|
Many homes around the country today have beautiful ceramic floors and to keep them looking great, we wanted to address some things on cleaning ceramic floor tile. The thing to remember with this particular type of floor is that while it looks amazing, ceramic floors can be difficult to clean, especially when installed in the kitchen. If you think about the wear and tear your kitchen sees every day, between the spills, muddy feet, and dirt build-up, it is easy to see why cleaning can be such a challenge.
To ensure your floors remain beautiful and last for years, you always want to use the right type of cleaning products. For instance, some products would not be an appropriate choice for cleaning ceramic floor tile, actually causing damage. Therefore, look for products formulated specifically for this material and then, read the instructions carefully. Sometimes, people think a little more of a good thing makes it better. However, in the case of cleaning ceramic floor tile, use only the exact amount of product specified or you could damage the tile or create a nasty build-up that makes the floors look even worse. One of the most important tips for cleaning ceramic floor tile is that prior to applying any type of cleaner, you want the surface area to be 100% free of dirt. For one thing, you would not want the cleaner to cause the dirt to penetrate the grout lines and second, sharp pieces of dirt or debris could scratch the tile. All you need to do is use a soft-bristled broom, going over the floor a few times to get all the dirt off the floor. Then, prior to applying the cleaner, use a regular floor mop and warm tap water to eliminate any residual surface dirt. Remember, cleaning ceramic floor tile per se is not hard – what makes the task difficult is the grout lines. The tile itself is easy to clean for the most part but over time, dirt and grime build up in the grout, which is a real pain to clean. Unfortunately, one of the best ways to clean your ceramic floor tiles to get the grout lines sparkling clean is with a toothbrush and good, old-fashioned hard work. To clean the grout lines with a toothbrush, you can create a home mixture of one-quarter cup low-suds, all-purpose cleaner with one-cup ammonia, mixed with one-half gallon cold water. Just make sure you wear protective gloves and after cleaning, go back over the floor with a mop and water. Now, if you want to restore the grout lines to their original glory, you will find that some of the newer steam cleaning products work well. However, if you have colored grout lines, this could be harmful. We recommend that when you purchase new ceramic floor tile, you choose color and pattern you like but also think about your lifestyle and the way in which that tile will show dirt. For instance, if you have a contemporary kitchen, then gray or black marbled ceramic tile would be stunning but if you have a white dog or cat that sheds, the tile now becomes a real problem. Then, once you have had your tile installed, cleaning ceramic floor tile simply becomes a matter of maintenance with the right products.
|
Tile Flooring