Your tile floors take a lot of abuse. Without the right maintenance, it is easy for them to wind up dingy and detract from your home’s appearance. Use these tips make sure your flooring stays beautiful and will continue to last for years to come.
Use Floor Mats
Prevent people from tracking mud throughout your home by placing floor mats at your front door and encouraging everyone to wipe their feet. While this won’t stop all dirt from getting inside, it can significantly lower the amount which does. You can take it a step further and ask people to remove their shoes at the door.
Stay on Top of Dirt
Don’t let the dirt settle on your floors for too long. Ideally, you should make sweeping a daily chore, but if your schedule prevents frequent cleanings, try to find the time to sweep up at least three to four times a week. When you leave dirt on your floors for an extended period of time, you allow it to seep into the grout which makes it harder to get removed. A soft dust mop is the best tool for the job, but you can use a vacuum with a tile floor attachment if you prefer. Avoid brooms with stiffer bristles because they can end up scratching your tiles.
Clean Up Spills Immediately
Don’t be lazy and put off wiping up your spills. Yes, even if it is “just water.” Spills can not only lead to staining, but excessive liquid can damage your tiles and grout work resulting in the need for costly repairs. Besides, no one wants a person to slip and potentially get hurt. The best way to clean up spills is to use a soft, clean cloth to absorb all of the liquid first. Then spray a tile-safe cleaner and wipe it down. If the spill involved raw meat or dairy, follow up with a disinfectant to eliminate any lingering germs.
Drag Out the Bucket and Mop on Occasion
Mopping your tile flooring doesn’t have to be an everyday chore, but you should give your floors a good scrubbing at least once a week. Unless your floors have visible grime, you can probably get away with just using only warm water and some good old elbow grease. But for a deeper clean, try adding a mild soap to the warm water. Before applying any cleanser to your floor make sure it won’t stain it by contacting the tile manufacturer or trying it out on an out-of-the-way tile first.
Do you want to keep your home cleaner and your family healthier? Chet’s Cleaning Inc. in the metro Detroit area offers its customers a complete line of specialty cleaning services. Whether you want to deep clean your tile floors or make your entire home looking stunning for a special occasion, contact us to set up a free consult today!