Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links.
Are you glad about your tile floors? What about cleaning? It’s problematic. Dirt gets stuck to its surface. It penetrates with all its pits. What a mess! Above all, how to clean textured ceramic tile floors? The joints always look untidy. Scrubbing them with a brush every day would be exhausting. It’s time-consuming. Are there any other solutions? Let’s check them.
Ceramic Tile Flooring Benefits
Why have you made this decision? If you installed ceramic tiles in your cherished house, you might like their beauty. Have you got young children? This solution is hygienic. It’s anti-allergic. The flooring is easy to maintain. Just use the best tile floor cleaning machine to keep it tidy. Are your dogs or cats messy? Ceramic flooring suits you the best. Why?
Ceramic tiles are:
- durable;
- scratch and moisture-resistant;
- non-slip;
- fireproof;
- environmentally-friendly.
Due to their unique properties, tiles are indispensable for the kitchen or bathroom. They are commonly used in warm states and countries. What would you do when the temperature outdoors is about 110°F? The best tool for cleaning tile floors in a heat wave is just a water hose.
The option makes it possible to rinse the floor with water. What a relief! A floor trap is to be installed. For example, the California Plumbing Code allows using these fixtures. Additionally, unlike glazed tiles, textured flooring stands out by non-slip surface. Accidents are eliminated.
How to Clean Textured Floor Tiles?
Is it possible to damage this hard surface? According to research, its technical characteristics are amazing. The tiles’ water absorption at 2100 degrees F is 7-9%, tensile strength is 50-58 MPa. The best mop for ceramic tile floors and grout is definitely suitable. What is the steam temperature? It’s up to 250°F. So, it’s completely safe.
Quite naturally, at normal conditions, ceramic tiles are less durable than vitrified ones. Let’s compare them.
| Technical Characteristics | Ceramic Tiles | Vitrified Tiles |
|---|---|---|
| Flexural strength, N/mm2 | 22 | 35 |
| Breaking strength, N | 200 | 700 |
| Water absorption, % | 1-2 | 0.5 or less |
What do you use to clean ceramic tile? No cleaning solution can damage its surface. However, textured tiles are commonly installed indoors. Vitrified ones are designed for outdoor and high traffic areas. So, prefer green cleaner for your bathroom or kitchen. Meanwhile, joints between the tiles call for special attention.
Does Steam Cleaning Damage Grout?
Actually, grout is hard. The mortar is commonly based on cement powder or epoxy adhesive. Cementitious grout is porous. It absorbs dirt and grease. Meanwhile, any tile mortar is moisture-resistant. It’s designed for wet areas. In the case of water leakage, grout decelerates its penetration. So, vapor or steam can’t damage it.
How to clean between tiles? Multiple methods exist. You can use an old toothbrush. The special grout cleaners are available on the market. Organic products like vinegar or baking soda work well.
Meanwhile, cleaning solutions can be harmful. There are several things you are to avoid by cleaning grout. They include:
- Harsh and colored chemicals.
- Acidic cleaners.
- Coarse scrubbers.
Hot water is the best cleaner for ceramic tile floors. However, it’s abundance is also undesirable. How much water is considered abundant? A quality steam mop leaves the floors nearly dry. They remain wet for not more than 1-2 minutes.
How to Deep Clean Tile?
Ceramic tiles’ surface is rough. It provides a perfect grip but holds dirt. Therefore, regular sweeping or mopping is insufficient. Any spills are to be removed immediately. Additionally, you can prevent stains by removing messes and residue.
What about thorough cleaning? A mix of vinegar and water is efficient to eliminate stains. It contains mild acids but dissolves grease perfectly well. It’s suitable for disinfecting the area. Rubbing alcohol works on the tiles, as well.
The best product to clean ceramic tile floors should be green and mild. Would you like to mop the floors, wearing gloves and safety goggles? Harsh fumes of chemicals like bleach would irritate your lungs. Colored solutions make grout dark.
Thus, the best way to deep clean tile floors is steam mopping. This method is heavy-duty. It’s suitable to remove any stains, even the stubborn ones. High pressure and extreme temperature disinfect the surface. Harsh chemicals are not necessary. Avoid them to get health benefits.
How to Clean Old Bathroom Floor Tiles
Old tiles hold dirt. In several years, they can get a dirt buildup and a haze. Is water in your locality hard? If so, you might see lime whitewash on the surface. In this case, a top-quality limescale remover solution can be used.
If you prefer wet mopping method:
- Sweep the floors.
- Mop the tiles.
- Mix the solution with water and spray it on the surface.
- Mop the flooring again with a clean sponge.
The best way to mop tile floors is by rinsing a cloth. Wipe the surface thoroughly. It is to remain completely dry. A towel can be necessary. Wait for a while before you step on the tiles.
Afterward, steam cleaning can be applied. It’s just the best way to clean the bathroom floor tiles. Why? It’s easy and green. The method lets you sanitize nasty areas easily. Dangerous microbes are completely eliminated. So, just fill the tank with water and steam the floor. The filter lets you avoid additional lime buildup. The surface is efficiently protected.
How to Clean Ceramic Tile Kitchen Floor
Do you like cooking? Grease can build up on the floors in some days of heavy use. Food stains are common in the kitchen. Do you know an easy way to clean tile floors? The surfaces in the kitchen are to be kept hygienically crystal. Germs and bacteria are to be eliminated.
What about antibacterial spray? A top-quality one can be efficient to clean and disinfect the items. Avoid toxic solutions. You can stop using chemicals at all. Steam or vapor are the greenest solutions.
Final Impression
Do you know now, what is the best way to clean ceramic tile floors? Quite naturally, this is better done with a quality steam machine. It’s the best for moisture-resistant surfaces. The method lets you avoid chemicals. Even in the bathroom and kitchen, you would not need them. So, keep the surfaces hygienically clean, avoid allergy and stay healthy!
Video: How to Clean Textured Ceramic Tile Floors?
Further Reading
