subject: Maintaining Tile and Grout [print this page] There are a variety of tile flooring options for homeowners to choose from. And even though the selection is vast there remains one constant among all of them. They must be cleaned. Regardless of whether you have vinyl, ceramic tile, or porcelain, they all need to be cleaned and maintained to retain their beauty and impact.
One of the best tools you can own for cleaning tile is a vacuum made for hard surfaces. This type of vacuum works better than a regular vacuum and is less apt to create scratches than a broom. Keeping tile vacuumed regularly will help reduce the amount of accumulation these floors can get.
Another handy item to have is a micro-fiber sweeper. These are also much gentler than a regular broom and will pick up items that the vacuum can miss. The micro-fiber sweeper is a great tool to use in conjunction with the vacuum. After vacuuming your tile you can use the sweeper to follow up on the dust and particles that were not picked up previously with the vacuum.
Tile will have to be mopped on a regular basis. After collecting all the loose debris with the vacuum and the sweeper you should give your tile a good mopping. It is recommended to use a string mop and if possible one made of a micro-fiber much like the sweeper. The key thing to remember with mopping is to not use too much detergent. This can leave a residue that will just make cleaning much more difficult the next time.
When mopping you want to make sure to rinse your mop often with plain water. This way you're not reapplying a dirty mop to your cleaned areas. A neutral pH cleaner made for tile is what experts suggest you use. This will be aggressive enough to get the tile clean without damaging it. Another suggestion is to mop your floor with plain water every third time you mop. This will help to clear your tile of any residue that has built up over the previous cleanings and refresh your flooring.
When it comes to cleaning the grout between your tile there really isn't a secret technique to make it easier. If you maintain your tile floors regularly this will help to keep the grout clean for a longer period of time but eventually the grout will begin to darken due to everyday use. What you need to use for grout is a small, soft brush and some alkaline cleaner. Then you're just going to have to get down with some elbow grease and go to town.
You should have your tile flooring professionally cleaned and sealed every 3-5 years. This will revive your flooring and make your regular maintenance much easier.
