Dec 27th 2021 / General Stone Care
How-to Guide: Effectively Clean Ceramic Tile Flooring
Ceramic tile flooring is becoming more and more popular for plenty of reasons. For one, they are durable for their price point. The plentiful options for styles, patterns, and colors are another big bonus. And yet, just like any other type of flooring, you still need to clean them.
Keep in mind that ceramic tiles are a different category of flooring. Hence, it requires a bit of understanding on how to clean it properly so that you won't damage them. Thankfully, you have nothing to worry about because this article will show you how to clean your ceramic tile floor.
Light Cleaning
If you want to minimize your effort but still want to keep your ceramic tiles clean and look great, you might want to adopt a light cleaning routine. You only have to do this a couple of times per week. Skipping light cleaning will lead to more laborious cleaning work more often.
You'd want to start with vacuuming or sweeping the ceramic tiles. Grit, sand, and other debris may scratch the surface of your tiles, making them less durable and unsightly.
Once the dirt is removed, the next step is to mop the floors. You'd want to mix a cleaning solution and hot water in a bucket. It's highly advised that you use a cleaning agent specialized for ceramic tiles like MB-1 FLOOR AMORE. Using other cleaning agents may be too strong or too weak to clean the ceramic tiles effectively or safely. However, if you are short on supplies, a mild detergent is the second-best option.
You'd also want to use a chamois mop or rag. You don't want to use a sponge mop as it tends to push the dirty water into the grout and soil it. If the water gets too dirty or cloudy, you should change your cleaning solution. Again, you don't want dirty water seeping into the grout. Also, you reduce the chance of leaving a hazy film or dirt on your ceramic tiles.
If you end up with a hazy film on the flooring, you can easily remove it with an all-purpose cleaner. Ensure that you use a non-abrasive cleaner to avoid scratching your ceramic tiles. Alternatively, you can also make your DIY all-purpose cleaner by mixing vinegar or lemon juice with hot water. Apply the solution and follow it with a dry cloth to remove the hazy film. You can also use a dry towel and use your foot to push it around to make things easier for you.
Deep Cleaning
Once in a while, you'll need to do some deep cleaning to bring back the luster of your ceramic tiles. Of course, if you don't do light cleaning often enough, you'll have to do more of the deep cleaning routine.
You'd want an electric polisher scrubber or floor washer to do the deep cleaning. The powerful cleaning action of such tools should brighten up the tiles and joints. You also need a cleaning agent.
For that, you'll need:
* 1 gallon of water
* 1-2 tablespoons of tri-sodium phosphate or washing soda
* 1/4 cup of low-sudsing detergent
You just need to mix all the ingredients. Apply good amounts of the solution and use the power tool to help you clean the ceramic tiles.
Removing Stains on Ceramic Tiles
The first rule is to remove the staining agent as soon as possible when it comes to stains.
If you are dealing with juice, tea, or coffee stains, your best bet is to wash the ceramic tiles with a detergent and hot water solution. Then, proceed to blot with the help of hydrogen peroxide.
For grease stains, use a club soda and water solution. You can also use a commercial floor cleaner.
For ink stains, you'd want to soak a piece of cloth in a diluted bleach solution. Place the cloth on top of the stain and leave it there until the ink stain is removed.
Wrapping It All Up
If you want to keep your ceramic tiles looking fresh and clean, you should do regular light and occasional deep cleaning. You'd also want to use the right cleaning agent for the job like MB-1 FLOOR AMORE for the light cleaning task. Lastly, don't allow staining agents to sit on the ceramic tiles for too long and use the suitable stain-removing method depending on the staining agent.
