Tiles on the floor or on the walls upgrade the look of any room but only if they are clean and sparkling. If they lose their sheen and look worn out, which they will over time, your home will look grungy. So it’s important to maintain the appeal of your tiles with regular cleaning.
Most of us will agree that cleaning scruffy tiles can be a challenge. Over time, stains become too stubborn to remove causing permanent damage, making your tiles look dirty and tattered.
There is also confusion about the right cleaning methods and materials. If you aren’t careful, you may risk damaging the tiles.
7 Easy Ways to Keep Your Wall and Floor Tiles Shining
Here are a few simple yet effective ways you can try to bring the shine back on your tiles:
Do note – If you are testing any new cleaning methods or agents, try on a small surface as a test. Go ahead only if you see no damage.
Regular cleaning is a must
If you can spend a few minutes cleaning your tiles regularly, you will be saving hours of cleaning in the long run. No need for harsh chemicals or any cleaning agent for your daily cleaning. All you need is a broom (a floor broom or the upright broom works best for tiles), a bucket of water, and a simple mop. Sweep and swab daily for clean and hygienic tiles without much effort. Vacuum cleaning is also helpful.
Expert tip: Do not allow your tiles to air-dry as water tends to form spots on the tiles. Dry the floor with a clean cloth soon after the mopping.
Do not allow stains to get comfortable
As soon as you notice oil spills or other stains, jump into action. Remove the stains right away, because if you let them stand, you may well have to live with them. Stubborn stains on floors and walls can be a nightmare for residents.
Expert tip: Removing stains is easy if you clean it promptly, but if there are hard to remove stains, do not try harsh chemicals or metal brushes. Instead, seek expert help.
Make vinegar your cleaning assistant
One of the most multi-purpose items in your kitchen, vinegar is as popular as a cleaning agent as it is as a cooking ingredient.
Try this DIY vinegar cleaner for your tiles. Add ½ a cup of white vinegar in a bucket of water and mix well. Dip the mop in the solution, wring it well and start your cleaning process through backward and forward movements. A natural cleaning agent, vinegar not only helps remove stains but also leaves your tiles shining. Vinegar is also a good disinfectant.
Expert tip: The pH level of vinegar is between 2 and 3. Hence, it may not be suitable for certain types of tiles, such as natural stone or marble tiles.
Try cleaning with baking soda
Add baking soda and white vinegar (1:1) to a bucket of warm water. Now add a tablespoon of any liquid dishwasher and mix well. You can also add any essential oil to it for a pleasant fragrance. Dip a mop in the solution and swab the floors. Hard stains will need vigorous cleaning. Dry the floor with a clean and dry cloth.
Expert tip: Do not use hard brushes or scrubbing materials on your tiles. Instead, use a soft sponge or brush. After you clean the tiles, make sure you wipe off all the remnants of baking soda.
Ammonia is a great tile cleaner
Ammonia is an effective floor cleaner and can remove mildew from tiles. Mix a few drops with warm water and use the solution to mop the floor. If there are hard stains, take a sponge, dip in the liquid, and scrub on the stains. Follow it up with another round of mopping using clear water. Dry the tiles with a dry cloth, and your tiles are ready to shine again.
Expert tip: Open the doors and windows to keep the rooms airy when you are using ammonia. Also, wear hand gloves when you are handling the ammonia solution.
Clean the grout
Tile cleaning is incomplete if you ignore the grout. When grout looks clean, the tiles also look good. Instead of harmful cleaners, try a DIY cleaning solution for tile grout. A paste of baking soda and water or hydrogen peroxide mixed with water works great for tile grout. Use a gentle toothbrush to scrub the grout and remove stains.
Expert tip: After installation of the tiles, use a grout sealer to maintain and protect the tiles and grout. You should also check the sealing at least twice a year, but talk to an expert before doing so.
Know your tiles to know the best cleaning method
It is important to take expert advice before you experiment with any cleaning process on your tiles, even if you are using home ingredients.
For example, marble flooring needs special care. Do not use vinegar or lemon on marble because these ingredients can etch the tiles. Also, do not use harsh chemicals or brushes with rough bristles to clean marble floors. Make a DIY cleaner using phosphate-free soap or a non-abrasive cleaner with neutral pH. Fill a spray bottle with the solution and spray on the tiles. Do not allow the marble to remain wet. Wipe off immediately with a clean cloth or mop.
You can also try a mild detergent with warm water to clean marble tiles and other natural stone tiles. But make sure you use only a pH-neutral detergent or your tiles can end up losing its colour and damaged permanently.
If your home has porcelain tiles, vinegar solution should work best. Clean with the solution at least once a month. For the best results, remove the dust with a broom daily and mop using water every week.
For ceramic tiles, warm water mopping works well. Prompt cleaning to remove stains and spillage is advisable for all types of tiles, including ceramic. If you use the vinegar solution on ceramic tiles, you will have to rinse again with clear and warm water. Dry the floor with a dry mop soon after.
Tiles are installed for long-term use. So, take good care of them with regular cleaning and maintenance. The above methods are simple ways to keep your tiles hygienic, clean. and shining. However, remember to do a test first as different tiles may require different cleaning methods.
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