Ceramic tile floors are some of the most beautiful and durable flooring available. Many homeowners celebrate when they realize that they won't have to buy a new kitchen floor for another twenty to thirty years. However, that's a long time, and over time, if not properly cleaned, tile floors can start looking dingy and dull. Tiles can get scratched or look hazy and lose that just-installed brilliant polished finish. Products that will help clean and maintain your tile floors are plentiful, which can make it difficult to settle on one or two products that work well. When wondering how to keep floors bright and stain free, it's time to head to the cleaning aisle at the neighborhood grocery store and spend just a few dollars on some very traditional cleaning products, while leaving hard earned cash in the wallet.
Since you have grout, a better choice for wet mopping your floor is to use a traditional rag mop. The easy-to-use flat sponge mops will push dirty water into your grout lines which can lead to discoloration and stains. Work to avoid creating large puddles so that you aren't allowing extra grime to settle into those cracks.
One of the best all-natural cleaning solutions for tile floors is lemon juice, since the acid can easily cut through dirt, while leaving behind no cloudy residue. Even if you use a regular cleaning solution for the big mopping job, lemon juice makes a great polish. Squirt a little on the floor, wipe down with a soft cloth and let dry. Your tiles will literally shine.
There are several excellent tile floor cleaners available to choose from. The top three are Black Diamond Marble & Tile Floor Cleaner, Better Life Floor Cleaner and Parker & Bailey Tile and Stone Floor Cleaner.
Coffee is often the stain that makes many homeowners opt for a new rug or floor. Good news! Hydrogen peroxide can be found in the health & beauty aid aisle. After cleaning the tile normally, put some hydrogen peroxide on a cleaning rag and blot over the coffee stain. It should come right up.
Most ceramic tiles have been finished with a durable clear glaze that is ready to be mopped, wiped and polished using common all-purpose cleaners. Just make sure that the product you select is non-abrasive. You can skip the specialty section in the grocery store and opt for cost-effective solutions that get the job done.
Dust and dirt will dull the appearance of your ceramic tiles, but a quick vacuum across your tile floors can help bring back a bit of shine. You don't need to mop every single day. Just run your vacuum over it to pick up pet fur, tracked in dirt and crumbs from food. Make sure to set your power brush attachment to hard floor setting or switch to a basic floor attachment.
Baking soda is a fabulous cleaning solution for grout. Make a paste using just a little water and a tablespoon of baking soda. Apply it to the stained grout. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and then scrub using a toothbrush. Wipe up. Really stubborn stains may come up when you let the baking soda sit over night. Don't use a wire brush as it will rip apart your grout and possibly scratch your tiles. There are also some products specially designed for cleaning tough stains off of grout.
Many times it isn't the tiles that look old and stained, it is the grout lines. Protect yours by applying a silicone-based grout sealer. It dries clear and will block any dirt or stains from collecting in your grout, extending the life of your floor. As the sealer wears off, you can reapply.