7 Tile Cleaning Tips From the Pros

Whether it’s your kitchen backsplash, your bathroom tiles, or the flooring of your main living area, tile is a simple way to upgrade your space. Tiles are elegant — as long as they stay clean.

Those who neglect cleaning their tile will encounter difficult stains, smudges, and dirty grout lines. And the longer you go without cleaning your tile, the harder it will be to restore it to its original state.

Keep reading for seven tile cleaning tips, straight from the professionals.

1. Wet Clean Weekly

A lot of keeping your tile looking nice is cleaning it often. You should dry clean your tile twice per week, and wet clean it weekly.

What exactly does that mean? To dry clean your tile, use a broom or a vacuum. In this step, you are getting rid of dust and dirt that can damage your tile over time. 

Wet cleaning means washing your tile with warm water. You can use a soft sponge or a mop to complete this step, just don’t use anything harsh or abrasive. And there’s no need to use a tile cleaner chemical at this point, this is just to prevent grime from building on your tiles.

One extra tip: don’t let your tiles air dry after you wash them. This can create watermarks. Dry your tiles with a clean, soft towel.

2. Vinegar And Water

If you clean your tiles weekly and are finding that you need a little extra power to get out a difficult stain, you can try using vinegar and water. 

Simply fill a bucket with warm water, and mix in a few tablespoons of white vinegar. Vinegar’s natural properties will leave your tile looking shiny and clean. If you don’t want the smell of vinegar to linger in your home, you can even add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

But beware: vinegar should not be used with certain types of tyle. For example, if you have stone or marble tile, you should avoid using vinegar. If you aren’t sure what cleaning products are safe for your tile, give us a call and we will point you in the right direction!

3. Soap and Water

If you need to add some extra oomph into your weekly wet cleaning, you can try adding some dish soap to your bucket of warm water. Dish soaps are degreasers, so they can help you with certain spills on your tile.

Just be sure that after using soapy water, you rinse the tile with regular water. This will prevent sudsy residue from forming on your tile.

What you may find if you are targeting a specific spot is that soap alone will not take care of it fully. If that’s the case, our team of professionals can help you address those problem areas.

4. Baking Soda and Vinegar

For difficult stains, try mixing a one-to-one ratio of baking soda and white vinegar together and then mixing it with a bucket of water. This can help you tackle stains that have been sitting for a while. 

But again, vinegar is not an ideal cleaner for every type of tile. It is important to always select tile cleaner products that are compatible with your tile to avoid long-term damage. When in doubt, call our team and we can show you the right way to clean your specific tile.

5. Ammonia and Water

Try mixing a few drops of ammonia into your bucket of warm water if you need some extra cleaning power. Ammonia has the ability to fight off mildew and other issues. That being said, if you suspect you have an issue with mold or mildew, call a professional immediately.

And if you do use ammonia, be sure to wear gloves and keep the windows open. These safety precautions are important for preventing sickness or injury. Ammonia is toxic and can harm you if you are exposed to too much of it.

6.  Don’t Forget the Grout

One mistake that homeowners often make is they forget to clean their grout. Grout is the line in between one tile and the next. 

To clean your grout, you can either buy a specific brush or use a retired toothbrush. Mix some baking soda with some water to form a paste.

Use this to scrub the grout. Be sure to wash it clean and dry it afterward. You should clean your grout every couple of months or as needed.

If you don’t want to take on so much regular maintenance for your grout lines, reach out to our team. We can make your grout look like new.

7. Never Wait

It happens: we all spill things on our tile. If you’re in a hurry, it can be tempting to put off a thorough cleaning. Unfortunately, this is how long-term tile damage occurs.

If you need help getting rid of troublesome stains, we can assist you. The longer you wait, the worse it will get. So don’t put it off!

Don’t Neglect These Tile Cleaning Tips

Tile is made to last — but only if you take care of it. If you want your home to look its best, it is important to clean your tile regularly. With the above professional tips, you will always know what to do to keep your tile looking good. 

But the best way to maintain your tile is to put it into the hands of professionals. Contact us today to find out about our tile cleaning options.