Discovering the best way to clean tile floors is often a trial-and-error process. Although, cleaning tile floors is often viewed as a tedious, time-consuming task – cleaning tile floors is not unlike cleaning other kinds of flooring (laminate flooring, hardwood floors, etc.).
A tile floor will take approximately the same amount of time to clean as a floor made out of a different material if you do it the best way. Tile floors are available in several different materials. Each type of floor tile requires a slightly different cleaning method and cleaning materials.
This site includes step-by-step procedures and lists of necessary materials/equipment detailing the best way to clean floor tile. For fast clean-up, a simple bristle vacuum or broom can be very effective.
In hurry, this cleaner is the best tile floor cleaner machine.
Best Way to Clean Tile Floors
Depending on the type of floor being cleaned, you will use different cleaning materials. You will want to avoid using products or tools that are abrasive, so you do not scratch the tile surface. Typically, a soft mop or soft-bristle brush, warm water, and the proper cleanser will be the best tools to clean your tile floors.
If your tile floor is not glazed, it will likely absorb some of the liquids that are spilled on it. You can determine if the floor is glazed or not by pouring some water on the surface and checking whether or not the tile gets darker. A tile floor with a sealant will be better protected and make for easier cleaning. You might consider sealing the tile grout to prevent spills from staining the tiles and extend the life expectancy of the tile floor. A spill as simple as grape juice may end up staining your tile floor permanently.
Sweeping or vacuuming is typically all that you will need to prepare your floor for cleaning. You basically want to remove all loose dirt from the surface and areas around the perimeter of the floor. The more often you sweep or vacuum the floor, the easier it will be to clean, and the longer the surface will look new. Sand, dirt, and other coarse substances can scratch the tile surface and dull the finish.
There are many products available for cleaning tile floors. Some of them are specific to a type of tile, and some are general cleaners. If possible, it is best to use a cleaner that is made specifically for your type of floor tile. These cleaners are typically inexpensive and are almost guaranteed not to damage your tile surface. The cleaners often perform the best because of the special ingredients they are composed of.
While vinegar and ammonia are often suggested as sufficient tile floor cleaners, they may not always be a wise choice. They may damage the tile surface and/or dull any shine that may be present. It is always best to use a tile cleaner and closely follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Finally, you want to avoid the common mistakes made in floor tile cleaning. Most importantly, you must always be sure to rinse your floor thoroughly after washing. Leaving excess water can loosen vinyl or linoleum tiles, which may ultimately result in some of the tiles actually becoming unglued from the floor and lifting at the edges. Leaving excess water, using too much water, or water that is too hot for a particular surface should also be avoided.
Sometimes the grout holding ceramic tiles in place will crack. Liquids can get into these grout cracks and sometimes make their way down to the floor surface. The subfloor is usually made out of wood, which will begin to swell when moisture is present. This can easily lead to repairing cracked ceramic tiles, more grout cracks, loose ceramic tiles, a warped subfloor, and – worst of all – mold in the subfloor.
How to Clean Tile Floors? – Three Absolute Guides!
We have created specific guides for cleaning the three most common types of tile floors. These included ceramic tile floors, vinyl floor tiles, and linoleum floor tiles.
Section 1: Best Way To Clean Ceramic Floor Tiles
Although it is a very popular floor tile, the best way to clean ceramic floor tile is not well known. Ceramic floor tile can be found in many colors, shapes, and sizes. It is always installed using grout (which may require special attention while cleaning). Ceramic tile floors may or may not be glazed.
A glazed floor has a protective coating on it to prevent the floor from wearing and dulling, as well as to protect the grout that holds the tile down. If your floor is not sealed, you may want to consider sealing it to add an extra layer of protection and prolong the life of the floor tiles. Regardless of whether or not your ceramic tile is glazed, the best and most effective process for cleaning ceramic tile floors is the same.
Tips to Clean Ceramic Tile Floor
1: Choosing the right cleaner
There are many tile cleaning products available. You should focus on products made specifically for cleaning ceramic tile floors. These products are non-abrasive and will not cause damage to the tile surface or grout. Some common household cleaners may scratch, dull, or leave a film on the surface of your tile. It is best to purchase a cleaner made specifically for ceramic tiles to avoid unnecessary damage to your tile floors.
If you have dirty grout lines (stains, large amounts of dirt, etc.), you should purchase an oxygen-bleach-based grout cleaning product. These products are inexpensive and, by far, the best and most effective way to clean ceramic floor tiles.
Here are the best mop for ceramic tile floors.
2: Prepare the floor
It is best to start by boiling as much water as you can. This boiling water will expedite the loosening of all dirt, grease, and other surface stains that have found their way into the tile grout or the porous surface of the floor tile itself. While the water is being brought to a boil, begin vacuuming or sweeping the tile floor. Your goal is to remove any loose dirt, hairs, dust, etc. from the tile surface and the grout lines before actually cleaning the floor tile surfaces. Sweeping takes a little more effort but is recommended because it allows you to pay special attention to the tiles that are on the perimeter of the floor surface (against a wall, under an appliance, in corners, etc). These “special tiles” are where loose dirt and dust usually build up.
3: Pre-clean rinse and loosen
Now pour the boiling water into the bucket and fill the rest of the bucket with hot water using the faucet. The hotter the water, the better. Do not fill the entire bucket with boiling water – for best results, the water should be hot, not boiling when you put it on the floor.
Next, using your mop, rinse the floor with hot water. The hot water will immediately begin to loosen the dirt from the tile floors and make cleaning your floor tiles much easier. There is no need to apply force when performing this step. Simply wet the mop and be sure to visit the entire floor with hot water. Be generous with the amount of water you use so that the dirt will loosen from the grout lines and tile surface faster. You want all tiles on the floor to be soaked after this step.
4: Washing tiles
Following instructions on your professional cleanser, add the proper amount of cleaner to the bucket of water. The amount of cleaner to use will vary depending on the product you choose. It is best to not mix the tile and grout cleaner – depending on the ingredients of each product, you may create harmful fumes.
Now you can wash the floor. Pay special attention to tiles that have caked-on dirt. Clean the floor by washing in a circular motion, covering each tile multiple times. If the mop does not remove the dirt, you may consider using a sponge to remove it. Sometimes having a small soft-bristle scrub brush available is helpful, depending on the stain you encounter. Again, be generous with the water. Large amounts of hot water will loosen the dirt from the tile surface much better than any other method. It is best to let the tile floors soak for a while, giving the cleaner time to work. You should have applied plenty of water so that it will not dry by evaporation.
5: Cleaning the grout
The key is using a product that contains oxygen bleach. This is by far the best way to clean ceramic floor tile and the best substance you can use to clean tile grout. The oxygen bleach in the product will minimize the amount of physical work you have to do – because it will “work” for you. Following the instructions on your grout cleaner, clean the grout lines that need special attention. The grout cleaner will usually have instructions for preparing a “high concentration” mix of grout cleaner. This cleaner can sometimes be sprayed on the grout and let sit, or in cases where the dirt is very visible, it is best to have a toothbrush or other small brush that can be used to scrub the grout clean.
6: Rinse
Finally, you must rinse the floor. Do this by emptying, rinsing, and filling the bucket with clean hot water. Rinse the mop, sponge, and toothbrush as well. Depending on the size of your tile floor, you might be able to use one bucket of rinse water (although a second rinsing is never a bad idea). The goal is to remove all of the water and cleaner from the floor, to avoid leaving a film on the floor tiles.
Section 2: How To Clean Vinyl Tile Floors?
Vinyl tile floors are very popular due to the fact that they are inexpensive, resistant to scratching and staining, and, best of all, available in more colors and patterns than other types of flooring. Cleaning vinyl tile floors can be done in the same manner, regardless if the vinyl flooring is self-adhesive or applied with glue.
Tips to Clean Vinyl Tile Floor
1: Material Preparation
Start by mixing 1/2 cup of ammonia with one gallon of warm water. This homemade mixture is all that is required to clean a vinyl floor. Of course, a professional cleaning solvent can be purchased and used instead.
2: Prepare the floor
Begin by vacuuming or sweeping the tile floor. Your goal is to remove any loose dirt, hairs, dust, etc. from the tile surface before actually cleaning the floor tile surfaces. Sweeping takes a little more effort but is recommended because it allows you to pay special attention to the tiles that are on the perimeter of the floor surface (against a wall, under an appliance, in corners, etc). These “special tiles” are where loose dirt and dust usually build up.
3: Wash
Now, wash the floor by mopping in a circular motion. Pay special attention to tiles that have caked-on dirt. If the mop does not remove the dirt, it is best to use a sponge and some baking soda to remove it.
4: Rinse
Finally, you must rinse the floor. Do this by emptying, rinsing, and filling the bucket with clean warm water. Rinse the mop. Depending on the size of your tile floor, you might be able to use one bucket of rinse water (although a second rinsing is never a bad idea). The goal is to remove all of the water and cleaner from the floor and be left with only clean vinyl floor tiles.
Section 3: How To Clean Linoleum Tile Floors?
In order to clean linoleum floor tile without damaging it, special care must be taken when choosing the right cleanser and tools. Cleaning linoleum tile floors is often more difficult to clean than ceramic or vinyl tile floors. Linoleum tiles, although similar to vinyl, are tougher than vinyl flooring and do not scratch as easily. The pattern is contained by the tile itself, it is not just “stamped on”. Linoleum floor tiles are usually protected by a wax coating and are best for high-traffic areas.
Tips to Clean Linoleum Tile Floor
1: Prepare the floor
Prepare the floor by sweeping or vacuuming it. You must remove all loose dust, dirt, lint, etc. before actually washing the floor tile surfaces. It is recommended to sweep the tiles because it often allows you to reach places where dust and dirt build-up. Pay special attention to the tile floors near the walls and under appliances, tables, and cabinets.
2: Strip the wax from the floor
If you are considering stripping the wax from your linoleum tile floors, it is best to purchase a product made specifically for linoleum floors. The wax used on linoleum floors is not very thick and very easy to remove. The best procedure for stripping the wax varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Following the instructions provided by your floor tile manufacturer, strip the wax from the floor tiles.
3: Prepare cleaning materials
Now fill a bucket with warm water and your tile cleaner. Pay special attention when mixing the cleaner and the water. Using too much cleaner may cause you to have to rinse the floor multiple times. It is best to also prepare a spray bottle with warm water (50%) and vinegar (50%) so you can direct the solvent to exactly where you want to clean.
4: Wash
Submerge the mop in the bucket of cleaning solution and water. Wring the mop so that it isn’t dripping. Do not “soak” the floor – as linoleum tile has a tendency to lift if too much moisture is left on its surface. Mop the floor using circular motions. A second bucket of clean water can be used to rinse the mop after each time it is used on the floor. If you come across some dirt spots or stains, you can use your spray bottle and vinegar to spray the stain. It is best to have a sponge nearby so it can be used to scrub the marks that are not removed by the mop. Spraying the solvent directly on the dirt spots is the best way to clean linoleum floor tile.
5: Rinse
Finally, you must be sure the floor is rinsed and no standing water is left behind. Do this by emptying, rinsing, and filling the bucket with clean hot water. Rinse and wring the mop each time you apply it to the linoleum floor surface. Depending on the size of your tile floor, you might be able to use one bucket of rinse water (although a second rinsing is never a bad idea). The goal is to remove all of the water and cleaner from the floor.