The right tiles lend a slightly sophisticated look to almost any room in the house until they get dirty; after a while, dirt and mold begin to accumulate on the surface of the floor and in the joints, making everything darker. Cleaning this type of floor can be quite complex, as almost all cleaners can unintentionally discolor or damage porous material such as natural stone. Fortunately, there are practical solutions that you can easily find in the kitchen; With a simple bottle of vinegar and a little determination, you can clean and polish a tile floor, extend its life and make it look good as new.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Wash with Vinegar
Step 1. Fill a bucket with hot water
Generally, 4-8 liters of water are sufficient for most floors; if you need to clean a large area, you can add more. The warmer the water, the better you can get rid of the encrusted dirt and grime.
- Before starting work, make sure you have removed all furniture, appliances and any other objects that could hinder the process or be damaged by water.
- If the bucket is too large and you can't fill it by holding it under the sink faucet, proceed to the bathtub.
Step 2. Add 250ml of distilled white vinegar
You have to pour about 120-250 ml for every 4 liters of water; mix the mixture gently to make sure the two substances blend completely. Vinegar is quite acidic and is particularly useful for dissolving the hardest and most stubborn residues.
- It is important to dilute it to prevent it from fading the color or wearing out the finish of the tiles.
- Alternatively, you can use other more powerful types of vinegar, such as apple vinegar, which allow you to obtain an equally good result.
Step 3. Wet the tiles with the mixture
Move the mop over the entire surface with circular or linear movements; be sure to treat the entire floor, without neglecting the areas under the furniture or along the baseboards.
- As you scrub, you should immediately notice the results.
- Be careful not to impregnate the parquet or carpet in adjacent rooms with the vinegar mixture.
Step 4. Rinse the surface with clean water
Empty the bucket and fill it with pure hot water. You have to use the mop all over the floor again, squeezing and moistening it every few steps; in this way, you remove the last residues and traces of vinegar from the tiles. Absorb excess moisture using the mop, a water brush or an absorbent cloth and then let it dry completely in the air.
- If you do not proceed with the rinsing phase, the dirty water dries on the floor, leaving streaks and stains.
- Make sure the joints dry as well, otherwise mold can develop, which thrives in hot, humid environments.
Part 2 of 3: Thoroughly clean the joints with vinegar and sodium bicarbonate
Step 1. Prepare a mixture of hot water and vinegar in a spray bottle
Pour the two substances in equal parts and shake the bottle well to mix them carefully. The spray bottle offers excellent control over the application site, helping you to clean in the tightest spaces, such as the joints between tiles.
A spray bottle filled with vinegar is a natural and practical cleaning solution to have on hand
Step 2. Spread some baking soda over a section of grout
You don't have to use a lot, a thin strip is enough. Use your fingertips or the bristles of a toothbrush to scrub the powder into the plaster; for best results, proceed in small square sections, following the pattern of the tile joints and washing a few tens of centimeters at a time.
If there are particularly stubborn stains, you can also prepare a baking soda and water based paste, apply it to the grout and let it sit overnight
Step 3. Spray the vinegar solution on the baking soda
The contact between these two ingredients develops a moderate chemical reaction creating a foam that fizzes on the material to be cleaned; let the solution sit for 5-10 minutes to make sure it has plenty of time to remove most of the dirt.
- Thanks to the sparkling action, the two substances are able to penetrate more easily into the tiny pores of the grout.
- To optimize the cleaning power of the blend, you should wait until it stops foaming before starting scrubbing.
Step 4. Scrub the grout
Use a stiff-bristled toothbrush and scrub the grout vigorously between tiles. Once the baking soda and vinegar mixture has had time to work, it becomes easier to remove even the most difficult stains; when finished, rinse the floor thoroughly using a damp rag or sponge and let it air dry.
- You can buy specific brushes for this job at relatively low prices at supermarkets; alternatively, you can use a dishwashing brush with a long handle.
- You can also reuse an old toothbrush; the narrow head combined with the long handle make it a perfect tool to reach the spaces between the tiles.
- Manually scrubbing the floor plaster can take a long time, but it is undoubtedly the most effective way to restore it to its original color.
Part 3 of 3: Doing Proper Maintenance
Step 1. Clean the floor regularly
The best thing to do to keep it in good condition is prevention. Regular sweeping, vacuuming, and polishing is less likely to leave stains underfoot. Pay particular attention to areas where dirt tends to accumulate the most, especially in corners, under furniture and around baseboards.
- Make sure to sweep or vacuum every couple of days and wash or do a more thorough cleaning about once a week.
- The neglected tiles quickly begin to show this to you; letting them spoil can also negatively affect the value of the home.
Step 2. Dry and clean up any splashes and stains immediately
If you don't take care of it, even the smallest drop of liquid can become a stubborn stain. As soon as possible, blot the surface with a cloth moistened with warm water or a small amount of water and vinegar. Traces of dirt and food particles must be removed promptly so that they do not penetrate the grouting or rough surfaces.
- Gradually apply more and more vinegar until the stain begins to fade.
- If you have light-colored tiles or if stained joints are more easily noticed, it is especially important to quickly tackle the dirt.
Step 3. Do not use chemical cleaners
The tiles are known for their durability and ease of cleaning, but they are not indestructible. Aggressive chemicals, such as bleach, can cause natural materials to fade, while astringent products can ruin the smooth finish of porcelain even after just a few uses. Whenever possible, preferably choose more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as vinegar and baking soda.
- Even commercially available floor cleaners are not without damage when used often and are generally no more effective than cleaning vinegar.
- Do not use anything that is more abrasive than a stiff brush or kitchen sponge to scrub the floor, otherwise you could cause scratches that could build up dirt and mold.
Advice
- Vinegar is cheap, easily available, and gentle enough to use as many times as you want, without fear of damaging your home floor.
- Add a squeeze of lemon to your homemade cleansing mixture to reduce the odor left by the vinegar.
- Use a sponge or absorbent microfiber cloth to dry the surface faster and get rid of mold.
- Consider hiring a professional to apply a coat of wax to the floor; in this way, you get a protective barrier against encrustations of any type of dirt and improve the appearance of the tiles by making them shiny.
Warnings
- The wet floor is dangerously slippery, especially if there are some loose dirt residues left; be very careful when washing it. When finished, do not walk on it until it is perfectly dry.
- It may not be a good idea to use vinegar on tiles made from porous natural material such as marble; it is a delicate stone and tends to absorb moisture, not to mention that the acidity of the vinegar can also corrode it.
