3 Ways to Clean Tile Floors

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

The tile floor is the part of the kitchen, bathroom, or other place in the house that is often wet. With proper care, floor tiles can look like new for years. Check out basic tile floor care, cleaning techniques, and how to clean stained grout (a type of cement that fills gaps between tiles) below. This technique is suitable for both ceramic tile and artificial tile floors.

Step

Method 1 of 3: Basic Tile Floor Treatment

Step 1. Sweep or vacuum the floor daily

This will remove dust, food crumbs and other debris that can collect on the tile floor. Dirt left in wet areas can quickly turn into dirt that is difficult to clean.

• You should also sweep or vacuum the floor before mopping or cleaning.

  

• Rub in a dry cloth or floor mop after sweeping.

  

Step 2. Mop the floor with warm water

If the floor isn't stained or doesn't need heavy cleaning, a wet mop on the floor will suffice to keep the floor clean. Clean the mop in fresh warm water after mopping a section of the room, and repeat until the entire floor has been mopped.

To shine every day, rub a damp, dust-free cloth on the floor

Step 3. Dry the floor

Mop dry on the floor when finished mopping, either mop using water alone or water mixed with detergent. This is to prevent new dirt from quickly accumulating and staining the grout.

Step 4. Clean up spills

Clean up immediately if you spill juice or even just water. The longer you leave it, the more liquid will seep into the grout. Orange juice and other sweet liquids that dry out tend to become sticky.

Step 5. Clean up dirty spills with a disinfectant

If animal blood or raw meat falls on the floor, spray the disinfectant directly on the affected area and wipe it off immediately.

Limit the disinfectant to the area where the spill occurred, if possible. Strong chemicals can degrade or stain tile floors

Method 2 of 3: Deep Cleaning Technique

Step 1. Mop the floor with warm water and vinegar solution

Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with four quarts of water and continue mopping as usual. If the floor still doesn't look clean, mop the floor again using clean water and detergent.

• Rinse the floor with clean warm water when you're done. It is important to remove all soap residue from the tile so that it does not remain on the floor which attracts and holds dirt.
• Do not use vinegar or chemicals on marble floors. See our marble cleaning guide for information on how to safely clean stone floors.

Step 2. Remove the stain from the tile floor

Spills left and left unattended can stain tile floors. Make a paste to clean the area.

• Prepare a paste using a 50:50 solution of rubbing powder and warm water.

  

• Rub the paste over the stain with a clean cloth and leave it on for five to ten minutes.

  

• Scrub the area with a soft brush, then clean with warm water and a cloth to remove any remaining paste.

  

• Repeat the process if the stain is still visible.

  

Step 3. Remove mold from tile floors

The floor tiles in the bathroom tend to grow mildew. The best prevention method is to ventilate the room after you shower and keep the floor dry. If mold doesn't build up, ammonia can be the solution.

• Wear a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands. Make sure the room is well ventilated.

  

• Prepare a solution of water and ammonia in a 50:50 ratio.

  

• Brush the sections using a soft brush and an ammonia solution.

  

• Rinse the floor with clean water after the fungus is gone.

  

Step 4. Clean the rust spots from the tile floor

You may not do this often. But if needed, clean with kerosene to remove rust.

• Wear a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands.

  

• Wet a clean cloth with kerosene.

  

• Rub the rust stains with a cloth.

  

• Wash the parts with warm water to remove rust and kerosene residue, then repeat the process if the rust is not completely removed.

  

Method 3 of 3: Cleaning the Grout On the Tile Floor

Step 1. Use a pencil eraser

This household trick is great for cleaning small sections of stained grout. Just rub the pencil eraser over the stain until it's gone. Use a clean white or pink eraser.

Step 2. Use baking soda

Most dirty grout can be re-brightened using this method.

• Make a paste with baking soda and water.

  

• Apply to dirty grout using an old toothbrush. Rub the paste into the grout.

  

• Wash the grout with warm water when finished.

  

• For tougher stains, let the paste sit for a few minutes before scrubbing.

  

Step 3. Remove tougher stains with bleach

If natural methods don't work, use a bleach solution.

• Wear a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands.

  

• Mix the bleach solution and water if the grout is white in a ratio of 75:25. If the grout is colored, just use water. Do not use bleach on colored grout as this can strip the color away.

  

• Use a toothbrush or the edge of a sponge to clean the grout using the solution. Be careful not to expose the tiles to the bleach solution.

  

• Rinse the floor with warm water when you're done to remove any traces of bleach.

  

• Once the floor is completely dry, apply a layer of grout adhesive to the grout between the tiles, to prevent it from absorbing dirt.

  

Tips

• You can also purchase a grout brush designed to clean grout on tile floors from a hardware store.
• Hand washing and drying a section of tile floors tends to give better results than mopping.