Tile floors are beautiful.  If you have dogs or kids, you really appreciate the ability to quickly ‘wipe up’ most spills.  Keeping them clean on a regular basis is fairly easy.

However, don’t think that just because you sweep and mop your floors regularly that your floors are clean.  Even if you clean on a very regular basis, you are not able to keep the floors from becoming dull and the grout to actually be dirty.  Even with grout that was sealed will eventually absorb stains with use and overuse of every day cleaners and scrubbers.

   1. Sweep & Mop as a Deep Cleaner

 We have seen many floors with people that are diligent about sweeping and mopping. That’s great for normal every day ‘quick cleans’ but does not work for a deep clean.

Have you ever seen a tile floor that has recently been cleaned?  You look down and the grout looks dirty.  That’s because it is.  Sweeping and mopping the floors may clean the tiles to a degree, but it will never properly clean the grout.  You really are only cleaning part of the floor.

    2. Use Every Day Cleaners to Deep Clean a Floor

Many people think of cleaning their tile and grout like they would any other part of their home. They use every day cleaners and find they cannot get the tile looking new.

Bleach and ammonia-based cleaners will discolor your grout lines over time. It may happen very gradually, but it will happen.

Tile and grout require professional grade cleaners that are not necessarily available in your local grocery store.

    3. Use Dangerous Chemicals

After regular cleaning materials do not work properly, some people then decide to use more intense (and more acidic) cleaners.

Dangerous chemicals are toxic to your family and to your animals.  They degrade the surface of the tile and grout.

Your tile floors and your grout have a finish or seal on them.  By using the chemicals, you are wearing away this finish.  Not only will you reduce the shine on your files, you may reduce the lifetime of your flooring by years by doing this.

      4. Use Wire Brushes

When the chemicals don’t work, or people choose to avoid chemicals, we have also seen them use wire brushes. Similar to using dangerous chemicals, scrubbing with wire or wool brushes will remove the finish and the seal on your floors.  These brushes are especially caustic on your floors and grout.  People, in an effort to clean the floors, actually wear away the grout.

The best approach to keeping your floors looking good include:

  1. Sweeping and mopping on a regular basis
  2. Using mild cleaners on a regular basis
  3. Having a mat outside the doors of your home to catch much of the debris
  4. Hire a professional floor cleaner to deep clean the floors every 3, 6 or 12 months depending on usage and condition