spread back onto the floor. If that is not the problem than does the mop head need replacing? If not, does it need a good wash with some water and vinegar to get rid of old residue?
A popular mix people use is Eucalyptus Oil and water. This mixture is both a cleaner and disinfectant and the Eucalyptus naturally perfumes the water. This combination is the best choice for cleaning if you have small children crawling on your floor; it does not contain harsh chemicals and will not harm them.
If you have old ingrained dirt in textured tiles then you will most likely have to use a nail brush to remove the dirt. After the initial deep clean, tiles should stay in good condition with routine maintenance.
Cleaning Grout
If you have problem areas of grout, leave full-strength white distilled vinegar on it for a few minutes then scrub the area with a toothbrush. If you cannot remove the stain, try using baking soda mixed with a little detergent (enough to form a paste), then rub it into the grout. Leave for a few minutes, scrub with a toothbrush and wipe clean.
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