How to Clean Tiles?

“Clear mind is born from clean and clear surroundings,” says Japanese 17th-century philosophy. It is necessary to have a clean living space, and this also includes tiles. It is quite easy to clean tiles regularly. If not taken care of, grime and mould can build on them. Discolouration and stains are other impacts on tiles. Let us see how you can clean tiles.

Before You Start

Cleaning of your tiles can be done one of two ways: using a store-bought tile floor cleaner or do-it-yourself style cleaner made of home ingredients. That being said, be aware of the material of your tiles and be cautious of the cleaner you use.

Things you need for cleaning your tiles are:

• A good floor tile cleaner
• A mop
• A bucket
• A broom or a vacuum cleaner
• Some fresh lemon
• Baking soda
• A toothbrush
• An acrylic stone sealer
• Peppermint oil
• A spray can
• Lint-free cloth

How To Clean Porcelain Tiles?

Porcelain is a material that is baked hard and frequently paired with glazed glass crepe. Porcelain is more prone to water penetration than any other material. You can clean your porcelain tile by following these steps below.

• First, sweep all the loose and excess dirt on the tiles.
• Use porcelain tile cleaner/ standard PH-neutral cleaner to mop the floor.
• Scrape off any stubborn dirt or paint stains that are stuck on the floor.
• Wipe the floor dry using a lint-free cloth.
• Use a synthetic chamois mop (you can also use a rag mop) to coat the acrylic stone sealer onto your floor. Leave it to rest for 15-30 minutes. The acrylic stone sealer will make your porcelain tile impervious.
• Apply another layer and let it dry overnight before stepping on it. 

How to Clean Bathroom Tiles?

Bathrooms are the most popular place for tile flooring. Here, there is high moisture content and it is vulnerable to mildew and thick mould. Cleaning the bathroom tiles can be done using a bathroom tile cleaner. Also, the grout lines, which are the lines separating two tiles, are pervious to water, making them prone to dirt. Bathroom and kitchen tiles have a high amount of dirt and debris in the grout lines.

• For cleaning grout lines, first make a paste by mixing water, baking soda, lemon juice, and peppermint oil. Peppermint oil is great as it deters ants and mice.
• Apply the mixture on the grout lines and leave it for ten minutes.
• Use a toothbrush to scrub off the paste along with the dirt. For stubborn stains, add a little more lemon juice as it is a natural whitener.
• Wash off the tiles with clean water and wipe them with a cloth.

How To Clean Ceramic Tiles?

Ceramic tiles are naturally durable and dirt resistant but giving them a little extra care guarantees a beautiful looking home.

• Fill warm water in your bucket and pour some of the recommended cleaning medium/tile floor cleaners. Adding excess cleaning medium would result in a sticky and slippery floor once dry.
• Soak the mop into the solution and wring out until most water is dried. Tiles are pervious in the grout area, so less water is optimal.
• Use the “figure-eight” style for mopping the floor. This technique is effective for trapping dust and debris.
• Rinse the mop after you finish cleaning.
• Frequently change the water or solution when it is full of dirt, as dirty water makes the floor cloudy.
• Use non-abrasive cleaners or clear water to rinse the floor after mopping with the cleaning solution, as it will clean off the soap scrum or lather leftovers.
• Don’t let the tile floor air dry after mopping, as water and air will react, leaving white spots on the floor. Therefore, use a lint-free cloth to wipe the tiles dry after cleaning.

How to Clean Polished Tiles?

Unlike porcelain and most of the other tiles, cleaning polished tiles requires less work. But because they are polished, more care must be taken for the tiles to not lose their shine.

• Start with sweeping or vacuuming the floor to remove floating dust.
• When preparing a cleaning solution, use only 50% of the cleaning medium that you will use on porcelain tiles.
• Mop gently with a rag-based mop.
• And wipe the floor dry in such a way that the shine is not lost from the floor.

Conclusion

Cleaning can be a little messy if you are doing it yourself at the beginning, but it is rewarding to have a beautiful home. The best solution is to sweep and mop your tiles regularly. Clean the spills whenever they happen and avoid harsh chemicals like bleach. A clean home is a happy home!