Last Updated on September 3, 2022
Ceramic tile floors are quite popular due to durability and sturdiness, but unlike other floors, they require extra care and cleaning maintenance. Nothing can make your house look neat and spotless except proper cleaning.
Though we all clean our homes regularly by sweeping and mopping, some tough stains or spots make the floor look dirty after cleaning. Therefore, it is essential to clean floor tiles properly to make them shine as new.
In this post, we have enlisted some DIY tips and tricks to deep clean ceramic tile floors in some affordable ways without putting the burden on your budget.
Instructions on How to Deep Clean Ceramic Tile Floors
Compared to marble tiles, ceramic tiles have fewer pores and are highly durable, preventing them from getting too many stains. Anyhow, these aren’t safe from sand or dust that can scratch the floor surface, making it look worse.
These tiles’ flooring is usually present in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, and entrance areas, where they look enchanting. These shiny tiles will turn into discolored surfaces if proper cleanliness isn’t maintained.
Follow the below-mentioned steps on how to deep clean ceramic tile floors in the most effective way.
Equipment Required to Deep Clean Ceramic Tile Floors
- A broom
- Dustpan
- Chamois mop/Rag
- Dry Cloth
- A Bucket
- Cleaning Agent
- Hot water
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Ceramic Tile Floors Cleaning Machine (Optional)
Removing Loose Dirt & Debris
The first thing you need to do is to remove dust and debris from the floor in two ways, Sweeping & vacuuming.
Take a broomstick with soft and flexible bristles that can gently rub on the surface of tiles to remove sand. Even if there are tough tile floors in your home, never use brooms with straw or one with coarse bristles.
There are specific types of brooms available in the market that can be used on smooth surfaces. You should get one for cleaning the edges or corners of rooms.
To pick up dirt, get a dustpan made of plastic and avoid buying a metal dustpan as it will badly scratch the ceramic tile floors.
In the end, a vacuum cleaner to remove extra dust and canister vacuums will better do this job as they will remove dirt from areas that are hard to reach.
Clean Ceramic Tile Grout
Grout is the area that holds the tiles together, and your ceramic floor will only look neat if the grout is cleaned. Machines for cleaning grout are also available in the market from where you can buy them or get on rent.
You can do it yourself in the following ways:
- Take a water bucket and add the powdered mixture of oxygen bleach to it. Oxygen bleach is safer than chlorine bleach due to its non-toxic nature and composition. You can get it easily from a grocery store.
- Add the solution inside a spray bottle and sprinkle it over the grout areas. If there are tough stains on the grout, apply the mixture with the help of a scrubbing brush.
- Leave the mixture on the grout for half an hour, and you can exceed the duration up to 6 hours for better results.
- Let the mixture soak into the surface and start scrubbing with the help of a stiff brush or a toothbrush.
- After removing the dirt with a scrubber, rinse the grout area and wipe it to dry using a clean towel.
- It is recommended to apply the grout sealant to keep the area cleaned for longer.
Tip: You can also use vinegar or lemon juice instead of oxygen bleach, but the result will be more satisfying with bleach, and less cleaning effort will be needed.
Getting Rid of Stains
Tough stains such as oil, paint, wax, or pet wastes are sometimes difficult to remove from ceramic tile floors. You can get an all-purpose cleaning solution to remove these stains, but that will depend on the types of tile floors.
- Hydrogen peroxide is one of the best-known cleaners for tile floors that aids in removing the toughest stains. It can also help eliminate tea, juice, coffee, and food stains.
- If stains are oily in nature, such as paints or foods, you can clean them with club soda.
- Any liquid cleanser mixed with bleach, mineral sprite, ammonia, or acetone can eliminate tile stains.
Note: Be careful of mixing liquids and try to avoid adding bleach into ammonia due to the release of toxic gases.
- The poultice will help in a great way to remove stains of rust or corrosion,.
Pick The Right Cleaning Solutions
This is the most important step to consider during cleaning ceramic tile floors. You must pick a cleaning agent that doesn’t lead to harmful effects on the surface and give the best cleaning outcome. The following types of cleaning solutions are useful for the job:
- Chemical cleaners such as bleach, ammonia, and other cleaning agents are most common. However, due to their toxic effects on human health, it is best to avoid them. They can severely impact on eyes and lead to respiratory infections.
- To avoid the dangerous effects of chemicals, you can rely on some organic cleaners that are much safer to use. These cleaners are baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar. All of these are best for cleaning and disinfecting tile floors.
- A dry solution can be used to remove ordinary or simple stains.
Mopping the Tile Floor
Mopping the ceramic tile floor is the best way to gain shine and neatness everywhere. To mop floors, avoid using sponges as they will absorb dirty water and leave it on the floor when you wipe them again with them.
It is better to use a microfiber cloth or a rag for this purpose as they are safe to use on these tiles. Some mops with spray absorbing and spraying ability are also available these days for proper cleaning.
Let The Floor Dry
After mopping the floor and cleaning each corner of your home, now is the time to let it dry.
If you leave it to air dry, water lines or streaks will appear on the floor, and the grouts will absorb water and become more vulnerable to cracks.
Get a lint-free microfiber cloth for drying accurately.
How Often Should You Clean Ceramic Tile Floors
It is good to make a cleaning schedule and follow it strictly to maintain a better home state. Though regular cleaning is essential, you should also check the deep cleaning.
Try to sweep floors daily with a broom. Vacuum clean all corners of the home once a week. Use mop on kitchen tiles and other areas once in two weeks. Deep cleaning of ceramic tile floors must be done once a month.
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