Ceramic tile is a beautiful, practical, and durable floor covering. Many have chosen this floor covering for the style and its low maintenance. If care is given to this flooring, it will reward you and your home for many years.
Ceramic tile is impervious to most soil and spills, but the grout between the tiles is not. Sealing the grout is frequently not included with the installation of tile floors. Without proper sealing, the grout will soil more quickly and is susceptible to permanent staining.
There is an easy test you can perform to check whether or not your grout is adequately sealed. Place a drop of water on the grout. If the grout is properly sealed, the water will “bead up” in the form of a drop. If the water gets absorbed into the grout, it needs to be sealed. Repeat this test in several areas of the floor. A tile cleaning specialist is trained to seal the grout for you.
Tile floors need to be cleaned for two reasons.
- the floor is the lowest point in a room, so this is where most of the soil settles.
- people walk on the floor, grinding this soil into crevices of the tile and grout.
The better you are at preventing this soil from accumulating on the floor, the less trouble you will have removing it.
Dry dust mopping or vacuuming are the best ways to remove dust, hair, and loose soil. Disposable dry dusters are fast and quiet. Vacuum cleaners are also great. Make sure they are designed to clean hard surface floors and have no exposed metal parts that can scratch the floor’s surface. Do not use vacuums with beater bars.
Regularly damp mop tile floors to remove trapped dry soil, drips, and spills after you dust or vacuum. Use the manufacturer’s recommended grout and tile cleaners. For heavier soil, you can spot clean the floor with a sponge or clean cloth. After cleaning, rinse thoroughly with warm water to help remove any leftover residue. If needed wipe the floor dry with a clean towel to remove any film.
If accumulated soil is not removed with wet mopping, more restorative cleaning may be necessary. Heavier duty cleaning products are available at your grocery store to remove imbedded dirt, soap scum, hard water deposits, and mildew stains. Scrubbing action may be necessary to accomplish the job.
When restorative cleaning is necessary, a tile and grout cleaning professional is needed to save yourself from the harder work. Professionals have the equipment and solutions that yield fantastic results.
A little maintenance and cleaning, goes a long way in keeping your tile floors looking like new.
Save time and money by trusting in our Lakeshore professionals. Give yourself the gift of beautiful and clean tile and grout by calling (905) 465-2337 and scheduling an appointment today!
