Your flooring is an investment, which is why proper tile cleaning is essential. It can be quite easy to take care of your tile floors, meaning they will last for a significant amount of time. With a few smart cleaning techniques, you’ll not only have amazing looking floors all of the time, but you will keep the high cost of replacement at bay for as long as possible.
Enviro Clean & Capture specialise in natural stone cleaning and have some tips below on how to keep your ceramic tiles and grout looking like new. Read on for which cleaning products and tools to use, how often your floors need to be cleaned and more.
As always, Enviro Clean & Capture are just a phone call away if you want to save yourself some time and ensure a truly professional concrete floor cleaning with our tile cleaner service. Let’s dive into how best to clean your tiles!
The best way to ensure proper tile cleaning
The tile in your home can be kept in great condition by following some simple steps. As we all know, the kitchen or bathroom really isn’t completely clean until the floors are sparkling. Sure, this chore isn’t required as regularly as, say, a wipe down of the countertops, but it is important to make sure your tile flooring doesn’t see a build-up of dirt or grime.
Dirty grout is often a good indicator that your ceramic tile floors need a clean. You’ll want to ensure the proper technique to see the best results and give longevity to your investment.
Tile floors are amazingly durable, but each different material needs to be cared for in a particular way. Ceramic and porcelain floor tiles are very popular as they are fairly low maintenance.
Ceramic tile cleaning steps:
Follow this simple process for a regular spot clean of your ceramic floor tile cleaning:
- Attend to loose debris first: It’s always a good idea to start with a sweep or vacuum as sand and grit can affect the glazed surfaces of your ceramic tiles.
- Mop: Next, it’s good to go over the tile with mild detergent and chamois-style mop as opposed to a sponge mop. The reason for this being the fact that sponge mops push dirty water into your grout which makes it much harder to clean later on. Also, never mop with dirty water!
- Notice tile stains: Any discolouration in your tile means a stain. To remove this, you’ll need a specialised stain remover that is safe for use on ceramic tiles, or a professional tile cleaner.
- Avoid soap residue: Soapy residue is bad news after your clean so use a non abrasive all-purpose cleaner to remove it and leave your tiles looking like new.
- Drying: Never allow your tile floors to air-dry as this will cause water spots and make your hard cleaning work near pointless. Use a lint-free cloth to dry your tiles after the mop.
The best method for cleaning your tile grout
You may have already realised this, but no matter how hard you clean your ceramic tiles, you will not have a great-looking floor until you have clean grout. It is essential!
Grout is porous, which means it absorbs grease and other stains very easily, which also makes it very tricky to keep clean. If you want your grout to look like new, follow these cleaning steps:
- Create some grout cleaner: Surprisingly, a DIY cleaner can often be far more effective than the many commercial cleaners that are available. You can make your grout cleaner at home by using a paste of baking soda and water.
- Scrub: Take your DIY paste and scrub it onto the stain, let it sit overnight, then use a stiff nylon brush to clean the paste away.
- Seal: Once your grout is clean and looking like new, apply a silicone-based sealer within 10-14 days after cleaning to protect it from future dirt and stains. This will make cleaning your grout a much easier task in the future!
Many people ask if using a steam cleaner is an effective way to clean your tile grout. Keep in mind that any form of cleaning that is too intense can damage your grout. A steam mop should be fine, but be wary if you have older grout that is somewhat damaged as steam could make it much worse and cause discolouration.
How often should you do ceramic tile cleaning?
There are two different types of cleaning that will keep your ceramic tile flooring looking brand new. A regular cleaning schedule that includes both dry and wet cleaning is essential:
- Dry clean: It is a good idea to vacuum or sweep your ceramic tile floors at least once a week. If vacuuming, use a soft-bristle vacuum attachment to protect your surface from scratches and marks.
- Wet clean: Mop your tile floor once every two weeks to tackle any germs that may have built-up and spot clean your grout once every few months.
- Professional clean: If you really want to protect your flooring while also reducing the amount of work that will be required from you, a professional tile clean once or twice a year is an excellent idea.
The advantages of ceramic tiles
There are many reasons why people opt for ceramic tile flooring, the biggest of which is their durability. These tiles are basically burn proof, which is great to prevent marks from falling cigarette ash or spilled boiling liquids and oil in the kitchen.
Unlike many other coverings, ceramic tiles do not become electrically charged, so there will be no unpleasant spark when you touch them, along with the hygiene advantages of anti-static flooring.
Other benefits include:
- A dense surface that repels microbes, mites and other microorganisms that cause allergies
- They are environmentally friendly
- They come in crucial colours to create harmony in a room
- A spilt glass of red wine can be rectified with the simple wipe from a damp cloth
- Unglazed porcelain stoneware tiles are often factory-finished with a coating that makes them resistant to most standard domestic staining agents
- They are largely scratch and crack-resistant
Ceramic tiles can handle the dropping of something hefty along with any risks presented by high heels. Homes with glazed-tile floor coverings will find these actions far more terrifying! Ceramic tiles can withstand high pressure and are also frost-resistant, which makes them the ideal floor covering to safety-proof balconies and terraces from slippage. Ceramic tiles remain weather-resistant, reducing the risk of injury when things get wet or icy.
Further to this point, if your home or business utilises underfloor heating, ceramic tiles optimise this thanks to their excellent thermal conductivity. From both an ecological and economic perspective, the costly initial investment of ceramic tiles will eventually pay itself off.
Cleaning other forms of natural flooring
When it comes to cleaning other forms of natural stone flooring tile like slate, granite or marble, you need to be very wary of which cleaning chemicals you use. The ones found in traditional cleaners can often damage the surface of these natural materials.
Your best bet when it comes to cleaning your natural stone tiles is assistance from a professional cleaner. If you do opt to clean them yourself, or are just doing some quick spot cleans, be sure to use detergents made specifically for natural stone.
We recommend the following cleaner and material combos:
- Slate: Use a mild detergent that does not contain any acidic properties, like lemon or vinegar. Be sure to dry your slate after cleaning to avoid water spots.
- Marble: Marble is very high-maintenance and should not be cleaned with anything that has an acidic PH level. Once again, you’ll want to avoid any cleaners that contain lemon or vinegar as they can ruin the surface of your tile. When cleaning marble, avoid any brushes with tough bristles as they can create unwanted scratches.
- Granite: Again, you’ll want to use a mild detergent that is pH-neutral. The use of a harsh cleaner on your granite means a risk of discolouration. If you have granite flooring, you’ll want to give it a buff every now and then so that it maintains its shiny appearance.
What about resilient tile flooring?
You may have flooring tiles that are made of linoleum, vinyl, cork or rubber, also known as resilient tile. This is a very popular option for those looking for a comfortable flooring material that is also low maintenance.
When cleaning your resilient tile floor, keep the following tips in mind:
- Vinyl: Very easy to maintain, all you need to do is sweep or vacuum any debris and mop every now and then with a homemade solution of water and vinegar. Be sure to avoid any form of abrasive cleaner or scrubbing tool as it will scratch the surface.
- Linoleum: There are very specific cleaning requirements for linoleum which need a specialised flooring cleaning solution and a coat of wax every 3 to 6 months. If you are worried about this one, opt for professional help.
- Cork: When it comes to cleaning cork tile, it all depends on the finish. If sealed with polyurethane, water and mild detergent will do the trick. On the other hand, if you have unfinished or waxed cork, you’ll need to coat it with a liquid wax once the tile is dry.
When it comes to resilient flooring, you should always avoid the steam mop as extreme heat or excess moisture will warp and ruin your floor very quickly.
Why your best bet is a professional ceramic tile flooring clean
Bringing out the best in your ceramic tile flooring means a stunning and timeless look, and a professional clean ensures this while avoiding a dent in your schedule. Enviro Clean & Capture offer a high-quality and affordable clean that will ensure you maintain your ceramic tiles no matter how much dirt, staining or bacteria they have accumulated.
We often forget to take the cost of our time into consideration when weighing up whether or not professional help is worthwhile. A professional clean not only finishes the task in a speedier timeframe, but it saves some precious hours of your weekend or evening that may well be better spent relaxing or spending time with loved ones.
Enviro Clean and Capture can ensure that the natural stone floorings of your homes or commercial property will never lose their lustre. A professional clean means the use of proven techniques and the latest cleaning technology specifically designed and targeted to remove the most troublesome and stubborn stains. From a simple spruce to an in-depth revival of your flooring, a professional clean can bring anything back to life.
Tile Cleaning Expert in Sydney
Take advantage of Enviro Clean & Capture’s many years of experience and environmentally-friendly cleaning methods today. We can assess the current state of your ceramic tiles and apply our knowledge to find the best and most efficient cleaning solution for you. You can easily cross this chore off your to-do list and rest easy knowing it will be finished with exceptional results.
Many customers call us with what they think is an un-saveable situation! Our team can refresh and renew a range of flooring types, making it look as though you have had new flooring installed!
Your home or commercial property is one of your biggest assets, and it is important that you look after it properly. Our team treats every job as if we were cleaning our own properties. We strive to provide ethical service standards via our environmentally-responsible cleaning, and our reputation and portfolio speak for themselves.
For amazing results from your ceramic tile cleaning, speak to Enviro Clean & Capture today for the highest level standards available and a floor that looks as good as new.
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