Tile Cleaning Tips

by: Jennifer “Jenn” Boyd

Ok, we had a question from a customer. Mrs Wimmer asked us “What is the best way to take care of my tile”? Well lets start by letting our readers know that we have just completed a full master bath remodel for this client in a wonderful white/gray porcelain 12″x24″ tile. We also installed a honed natural stone fireplace accent wall, as well as a polished natural stone back splash in her kitchen, and a full surround in her guest bath in ceramic tile. What a pleasure it was to work on her job, and she does have almost all of the different types of materials we sell, all in one house.

The easiest, quickest and most efficient step to taking care of your tile floors is to regularly sweep, vacuum and damp mop them. Lets start with the porcelain tile. The biggest difference between between porcelain and all the other tile options for a floor is that porcelain as part of its make-up is a almost zero porosity material. This means that it does not absorb something spilled on it like a natural stone or even a ceramic would. These tiles are very durable and can be cleaned with almost any household cleaner without any worries about damaging the surface. What we have to be a little more cautious about is the grout joints. This is the same for all tiled areas. Grout tends to be the maintenance area of concern with most tile installs. We do not recommend using vinegar on your grout. I know a lot of people always have, but we also get a lot of calls from people that have failing grout that comes out just by running a car key down the joints. Vinegar is a mild acid and over many years of use will break down the strength of the grout. We also do not recommend any cleaners with detergents in them as they can leave a soapy residue behind in the pores of the grout that actually will attract more dirt. We also do not recommend any cleaners with color additives in them (lemon, orange, pine etc…), this color can stain the grout over time. We have a selection of daily cleaners in the showroom that will provide a strong enough cleaning power but are formulated to work with your grout. The other solution that we suggest is a mix of ammonia and water. This will cut the grease and grime and not leave a soapy residue behind. We usually mix it 5 parts water to one part ammonia, and remember we don’t want the sudsing or the scented kind.

When we talk about ceramic we have the same suggestions. Remember that ceramic is more porous then porcelain and so the absence of color in the cleaner is even more important. Using a good quality steam mop on any of your tile floors is a great way to remove daily grime, and being that it is just a water vapor it doesn’t leave any unwanted colors or suds behind.

Natural stone is the more delicate flooring that we install. It has a wonderful look to it that is very rich and natural and not easily reproduced in a man made tile form. Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Normally, it will take a person about eight steps on a floor surface to remove sand or dirt from the bottom of their shoes. Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the surface. Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral PH stone cleaner available at retail stores or at your local tile and stone dealer, or a mild liquid dish washing detergent and warm water. Use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Change the rinse water frequently. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.

We also suggest that you have your grout sealed if you are concerned about it being stained.  We also offer an upgraded grout that is less pores and helps to repel stains better then a standard grout does.