More and more homeowners are choosing tile as the flooring of choice in kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and other locations in the home. They look classy and offer an easy-to-clean, durable alternative to carpeting. However, after a little wear and tear, tile floors can show it. They build up a layer of dirt and grime that can discolor, stain, and distract from the beauty of your home’s décor. The most common culprits that stain and discolor tile flooring include:
- Daily exposure to water, dust, dirt, and other liquid spills
- High levels of moisture and lack of ventilation that cause mold and mildew
- Porous grout that absorbs spills more easily
- Soap scum buildup from mopping, showering, or bathing
How Can Homeowners Maintain Tile Floors?
While regular sweeping and mopping of tile floors are part of regular household cleaning, they are often not enough to prevent dull, dirty tile. Tile floors require a little extra tender loving care (TLC) to keep their sparkle. Consider these tips from Rainbow Restoration to help keep tile floors from losing their luster:
- Clean up spills immediately to help avoid discoloration of the grout or tile.
- Sweep or vacuum the tile floor regularly to remove debris and keep it from drying on the tile or being ground into the tile with foot traffic.
- After mopping the tile floor, rinse it with water to remove any detergent that may be left on the floor.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals, like bleach or other cleansers, on the tile floor because it could damage the sealant on the tile.
- Always rinse off or wipe down bath tiles after showering or bathing to remove leftover soap scum or moisture to prevent mold and mildew.
Natural Ways to Clean Tile
Putting the sparkle back in your tile between professional cleanings can be as easy as using a few items you can find in your pantry. Consider these natural do-it-yourself mixtures that will keep your tile sparkling clean: Citrus Cleaner Add orange peels (or any citrus peel) to a quart of white vinegar in a closed container and let sit for two weeks. Combine citrus-vinegar solution with half water in a spray bottle and use for cleaning. Use on floors, tiles, fixtures, kitchen, and bath areas. It smells good and cleans well.
Baking Soda Scrub
Remove a stain with baking soda. Try mopping your tile floor using this DIY cleaning recipe: ¼ cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap, ¼ cup baking soda, and 2 gallons of very warm water. You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil for a fresh scent!
Minty Wash
Combine equal parts white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and water, and then add ½ tsp. of liquid dish soap and a few drops of peppermint essential oils. This works well whether you use a bucket or spray bottle to dispense onto your floor as you mop. As a bonus, peppermint oil deters ants and mice!
Mold and Mildew Remover
For a quick, easy way to fight mold and mildew on your bathroom tile or shower curtain, try mixing equal parts of lemon juice and baking powder. Spread the mixture on the mold or mildewed area and leave for a couple of hours before rinsing.
Kill the Germs
Using a capful of mouthwash mixed with a gallon of warm water offers a simple, fresh way to kill germs on your tile floor while also getting them clean. This mixture works well on tile or vinyl flooring, but not on wood.
Caution: Before using any natural DIY cleansers, make sure they are effective on your flooring and won’t cause damage.
Cleaning your tile floor can be a messy and painstaking process. If you need tile and grout cleaning in your home, call the professionals at Rainbow Restoration and they can help you add the sparkle back to your dull, discolored floor.
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