Keeping ceramic tiles impeccably clean is not difficult, but you may encounter some problems when there are stains or when the material has not been properly protected or sealed. Fortunately, there are several ways to clean these types of surfaces. Perhaps the tiles are glossy or glazed or opaque or even with surface finishes; all you have to do is use different approaches based on the material you are going to clean. With a little patience and discipline, you make sure your tiles are clean and spotless.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Polished or Glazed Tiles
Step 1. Sweep the floor with a dry Swiffer type cloth
Start by removing any traces of dust on the tiles. You can use a vacuum cleaner or one of these dry brooms, preferably microfibre, for a gentle action on the material; brooms with plastic bristles or brooms are too aggressive and could scratch the tiles.
Don't neglect corners and joints; your goal is to remove as much surface dust as possible before moving on to deep cleaning
Step 2. Use a soft nylon bristle brush to remove dirt
You can use one for cleaning or an old toothbrush and get rid of black marks or encrustations on the floor.
- Wet the surface with very hot water and scrub it with the brush; make circular movements making sure each tile stays wet.
- Do not treat dry areas as you may scratch the material.
Step 3. Apply cleaner to stains
If you notice any spots on the shiny or glazed tiles, you need to use a cleaning solution and a mop. You can prepare a homemade blend with white vinegar and water or rely on a professional product.
- Prepare the homemade solution by mixing 60 ml of white vinegar with 8 liters of hot water; wet the floor and let the liquid work for 5-10 minutes. Afterwards, wash the surface again with the mop to rinse off the cleaner. The vinegar disinfects, deodorizes and cleans the tiles.
- If you opt for a professional product, buy a cleaner at a hardware store or a home improvement store; before applying it to the floor, check that it is safe for glazed or glossy tiles. You should test a hidden corner of the surface by pouring a small amount of liquid to make sure it doesn't damage the tiles.
- If there are coffee stains, you can use baking soda; spread a layer of product on the patch, moisten it with a clean cloth and rub gently until the stain is gone.
Step 4. Wash the floor
Finish the cleaning with a regular wash using the mop and a floor cleaner. You should opt for a gentle and safe cleaning solution for glazed or polished porcelain tiles.
Remember to wash again with very hot water before the soap dries on the surface, to prevent this from damaging or staining the tiles
Step 5. Dry and polish the floor
Use a microfiber rag or clean cloth to dry the tiles completely; check that there are no water spots or areas where moisture stagnates.
- You can open the windows or turn on a fan to speed up the process. Place multiple fans in a room and open the windows to ensure sufficient airflow throughout the room.
- Once dry, you can polish the surface with a piece of cheesecloth; rub it on the tiles in circular motions.
Method 2 of 4: Matte or Unglazed Tiles
Step 1. Use a dry Swiffer type broom to sweep the floor
Start by removing surface dust and dirt; you should use this dry element in place of a traditional broom, as the latter can scratch the tiles.
Do not neglect the corners of the room and the joints; by removing surface particles and dust you make subsequent operations easier
Step 2. Wash the floor with a mild detergent solution
You should apply a gentle mixture to get rid of stains and encrustations; you can choose between a professional product or white vinegar diluted in water.
- Pour 60 ml of white vinegar into 8 liters of hot water to make a home cleaner; wet the tiles with this liquid and let it work for 5-10 minutes. Vinegar disinfects, deodorizes and cleans.
- You can find a commercial cleaner in supermarkets and homewares stores; make sure it is specific for matt or unglazed porcelain tiles.
Step 3. Scrub and rinse the floor
Once the cleaner is applied, you should let it do its job for 10 minutes; then use a soft bristle brush to lift all the patches. Proceed in circular motions until the surface is clean.
You should scrub all traces of the cleaning solution off and rinse the floor thoroughly with very hot water; do not let the soap stay on the tiles for more than 10 minutes, as it could damage them
Step 4. Dry the floor thoroughly
Use a clean cloth to wipe it and carefully wipe off any water stains or stagnant moisture.
You can also open the windows in the room and use a fan to speed up the process
Method 3 of 4: Surface Processing Tiles
Step 1. Start by sweeping the floor with a soft-bristled broom
Scrub the surface in two directions to better remove any particles from the rough tiles.
First, sweep the floor following the direction of the surface processing; then repeat the operation diagonally to eliminate all traces of dust and residues
Step 2. Wash the floor with a mild cleaning solution
Once swept, you can wet it with a mop and a non-aggressive cleaning liquid diluted in very hot water; apply it to the tiles and let it work for 5-10 minutes.
Rough or surface processed porcelain requires more effort than other models and you need to wash it more often to keep it flawless. You should try to wash and scrub the floor on a daily basis, especially if it is in a very busy area throughout the day
Step 3. Scrub with a soft nylon bristle brush
When the cleaner has worked for 10 minutes, you can move on to the abrasive action of the brush to remove any stains and spots; alternatively, use an old toothbrush.
Always respect the two-way criterion described above: scrub the floor following the direction of the surface processing and then move on to the opposite one
Step 4. Rinse the tiles with clean water
Do not let the cleaner dry on the floor as it could ruin it; remove all traces with clean water.
- You can dry the surface with a clean microfiber cloth. Make sure there are no patches of moisture or standing water;
- Open the windows and turn on a fan to speed up the process.
Method 4 of 4: Keep the Tiles Clean
Step 1. Sweep the tiles or vacuum at least twice a week
Keep the floor in excellent condition by getting into the habit of dusting it respecting this schedule; you can use a dry Swiffer type broom or a traditional one with soft nylon bristles.
- Never use brushes with hard bristles or a stiff fiber broom because they can ruin the material;
- You can use the vacuum cleaner twice a week to remove dirt and dust; opt for a flexible appliance with a head suitable for different surfaces to vacuum all the debris. Don't forget the corners and areas between the floor and the skirting board; these points are often ignored by covering themselves with filth.
Step 2. Clean up splashes immediately
If liquids fall on the porcelain tiles, you should wash them off immediately with a microfiber cloth and very hot water; alternatively, you can use a vinegar and water solution to treat larger spills.
Never use steel wool to remove dirt or stains; this material can trigger the formation of rust spots in the joints between the tiles
Step 3. Avoid bleach and ammonia
Make sure that any cleaner you decide to use does not contain these substances because they stain the grout and the color of the tiles. You should also not use products with dyes and dyes, as they can alter the appearance of the floor.
Avoid oily cleaners and waxes that can ruin porcelain
Step 4. Use the rugs and runners
You can protect the floor by placing rugs and runners that prevent the porcelain from getting dirty.
- Apply felt pads under the legs of each piece of furniture; in this way, the furniture does not damage or scratch the tiles.
- Get in the habit of using coasters on these tile-lined shelves to protect them from water rings left by condensation on the glasses.
