Ceramic tile floors add a level of beauty and sophistication to any room they are in. They are also incredibly durable, and able to take lots of wear and tear. Ceramic tiles are perfect for kitchens, walkways, and bathrooms, making them one of the most widely used flooring materials on the market.
Ceramic floors, however, require a bit of cleaning, especially because dirt and grime can get hidden inside the grout. If you've ever had to get down on your hands and knees and scrub a sticky mess out of the grout, then you'll know just how much work goes into cleaning the tile floor. In this article, we'll look at the best cleaning tips for keeping your ceramic floor in pristine condition.
1. Sweep off or vacuum your ceramic floors
First things first, you need to make sure that your ceramic floors are free from any debris and dirt. Keep in mind that dirt and dust bunnies love to hide in crevices like grout. In fact, grout is a porous substance that absorbs grime and dirt. It's important to be thorough when cleaning dirt from your floors because when you actually start cleaning and wiping the tile floors, little pieces of dirt or stone can cause scratches on the tile floor. As you begin to scrub away, you may actually cause scratches on your floor.
Also, it’s important to sweep your ceramic floors at least once a week to reduce the amount of sand and dirt on the floors, which can dull them and cause scratches. A good broom works really well to get into the hard-to-reach spots, like underneath cabinets or around appliances. If you own a vacuum that is great at cleaning hardwood and ceramic floors, you can use that to clean up all the dirt.
2. For mild stains, apply a mild detergent
Most ceramic tiles are nonporous, meaning that they don't absorb dirt and grime, however, grout is a porous substance, similar to mortar or concrete. Therefore, you need to watch the cleaners that you use on them because some cleaners can actually do damage to the grout on your floors. Even something as simple as vinegar may cause harm to your grout because it can penetrate its crannies and cause it to deteriorate.
You can use a mild dish detergent mixed with a bit of water to lift any of the grease and grime on your floors. Did you know dish soap is a great degreaser? Humble dish soap is actually a powerful cleaning agent because it is an emulsifier, meaning that it can act as a bonding agent between two liquids which don't normally mix, like oil and water.
Add a few drops of dish soap into your bucket of water, and you'll see suds develop. Just like your kindergarten teacher once told you, "A little dab will do you." So don't overfill it with too much dish soap. If you're using a mop and bucket or chamois cloth, be sure to clean out the bucket between each cleaning of the floor. That way, you can avoid sand and dirt getting into the cloth and causing abrasions on the floor. Also, a sponge mop may not be the best to use to clean your tile floors, as sand and dirt can build up on the outside of the sponge.
3. How to clean deep stains in the grout
Just like any chore around your home, it'll take a little elbow grease and determination to rid yourself of any deep-set grime in the grout of your tile floors. Mix borax, a white powdery household cleaner, and laundry detergent booster, in water, to make a safe cleaning solution for your grout. After mixing the borax in water, it will become a thin paste, which you can leave on the grout for 10 minutes and then scrub using a brush. It may take you a couple of tries, but as you continue to work away, you should be able to lift the dirt out of the grout.
4. For those impossible stains, use a steam cleaner
For that stubborn stain that you can't seem to get rid of no matter how much you scrub, it may be a good idea to rent a commercial steam cleaner. Steam cleaners can be one of the best machines to clean tile floors because steam can lift dirt out of grout. One thing to keep in mind when using a steam cleaner is to make sure not to fill the steam cleaner with any harsh chemicals which can have a harmful effect on the tile and grout. As well, most steam mops have rotating bristles which can get down into grout. Also, for regular cleaning of the grout, invest in Narwal T10, which features deep bristles to wipe the dirt out of the deepest crannies and add the luster and shine back to your tiles.
5. Regularly clean your ceramic tile floors
With kids running through your home, spills are bound to happen. When spills happen, do your best to clean them up as quickly as you can so that they don't set in. One of the best tools to help you clean up spills is having a dedicated robot mop, like the Narwal T10. You can easily manually control the T10 from the base, unleashing it on that spill. The T10 features triangular mop pads that rotate three times per second, easily tackling simple spills, and preventing them from becoming stains.
6.Seal your grout
Grout keeps water out and holds together ceramic tile floors, but, as mentioned above, grout is a porous material that can easily absorb oil and dirt, causing it to become discolored. There's nothing worse than stained grout. One splendid solution is to seal all grout on your ceramic floor. There are several effective grout sealers on the market. Even after you seal your grout, you may need to reseal them once or twice a year.
Conclusion
Drips, drops, and spills are bound to happen in your home, but if you are diligent, you can stay on top of cleaning your ceramic tile floors. For those stains that have set in, consider using a mild detergent to lift the oil and grease, and for tougher jobs, a borax and water solution may be just what you need. Ultimately, regular cleaning can help you to reduce your cleaning later on down the road. A Narwal T10 robotic vacuum and mop combo can help make your life easier and can help you avoid deep stains on your ceramic tile floor.
