Tiles are elegant, versatile and durable, making them the perfect flooring choice for many homeowners who want a clean and modern look that requires as little maintenance as possible. Here you will find out everything you need to know to clean your floor tiles and naturally breathe new life into the smooth surfaces in your home. With a few home remedies you can create cleaning products that, with a little hard work, will make your tiles look like new.
Over time, a layer of dirt and grime can build up on the tiled floor, which not only looks unsightly, but also provides a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Cleaning floor tiles and tile joints is essential so that they continue to shine for years to come. Luckily, you can remove the stubborn stains with simple home remedies that are safe, effective, and inexpensive.
How often should the tile floor be cleaned?
Although regular sweeping and mopping of tiled floors is part of normal household cleaning, it is often not enough to prevent dull, dirty tiles. Even the easiest floors need good care from time to time to maintain their shine.
Clean the tile floors with a broom once a weekor vacuum cleanerto prevent the dirt from drying on the tiles. Mop the floor with a mop at least once a week. Clean the tiles thoroughly at least once a month, paying attention to particularly dirty grout lines. The following homemade cleaners use several home remedies to ensure your floor tiles and grout stay germ-free and shiny.
Clean the tiles on the floor with a baking soda scrub
The baking soda dissolves dirt, grease and other sticky substances. The best thing about it is that each particle acts as a gentle abrasive without scratching the surface.
For this method you need 60 ml of white vinegar, 1 tbsp of liquid dishwashing liquid, 50 g of baking soda and 2 l of water. If you want to add a scent, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture.
Once you have a thick mixture, you can apply it to the floor tiles and grout and let it sit for a while. Then clean the floor with warm water.
This versatile cleaner is suitable for almost all types of tile floors, except for some natural stones such as marble or limestone.
Clean floor tiles with salt
Salt is great for killing single-celled organisms like bacteria and mold because it dehydrates them through osmosis. This bacteria-killing effect helps clean tiles and grout.
Keep the area moist or wipe with a damp cloth. Then sprinkle a generous amount of salt onto the surface and rub it into the joints. Leave the salt to work overnight and clean the floor with clean water the next morning.
Please note that marble tiles should not be cleaned with salt as they are made of a more delicate material.
Use hydrogen peroxide mixture
A mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda acts as a bleaching agent, while the liquid soap helps remove the grease.
Make a paste by mixing one part hydrogen peroxide, three parts baking soda, and one tablespoon liquid soap. Apply the paste to the tiles and grout with an old toothbrush or scrubber and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then clean the floor with hot water and use a dry cloth to remove any remaining paste.
If the joints are very dirty, spray the hydrogen peroxide directly on them. Scrub them with an old toothbrush, rinse with water, and then wipe.
Clean the floor tiles with lemon juice
Fresh lemon juice is acidic and it works as an effective stain remover for tiles and grout. Its antimicrobial properties help prevent mold and mildew.
Cut a lemon in half and rub it on the tile. Or fill a spray bottle with fresh lemon juice and spray it onto the tiles before mopping them with a damp mop. Another method is to soak a cloth directly in lemon juice and wipe the tiles before rinsing them with warm water.
Make tiles shine with ammonia
Ammonia is an effective floor cleaner and it can remove mold and dirt from tiles. Mix a few drops with warm water and use the solution to mop the floor. For stubborn stains, take a sponge, dip it in the liquid and use it to scrub the stains.Mop the floorthen rinse again with clear water. Dry the tiles with a dry cloth and your floor tiles will shine again.
