Laying tiles in an outdoor area can be a great way to beautify a space or living area, but you need to clean it regularly. Know the tile material you are using (eg porcelain, wood, composite, or stone). Remove dirt and dust from the tiles with a duster or dry mop before cleaning with a mild soap or vinegar mixture. You will need to do a deeper cleaning once or twice a year to prevent the development of mold. To keep your tiles looking clean and beautiful, always avoid using abrasive products or cleaners.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning Porcelain Tiles
Step 1. Sweep the floor daily
Try to be able to sweep the porcelain tiled floor every day. Use a soft, natural bristled broom or attach a vacuum cleaner nozzle to remove dirt from the tile surface. With regular sweeping, dirt and stains won't dry out and stick to the tiles.
For porcelain tile floors in the patio or entrance area, you will need to sweep it more often. Thus, people will not bring dirt or dust from outside into the house
Step 2. Wash the tiles with clean water once a week
Once every few days (or when you notice that dirt and stains are starting to build up), clean outdoor porcelain tiles with warm water. Fill a bucket with clean warm water and mop the floor. By mopping the floor, most of the dirt and dust will be removed and the tiles will look beautiful and clean.
Try to squeeze the mop to get most of the water out. Do not allow excess moisture to stick to the tile surface
Step 3. Clean the tiles deeply once a month
Every (at least) once a month, fill a large bucket with 7.5 liters of clean water. Add 60 ml of vinegar and mix well. Dip the mop in the cleaning mixture and wring it out. After that, mop the floor using the cleaning mixture to remove dirt and dust.
If you prefer, you can purchase a commercial cleaning product formulated for porcelain tiles instead of a vinegar mixture
Step 4. Rinse and dry the cleaned tiles
After brushing or mopping the floor with the vinegar mixture, dip the mop in clean water and wring it out. Mop the floor again to rinse it off and remove any excess cleaner. Take a large clean towel or microfiber washcloth and dry the floor.
- If the floor is very dirty, you may need to do a deep cleaning and rinsing a second time.
- If the porcelain tile covers a fairly large area, it's a good idea to gradually mop, rinse, and dry the floor in small areas.
Step 5. Remove the stain as soon as you see it
Treat stains as soon as you see them. Fill the bucket with 20 liters of water. Purchase a commercial floor cleaning product that is safe to use on porcelain tiles and pour 3-4 bottle caps of the product into a bucket of water. Use a small brush or washcloth to rub the mixture into the stain until it lifts.
Avoid oil-based cleaning products to remove stains from porcelain tiles. The product can leave residual oil on the tiles making the floor slippery
Step 6. Do not clean the tiles with abrasive materials or tools
Even if you feel the need to brush off stubborn stains with a hard-bristled brush, avoid abrasive cleaning tools when cleaning porcelain tiles. Also, do not use abrasive cleaning products or tools such as:
- Hard bristle brush or steel wool
- Cleaning products containing ammonia or bleach
- Oil based detergent or wax cleaner
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Wood and Composite Tiles
Step 1. Sweep wood or composite tiled floors every few days
Try to be able to sweep the floor every day or after seeing dirt, leaves, or dust. Use a soft, natural bristled broom to remove any dirt or dust stuck to the floor. By sweeping the floor regularly, dust or dirt will not stick and dry on the tile surface.
Step 2. Clean the tiles with soap and water at least once a month
Fill a bucket with 20 liters of water and enough dish soap. The water will feel slippery and foamy. Dip the mop in the soapy water and wring it out. After that, mop the floor until the dirt or dust is lifted.
You can use a mop with a tassel head or a sponge. Do not use a mop with a rough or abrasive material when mopping the floor
Step 3. Rinse the floor
If you're cleaning a large enough area, prepare a garden hose and rinse the floor with clean water to remove any soap residue. If you are cleaning a small area, dip a new mop in clean water and wring it out. After that, mop the floor again to rinse it with clean water.
Step 4. Remove the oil stain
As soon as you see the stain, remove the cause of the stain. Dip a sponge or soft cloth in the soapy water and clean the stained area. After that, the stain may disappear or lift on its own. Otherwise, use a floor or deck stain remover product specifically formulated for wood or composite tiles. You need to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
The longer the stain stays, the harder it will be to lift the stain off the tile surface. Therefore, it is important that you clean the stain quickly
Step 5. Clean the floor deeply twice a year
In addition to sweeping wood and composite tiles regularly and keeping them clean, you also need to do a deep cleaning at the beginning and end of the year. Purchase a tile cleaning product formulated for wood or composite tiles. This product usually contains sodium hypochlorite. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use on the bottle.
Sodium hypochlorite helps prevent mold development on tiles
Step 6. Do not clean the tile with an abrasive object
Over time, wood or composite tiles will scratch. However, these scratches will go away on their own, so don't try to remove them with an abrasive cleaning product (eg sandpaper or a high-pressure cleaner).
If you sprinkle salt or ice on the tiles in cold weather, clean the tiles as soon as the weather is better or warmer. Ice and salt can damage the tile if left on the tile surface for a very long time
Method 3 of 3: Cleaning Stone Tiles
Step 1. Clean the stone tiles with a dry mop once every 1-2 days
Remove any dirt or grime from the tiles using a dry mop daily or as soon as stains and dirt are visible. A dry mop helps prevent grit and fine gravel from scratching the tiles and causing blisters. However, you will need to clean the tile with a dry mop if the tile is from:
- Granite
- Slate
- Limestone
- Marble
- Sandstone
Step 2. Use soap and water to clean the floor
Fill a bucket with 20 liters of water and enough dish soap or talc (soapstone). Dip the mop in the soapy water and wring it out. After that, mop the floor and in small circular motions (stack on top of each other) and avoid the appearance of water stains or streaks on the stone surface.
Choose talc with a pH level of 7 or look for a cleaning product that doesn't contain soap as it won't leave streaks or streaks. If you use dish soap, choose products that do not contain phosphates and are biodegradable
Step 3. Find out if you need to use a bleach mixture
To get rid of algae or mildew, you will need to clean the floor with a bleach mixture. If the tiles that need cleaning are around pools, patios, or hot tubs, clean the tiles with clean water. Pour 7.5 liters of water into a bucket and add 4 tablespoons (60 ml) of bleach. Use a sponge or mop to clean the floor with a mild bleach mixture.
Step 4. Rinse and dry the tiles
If you are cleaning the floor in a large enough area, prepare a garden hose and rinse the tiles with clean water to remove any soap residue. If you are cleaning the floor in a small area, dip the mop in clean water and wring it out. After that, mop the floor again to rinse it with clean water. Scrub the floor using a soft dry mop to dry it, or air dry the floor thoroughly.
- You may need to change the water several times and keep rinsing the floor until all the soap residue is removed.
- Stone tiles usually experience discoloration over time due to exposure to sunlight. Therefore, use stone enhancer products and special coatings to protect them. Make sure you look for products that are safe for outdoor use.
Step 5. Avoid abrasive products or objects when cleaning tiles
Never clean stone tiles with abrasive products or objects. Such products or objects can scratch and damage the tiles. When making or buying cleaning kits, avoid:
- Hard bristled brush
- Vinegar or lemon juice
- Acidic cleaning products
