Installing new flooring in your home is one of the easiest ways to boost the resale value of your house. In fact, new tile floors have about 70% ROI. While flooring is a great investment for your home, it also needs to be properly maintained to last.
This way, your new floors will look new for much longer! Do you want to learn more about how to clean tile floors?
Keep reading this article for the top tile cleaning tips and tricks.
Get the Right Materials
One of the most important parts of cleaning your tile is getting the right materials. Most of these can already be found in your home.First, you will need a broom or a vacuum to remove the dirt and debris from your tile floors. Then, you will need a mop, a cleaning solution, a bucket, and a dry cloth.
When you are mopping your tile floors, you need to make sure that you are not using an abrasive scrubber. Otherwise, this can scratch the surface of your tile floor and cause them to look dull.
It is also important that you find a safe cleaner that is not abrasive. Otherwise, you can break down the protective seal of your stone tile and make them more likely to get stained and scratched.
Sweep the Tile Twice a Week
Next, you need to start by sweeping or vacuuming your tile floors at least once a week. This is because dirt, dust, and other debris accumulate quickly. If you don't clean this regularly, you will track this across your tile.Because they are all so gritty, tracking these around can also dull the surface of your tile. Plus, sweeping before you mop your tile will make it easier to clean.
Remove Residue & Check for Stains
After you finish sweeping, you should inspect your tile for stains and other residues that need to be removed. If you notice any stains on your tile, you must spot clean them as soon as possible.Otherwise, it may set in and permanently damage your tile. To clean stains from your tile, you can wash it with hot water and then blot the area with hydrogen peroxide.
If you notice any sticky residue on your tiles, you can use an old credit card to remove them without damaging the tile.
Mop With a Gentle Cleanser
Next, you can start mopping your tile! Start by creating a mixture of your cleanser and warm water. Then, you can dip a soft cloth or mop into the mixture. Make sure you squeeze out the excess water.Then, you can simply start mopping. It is easiest to follow a pattern as you mop to make sure you do not miss any areas of your tile. After a few mop strokes, make sure you rinse your mop out in the bucket.
First, you can start mopping with the cleaning solution. After, you should mop your tile with clean water to keep it from feeling sticky.
Change Out Your Water & Cleanser
While you rinse out your mop, the water will gradually get dirtier. To make sure you aren't using a dirty mop, make sure you regularly change the water and cleanser from your bucket.Otherwise, you may be left with tile that has a film of dirt on it, even after you clean it.
Deep Clean the Grout Once Every Few Months
Another important part of cleaning your tile floors is deep cleaning your grout once every month or two. Even if your tiles are clean, having dirty grout will make the rest of your floors look dingy.Cleaning the grout will make your floors look brand new.
There are a few different ways you can clean your grout. First, you can make a mixture of bleach and water and spray it on the grout. Simply let it sit for a few minutes before you rinse it off!
If your grout is really dirty, you can also use an old toothbrush or scrubber to get into the grooves of your tile.
If you don't want to use bleach for your grout, there are other cleaning mixtures that you can buy from the store that are meant specifically for grout cleaning.
Finally, you can use a grout steam cleaner. Not only will the hot steam sanitize your grout, but it will also make it much easier to clean. Rather than scrubbing with a brush, the steamer will do the work for you.
Plus, this will remove deep stains and will leave your grout looking brand new! If you are using a harsh chemical for your grout, make sure you rinse it off thoroughly.
Dry the Floor
Finally, you need to dry your floor with a clean cloth. While you can let your tile floors air dry, this may result in water spots forming and it makes it easier to track dirt onto your newly cleaned floors.By drying your floors with a cloth, you will keep them clean for longer!
Need Help With Your Tile Floors?
Tile floors are a great option for homeowners and can make your house feel luxurious and bright. However, you must regularly clean your tile floors to keep them looking new for longer.By following each of these tile floor cleaning tips, you can protect your investment. Do you want to learn more about tile floor installation and cleaning tips?
National Floors Direct can help! Our team can provide you with new tile floors and other flooring materials, cleaning advice, and more. Contact us to get a free in-home estimate for your new tile floors!
