Cleaning Tile Floors – Like a Pro!

When tile floors are new, they look beautiful and pristine. With the passage of time, however, it becomes more and more difficult to maintain those in ideal condition. Grime and dirt accumulate between the tiles, ruining their impeccable appearance.

Cleaning tiles like a professional doesn’t have to be a challenging task, as long as you stick to a couple of basics. Here is the best way to clean tile floors that will ensure the quality of the cleaning outcome every single time.

Start by Sweeping and Vacuum Cleaning

To get the best results, you have to make sure that dust and dirt are removed. Once you get rid of those, you can try something a bit more specialized to extract the grime accumulated between the tiles.

A good, old-school broom will be sufficient. The step is essential before you move on to mopping.

Replace the Traditional Mop with a Steam Mop

Even if you use warm water, a traditional mop isn’t going to deliver impressive results. Instead of relying on mopping to restore the shine and beauty of tiles, save some money and buy a steam mop.

A steam mop, as the name suggests, enables steam cleaning. The high temperature is ideal for dislodging some of the old grime. If you don’t have a lot of time to spend on household chores and you don’t clean the tiles as frequently as you’d like to, a steam mop is the ideal appliance for your home.

Steam mops are also ideal for pet owners and people suffering from allergies. They deodorize the surfaces and also kill bacteria.

In addition, the high temperature makes the steam mop useful without the addition of detergents. You get a clean house without chemicals and artificial scents.

There’s one final benefit worth mentioning – the drying time is faster because less water will be left behind than in the case of traditional mopping.

To steam clean your tiles, you’ll need to do the following:

• Step 1: fill the water tank of the steam cleaner. To get the best results, you may want to opt for distilled water. Attach the microfiber pad to the head of the steam cleaner. This part of the appliance is the one that will collect the dirt and grime.
• Step 2: plug the steam cleaner and wait the necessary amount of time for the appliance to become ready for use.
• Step 3: press the trigger that releases steam from the head of the mop. Move the head back and forth over the tiled surface that you’d like to clean. A bigger number of repetitions will be needed for stubborn stains and tiles that haven’t been cleaned in a long period of time.
• Step 4: allow the floor to dry. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
• Step 5: unplug the steam cleaner and remove the microfiber pad from the head. The pad can be washed to remove all of the dirt and impurities it has collected. Old pads will have to be discarded and replaced with new ones.

Have a look here for our steam mop buying guide, and best buy Steam Mops 2015.

A Few Deep Cleaning Techniques

Sometimes, the condition of the tiles will be so bad that you have to look for alternative ways of cleaning. There are a few deep cleaning techniques you can try in conjunction with steam mopping the tiles.

Environmentally Friendly

A water and vinegar solution is always a good option. People that opt for environmentally-friendly cleaning techniques know that white vinegar is one of the essentials to always have available in the kitchen pantry.

Mix half a cup of white vinegar with one gallon of warm water. Using a traditional mop, clean the tiles with this solution. If you don’t see the results that you’re hoping for the first time around, give the tiles a second mopping.

Getting Rid of Mildew

In case there’s mildew on the tiles (this could happen in the bathroom or another place that accumulates moisture), you’ll need to prepare another cleaning solution variety. Make the solution by using equal amounts of water and ammonia. Make sure that windows are open and the room is well-ventilated before getting started with cleaning.

Pour some of the ammonia and water solution on the tiles that have mildew. Scrub thoroughly with a soft brush. When done, rinse with water and wipe the tiles clean with a soft piece of fabric. This procedure should be sufficient for getting rid of all the mildew.

Getting Rid of Rust Stains

Finally, you may spot some rust stains underneath appliances and furniture. Such stains are typically uncovered when you move out or you decide to rearrange a room.

Rust stains happen to be quite stubborn but a bit of kerosene will do an excellent job. Always put rubber gloves on before doing this type of cleaning. Dampen a clean cloth with kerosene and rub against the rust stained surface. When done, wipe with a cloth and use the steam mop to shine the tiles and make them look brand new once again.

Keeping the Tile Floor in Good Condition

Steam mopping your tile floors once per week will be sufficient to prevent the accumulation of grime and dirt. Getting used to this routine is the best way to reduce the amount of work you’ll have to do in the long run.

Act Fast

Make sure that spills are addressed immediately. Absorb the moisture before the stain dries and if necessary, do a spot treatment. White vinegar will be great for the purpose. If you leave stains to dry on their own, you’ll find it much more difficult to get the tiles clean.

Prevention is Key

A final basic thing you can do to keep the tiles clean is to put a doormat in front of the entrance. Something as basic can prevent dirt and dust from accumulating on the floor. Alternatively, get in the habit of taking your shoes off before entering your home.

Investing in a steam mop is great for keeping tiles and hard floors looking beautiful. Steam mops are quite cost-efficient and they really make the cleaning more efficient.