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Whether it’s ceramic, stone, or linoleum, these tile cleaning suggestions will help you restore its lustre.
Known for its longevity and ease of upkeep, tile remains the most popular flooring option for residential spaces. Tile flooring comes in an expanding variety of materials in addition to an infinite number of colours, forms, and sizes, so it’s simple to select the exact look and feel you want for your room. However, home cleaners take note: You must adjust your cleaning techniques in tandem with your design. For instance, extremely different cleansers are needed for ceramic and marble, slate and linoleum, porcelain and granite, travertine and terracotta, and so on.
This tile cleaning guide from our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab includes the advice you need to keep your home’s tile floors spotless and looking brand-new for a long time, regardless of the kind. Additionally, we have experience dealing with grout that is discoloured and unclean. When you’re ready, we’ll assist you in cleaning and brightening those tile grout lines.
How to Clean Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Floors
(Credit : SOLSTOCK)
Because they are made of clay and are burned in a kiln, both porcelain and ceramic tiles are strong, moisture-resistant flooring materials that are simple and quick to clean with the correct equipment.
What You’ll Need:
- Soft-bristle broom or vacuum attachment
- Microfiber mop or cloth or spray mop
- Water bucket
- Mild detergent
- Clean, dry microfiber cloth
- Eliminate any loose dirt. Prior to washing, all tile floors must be cleaned or vacuumed. We advise using a soft-bristle broom or a hoover attachment with soft bristles to remove dirt, dust, hair and debris because many tile materials can scratch easily. If your hoover does not have a bare floor attachment, see if it has a characteristic that we seek for in the top vacuums we test: the ability to turn off the brush roll. To assist maintain tile floors in between cleanings, use a handheld broom in tight spaces and along the room’s perimeter.
- In a big bucket, combine water and a light detergent. When adding detergent to your water, less is more is preferable as too much can make rinsing challenging. Combine ¼ cup of a mild detergent (such as Mr. Clean Multi-Surface Cleaner, a GH Seal star and one of our most tried-and-true multipurpose cleansers) with one gallon of water to get the ideal ratio.
- Dip a cloth or microfiber mop into the mixture. While it may be tempting to reach for a sponge and rapidly wash the tile floor in your bathroom by hand, if you use too much water, you risk leaving ugly streaks or wet stains behind. Because sponges inherently hold water, it’s better to use a spray mop where you squirt the cleaning solution as you work, or a microfiber cloth or mop with a bucket so you can squeeze out extra water. Work in portions on larger floors to cut down on the amount of water required to complete the task.
- Give it a good rinse. Replace the water in the bucket often and remove any remaining cleaning solution to let your floors shine. After giving your mop or cloth a thorough rinse, use it to clean a specific area. Continue until the entire floor appears spotless.
- Dry to prevent stains. While glazed tiles should be cleaned with a dry microfiber towel to avoid water stains, unglazed tiles can be allowed to air dry.
How to Clean Vinyl Tile Floors
(Credit : MollyMaid)
Vinyl tile flooring, which is made of PVC, is a long-lasting, low-maintenance solution that is frequently waterproof and therefore very easy to clean. Just adhere to the previous floor cleaning instructions. Scuff marks can be removed by rinsing off a cloth dipped in baking soda or rubbing alcohol.
How to Clean Linoleum Tile Floors
(Credit : FlooringAmerica)
With one little modification, linoleum tile floors can also be cleaned by following the aforementioned detailed instructions. Since linoleum is a synthetic substance, steam mopping these tiles is not advised because of their high moisture content.
If it’s not sealed properly, water might infiltrate under the tiles quickly, leading to degradation. Instead, use a handy spray mop that allows you to regulate the amount of moisture on the surface, such as the GH seal star Swiffer Wet Jet. Have hands with an enduring mark? Use a wet, gentle, non-scratch scrub pad to very carefully remove it; however, be aware that this will probably also remove any wax finish from the tile.
How to Clean Natural Stone Tile Floors
(Credit : PHOTOTROPIC)
Compared to other tiles, natural stones need more upkeep and care because they are more porous and prone to scratches. While following the above step-by-step instructions, be sure to carefully consider the kind of cleaner we suggest for your particular flooring type below. Not every type of natural stone tile floor can be cleaned with every cleaner. (Steam mop usage is also not advised!) Furthermore, keep in mind never to use any instruments or abrasive cleaners that could scratch the surface.
Marble Tile Floors
(Credit : FreePik)
In order to maintain the best-looking marble floor, spills should always be cleaned up right away to avoid stains, and acidic cleaners like vinegar and lemon should never be used since they can etch the stone. Instead, mix some warm water with a small amount of liquid dishwashing detergent.
Use a marble sealer at least once a year to keep stains away. If staining does happen, find a marble cleaning powder, such as tin oxide, from your neighbourhood hardware or home improvement store and use it as directed on the container.
Other Natural Stone Tile Floors
You must use a neutral pH cleaner to clean slate, granite, limestone, and travertine; carefully read the labels and stay away from any acidic cleansers. To preserve the appearance and feel of these stones, regular cleaning and sporadic sealing with a resin sealant are required. These stones are also prone to stains, scratches, and cracks. Use a specialised spot-treatment stain remover made for that kind of stone to get rid of oil or grease.
Terracotta Tile Floors
(Credit : The Spruce/ Christopher Lee Foto)
Because terracotta is extremely porous, much like other natural stones, you should always avoid using acidic cleansers and take care when washing to prevent letting water soak on the surface or along grout lines. Dust can also be drawn to unglazed terracotta tiles. A water-based sealant can be applied to assist shield the surface from stains and simplify regular cleaning. If after the first year you observe a change in colour, it’s probably the terracotta stone getting older.
How often should you clean tile floors?
The routines and foot traffic in your home will determine how often you need to clean, but maintaining your tile floors and minimising work on cleaning day require regular tile cleaning. You should only need to mop every one to two weeks if you hoover or sweep a few times a week, or as soon as dirt and debris start to appear. The longer you go between cleanings, the longer it will take to get rid of stubborn dirt and bring back the shine.
Why is my floor sticky after I mop?
This is probably the result of improper floor rinsing after using the cleaning solution. Rinse well after cleaning to prevent residue from adhering to tile floors. As you work in sections over the floor, make sure to completely rinse your bucket and microfiber cloth or mophead. Using a clean, soft cloth to dry the floor rather than allowing it to air dry also helps.
How do you keep tile floors shiny and clean between washes?
Just one word: Preventive! The goal is to prevent filth and trash from ever entering your house in the first place. One simple and quick technique to reduce the amount of cleaning you’ll have to do later is to place door mats at entry points and remove your shoes before entering the house. Maintaining clean tile floors also involves routine vacuuming and spill cleanup.
