The Basics of Cleaning Floor Tiles

The important thing to know about cleaning floor tiles, is that regular cleaning helps prevent grime and dirt buildup.

• Daily sweeping/vacuuming: Remove dirt, hair and debris to ensure nothing is scratching the surface or affecting the appearance of finish and colour.
• Weekly mopping: Mix a gentle tiles cleaner with water. Listen to mixing instructions to ensure the water isn’t too soapy as tiled floor cleaning solution can leave a slippery film on top of your floors.
• Removing stains quickly: Wipe up spills immediately to stop any marking or grout staining.
• General tile cleaning vs deep cleaning: General tile cleaning will refresh the tiles and take off easily removable marks and debris. Deep cleaning helps get into crevices and stubborn spots, to truly rejuvenate your floors and leave them sparkling.

The key to knowing how to clean floor tiles efficiently, is to be consistent with light cleans to keep tiles looking fresh and make those deep cleans less strenuous.

Deep Cleaning Methods for Tiles

When the muddy shoes and paws, the weather and dirt of autumn begin to make their way into the home, it’s time for a deep clean. Give your floor the refresh it deserves by discovering the best way to deep clean tiled floors.

1. Preparation: Sweep or vacuum away dirt and dust.
2. Scrubbing: Use a soft bristle brush or mop (no steel wool) to scrub floor tiles to lift up any embedded grime. Knowing how to scrub tile floors properly ensures that you’re lifting all dirt and grime that may be stuck in stubborn areas, creating a floor that looks brand new.
3. Steam mops: If preferred, use a steam mop to clean your floors. Is a steam mop good for a tile floor? Steam mops are particularly good for lifting stuck-on dirt and disinfect your floors without needing to use disinfectant. It’s important to note that you will need a good steam mop for tile floors that maintains an even level of heat. Do not use a steam mop if your grout isn’t sealed.
4. Polishing: Dry the floors with a clean and dry polishing cloth to ensure floors are streak free and sparkling.

How to Clean Different Types of Tiles

Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain is durable but needs special care. Wondering how to clean porcelain floors? Follow this simple guide.

• Mix a mild cleaner with warm water when cleaning porcelain floor tiles. Opt for the best cleaner for porcelain tile floors, that’s going to lift all dirt whilst being gentle.
• Use a mop or soft scrubbing brush.
• Dry floors to buff out any streaks, to ensure the tiles are gleaming.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles can be sensitive to harsh products.

• Mix a mild cleaner with warm water to create your own cleaner for ceramic floor tiles or use a specific ceramic floor cleaner. If looking for a natural solution, we recommend mixing vinegar with warm water.
• Use a mop or a soft bristle brush to lift and remove grime.
• Ensuring you know how to clean ceramic floor tiles keeps the tiles fresh and spotless.

Victorian or Textured Tiles

The key to knowing how to clean Victorian floor tiles is to be gentle.

• Avoid acid-based cleaners. Mix cleaning solution with warm water and use a soft brush or mop to life grime out of crevices.
• If you are looking to know how to clean Victorian floor tiles naturally, create a baking soda and water paste, leave on stains for 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly.

Glossy Tiles

Glossy tiles are prone to streaks and smudges.

• If you have glossy black floor tiles, they need dusting or sweeping every day to keep them looking clean and shiny.  Unsure what is the best cleaner for glossy tiles? Go for a mild cleaner, it won’t damage the gloss finish but will effectively remove grime.

Best Products for Tile Cleaning

It’s important to consider and ensure that you are using the right floor and tile cleaner.

Look for:

• pH neutral cleaner: Gentle on grout and sealants whilst still able to remove grime and marks.
• Pet-safe options: Check to see if cleaner is safe to use around pets.
• Eco-friendly cleaners: Consider a cleaner that considers the environment as well as reducing grime.

Some of the best cleaning products for tile floors can be used on both porcelain and ceramic. If you’re looking for the best cleaner to clean tile floors, it all depends on your tile type, colour, finish etc so look for a floor tile cleaner that is designed specifically for your tile type.

Seasonal Tile Care Tips (Year-Round)

Every season brings a type of cleaning challenge- here’s how to get your tiles looking clean all year round.

• Autumn: Mud, leaves and pawprints – get a soft bristle brush for the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, ensure water is warm to allow the steam to loosen dirt.
• Winter: Salt and snow can leave debris and streaks, especially in your entrance ways. Keep a mat by the front door and mop tiles at least weekly to get rid of streaks.
• Spring: Get rid of pollen and dust by regularly vacuuming or sweeping.
• Summer: Sand and dry dirt can scratch your floors, frequently sweep or vacuum.

For any stubborn marks, combine bicarbonate of soda and water to create a paste and leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. This mixture works as a stain remover on tiles.

FAQ:

Q: What’s the best way to clean tile floors?

The best way to clean floor tiles is to ensure you are regularly sweeping/vacuuming, mopping weekly and a doing a deep clean monthly using the best floor tile cleaner for your tile type.

Q: What’s the best cleaner for ceramic floor tiles?

Use a ceramic floor cleaner that is pH-balanced and mild.

Q: How to remove stains from tiles?

To remove any stains in tiles, create a baking soda paste, leave to sit for 15 minutes then rinse thoroughly. If premade is preferred, look for stain remover that can be used on your tile type.

Q: How often should I deep clean floor tiles?

The best way to deep clean tile floors is by doing so every month and more frequently in autumn and winter.

Maintaining a frequent routine of general maintenance of your tiles is key to ensure they look fresh all year round. Regular maintenance also increases the longevity of your tiles. From explaining the importance of considering your tile type when looking for the best cleaning product for tile floors to how to clean ceramic floors – these tips help you keep your tiles looking spotless through every season.