Floor finishes or flooring materials refer to the common term used for the permanent overlay spread on a floor. Flooring can also refer to the installation of a floor covering. It basically covers any finish materials set over a floor structure to offer a walking surface.
While the two terms are used interchangeably, floor covering is usually used to connote loosely-laid materials. Ceramic tile is one of the flooring materials available. It can be easily cleaned using the world’s best tile mop around.
It is almost impossible for you to have a terrible interior décor with clean tile flooring. Tile has always ranked as the most ideal alternative for bathrooms, however, homeowners equally love to use it in dining places, kitchens, walkways, entrance porch, laundry areas and toilets.
With regards to the color and general style variants, tile stands as the most versatile and dynamic flooring item you can ever find. You can get all the patterns you wish, ranging from small mosaics to large format floor tiles.
You can even have tiles that wear the look of hardwood and yet match the durability of ceramic. When it comes to durability in tile flooring, porcelain and coated ceramic tiles stand as the best option.
They require just minimal maintenance efforts and regular cleaning with a premium steam mop for tile will do. It is good practice to paint tiles from time-to-time to prevent stains. This practice is especially necessary if the property will be rented out.
Cleaning tile floors gives it durability and resiliency which is greater than in most other flooring materials.
If they are properly glazed, they have a shielding barrier that protects them from dirt, water, stains as well as harsh chemicals which renders them resistant to the harmful elements. Even as tile floors are simple to maintain, there are certain things you need to do to make sure that they don’t deteriorate fast.
What Are Tile Floors
A tile is a thin rectangular or square-shaped item made from hard-surfaced materials usually ceramics, stone, iron, refined clay or glass.
More often than not, tiles are suspended up as roof covers, laid as flooring materials or used to cover tables. Besides, tiles can equally mean similar items produced from lightweight items like perlite, hardwood, artificial wool, used in wall and ceiling coverings.
It is common to have tiles used in wall and floor covering, and this can be anything from ordinary square tiles to the more intricate mosaic patterns.
Usually, tiles are produced from ceramics, glazed when used inside the homes for flooring and not glazed when they are to be used as a roofing material. Composite materials used in making tiles include glass, cork, concrete and sometimes stones. It is also possible to install a durable laminate flooring.
Benefits of Tile Floors
Water Resistance
Coated ceramic flooring tile material comes with a hard, impervious protective upper layer which makes them water-resistant and stain-proof. This is what gives them an edge in very humid conditions and wet areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and entrance porch.
Durability
Tile floors are very sturdy, hard and don’t break easily. When installed correctly, tiles can last for a century if they are carefully maintained. Should one of it break by accident, it can be easily removed and replaced.
Easy Maintenance
Caring for the tile floor is quite easy. Because of their glazed surface, dirt, stains and liquids don’t sink into the tiles so that you can easily wipe with a dry cloth or mop them. Kitchen flooring is comfortable to walk on because of the easy maintenance of tile floors.
Sweeping or vacuuming using a soft brush will remove debris and dust. Heavy-duty cleaners can be utilized in cleaning the materials.
Cost
Of all the flooring materials available, tiles still stand as one of the most affordable options you can get. Beginning with as low as $5 for each square foot for the budget-friendly ones with do-it-yourself installation.
Nevertheless, if you cherish the more-fanciful tiles and expert installation, these floors the same as hardwood or top-quality carpet. It is just a matter of tile and ease of installation.
Allergen Challenges
Tile floors come with hard impervious finishing which does not glue nor absorb dirt, dust particles, pollen or other allergens. If the tiny particles get on them, they are left on the surface and can be easily cleaned using a soft spin mop stick or even sponge.
The air in the house is, therefore, devoid of disgusting allergic materials that can trigger asthma, nasal congestion and other infections.
Types of Tile Floors
Porcelain/Ceramic Tiles
Porcelain tiles make for the upgraded ceramic floor when it comes to durability and sturdiness. Porcelain does not get stained easily neither does it get defaced with scratches or fade away.
It is quite denser than the average ceramic tile because it is produced under high temperatures and made from processed clay. Frost-graded porcelain types can even be used in outdoor instances.
Marble and Natural Stone Tiles
Increasing in popularity by the day, marble and natural stone tiles are getting more common since recently.
They are produced from marble, granite, limestone as well as slate. You can get diverse textures of marble and stone tiles such as sandblasted, etched, cleft as well as tumbled. The color ranges available include cream, blue, red and green.
Marble tiles are either patterned or veined. Marble and natural stone tiles require regular cleaning to maintain them. However, if it is a hardwood tile, the best way to clean hardwood is with a steam mop.
Vinyl Tiles
Although not as beautiful in appearance, vinyl tiles are easy to install, environment-friendly and can be recycled. They don’t crack or break easily. They are usually used because they are inexpensive, resilient and can be easily installed.
Linoleum Tiles
Linoleum is one of the most adaptable tile floorings for bathrooms. It is dust and dirt-repellent, although it keeps its texture and color. Linoleum tiles are simple to install and if they are neatly set, they add beauty to the home interior décor.
Linoleum is very versatile such that it blends easily with just any style. In vintage homes, linoleum can match the old and antique designs easily.
Cork Tiles
This tile type is the most ideal for kids and older people in residential apartments. The tiles offer a particular level of protection should a person mistakenly trips off and falls down. Cork tile is sturdier than hardwood flooring generally and it doesn’t harbor allergens, microorganisms or fungus.
Besides, it can be installed with a do-it-yourself installation and it is easy to maintain by merely sweeping and mopping. You can save time and money with durable hardwood mop and use it to clean the cork tiles.
How Often to Clean Tile Floors
Dry Clean
Any floor ought to be swept with a broom or using a vacuum cleaner a minimum of two times in one week. This will ensure that debris, dirt particles, allergens and other contaminants are eliminated from the air.
A dry cloth can equally be used in cleaning tiles. The cloth cleans off dust particles gathered at the surface, leaving a neat glossy and shining surface.
First, move all furniture items, electrical appliances or any other thing that could constitute a hindrance to free access to the floor. Then, sweep the surface with a brush or broom and collect the dust. Lastly, use a dry cloth or any other fabric material to clean the surface.
Wet Clean
The overall aim of cleaning your tile is to ensure that dirt and spills do not come in contact with them. Rather than stopping people from threading on your floor, it is essential that you mop up spills immediately they occur and wet cleaning is one of the most-effective means of doing this.
You can eliminate debris from all floors with a steam cleaner. You can, as well, use hot water and mop with a mild antiseptic detergent.
It is necessary to use a cleaning product recommended by the manufacturer to improve the tile’s appearance, shine and color. A good wet cleaning product readily available to everyone is water. Merely cleaning the floor surface with a mop dipped in water will leave your floor neat.
Wet cleaning of your tile can equally be achieved using white vinegar and water. This is especially important in cases where you wish to use mild chemicals because of messes that pets and juveniles can cause.
Tiles are kept in place by grout, a whitish cement-like material that can get stained or discolored over time. You can prevent this by polishing your tile surface regularly – at least twice a year is not a bad idea. This will keep stains and debris from reaching the surface of tiles in the first place.
How to Clean Tile Floors
Step 1 – Remove sand, dust and debris
Take away loose particles. Use a vacuum cleaner or broom to sweep tiles regularly to remove sand, grit and debris from the surface.
Step 2 – Select the ideal floor mop
From rag to chamois-style mops, there are different mops for different tiles. Find the most appropriate one for your flooring and get a mop bucket for dirty water. Change the dirty water to prevent bad cleaning.
Step 3 – Check out for tile stains
Peradventure you notice any stain, investigate and ascertain their nature. This will help you to determine the ideal cleaner to use in removing it.
Step 4 – Look out for soap residue
Soap residue could leave you with a hazy floor after cleaning. Use a mild multipurpose cleaner or vinegar with a mild acid to take away the soap residue.
Step 5 – Dry tiles too
Never allow the glazed tiles to dry by themselves or else there will be marks. Use a neat dry mop or fabric to dry off the water instead. It leaves surfaces polished with a carpet cleaner.
How to Clean Grout Lines on Your Tile Floors
Step 1 – Use homemade cleaners
Leave the commercial cleaners and use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean up the grout.
Step 2 – Let the cleaning solution work overnight
Drape the mixture on the stain and allow it to stay throughout the night, then take off the stain each morning using a stiff nylon brush. Do this over and over again.
Step 3 – Clean with a silicone-based machine polish
Use a silicone-based machine polish to glaze the grout to prevent potential stains. This should be done around 2 weeks after the grout has been set or refined.
How Effective Are Environmentally-Friendly Cleaners on Tile Floors
Eco-friendly cleaners are quite potent and effective as a cleaning mixture on tiles. They do not react with the tiles regardless of the type and yet they work incredibly fine, even better than the conventional inorganic tile cleansers.
It is possible to easily prepare your personal cleaning mixture using water and vinegar solution or castile soap. There are lots of environment-friendly cleaning mixtures available in the market.
They are all biodegradable and can clean perfectly well with no toxic materials such as petrochemicals or triclosan.
This Shark vacuums with reviews hold that they clean the tile floor, leaving you with a sparkling and brilliantly-polished floor surface.
Do’s and Don’ts While Cleaning and Maintaining Tile Floors
Do’s
- Ensure to remove all obstacles from the floor before attempting to clean.
- Clean with the recommended mop, cleaner and method only.
- Always sweep of dust and other debris before commencing to clean.
- Polish the floor surface at least twice a year.
Don’ts
- Never clean stone tiles with vinegar or any other acid.
- Don’t leave the tiles to air-dry as the water can leave traces on them.
- Never use a harsh brush while scrubbing.
- Don’t allow dust to gather on the tiles for long otherwise, it can stain the grout,
FAQ About Cleaning Tile Floors
What is the best cleaning solution for ceramic tile floors?
It is clear that homemade mixtures are the best cleaning solution for tiles. They are made from mild detergent and water. Although there are a couple of other cleaning mixtures in the market you can opt for, dishwashing soap and water work excellently.
Is vinegar good for cleaning tile floors?
Vinegar is certainly not the best option for cleaning tiles, even if you use the world’s best tile mop. This is because it reacts with stone and marble tile floors.
How do you deep clean tile floors?
Tile floors can be deep cleaned using warm water and vinegar solution. Thereafter, you can use scouring powder and warm water to remove stains. Ammonia solution will remove mildew from the tiles if there are any. Lastly, if there are any rust spots, use kerosene to remove it.
How do you clean white floor tiles?
White tiles can be cleaned by sweeping or vacuuming the floor daily. Besides that, you can use the premium steam mop for tile and warm water to mop the floor. After you’re finished, clean up spills with disinfectant and dry the floor thereafter.
How to clean tile floors with vinegar and baking soda?
Cleaning tiles using vinegar and baking soda takes serious scrubbing with the ideal brush for the stubborn stains. However, always remember that vinegar must not be used on stone or marble tiles to prevent chemical reactions.
Conclusion
Cleaning and maintaining tile floors can be very easy, however, it is essential that you mind the type of cleaning mixture you use and the type of tiles you have installed.
If the right cleaning method is used, certainly, your tile is going to be neat and will last for a long time. Nevertheless, do not forget that the best way to clean hardwood is with a steam mop.
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