If you have tile floors, you know they are the easiest to clean and maintain. A regular deep cleaning, when done properly, can help them keep shining all the time. Homeowners often ask us for the best way to deep clean their tile floors. Here is what our Xtreme Cleaning experts suggest to them.
How To Deep Clean Tile Floors The Best Way?
1. Start with sweeping or vacuuming
If you are about to deep clean your tiles, your very first step should be removing the surface dirt with sweeping or vacuuming.
- Take a good quality broom with soft bristles so you don’t scratch the floors.
- Alternatively, you can prefer to use a vacuum cleaner to suction to loose debris from the tiled surfaces.
[Use soft bristled attachment in the vacuum or turn off the brush roll if it has any.]
- Make sure to sweep the edges and the corners. They collect the most dirt.
- Use a handheld broom to reach the areas where the vacuum cannot.
Note: We’ve noticed people skipping this step and jumping onto mopping. Be aware, mopping without sweeping is just going to drag the loose grit and scratch your tiles.
2. Make a cleaning solution for mopping
When it comes to mopping, the very first thing we remind homeowners is to treat their floors as per their type of tile.
- For most tile floors, mixing a 1/4 cup of dish soap in a gallon or a bucket of warm water should do.
- For ceramic or porcelain tiles, any type of detergent will work. You can even add 1/2 cup of vinegar to it.
- For granite, slate, or marble tiles, avoid acidic cleaning agents. Prefer pH-neutral ones instead.
Note: If you are using a commercial tile cleaner for your floors, make sure you read its instructions for the right amount.
3. Mop your floors thoroughly
We often advise homeowners to avoid overwetting the floors while mopping. To prevent that, prefer a microfiber or a chamois mop over a sponge mop.
- Prepare two buckets of warm water mixed with the appropriate solution.
- Dip your mop in the solution and wring the excess of it.
- Move in a pattern, and make sure you cover all the areas section-wise.
- When you notice one bucket getting filthy, double-rinse the mop using the next one to avoid dragging the dirty water on clean floors.
- Give the floors a final wipe with a dry mop to avoid water stains.
4. Clean the grout lines
Mopping is just not enough to fully clean your grout lines if you are doing a deep cleaning.
- Make a thick paste of baking soda and water. It is one of the best ways to keep your tile and grout stain-free.
- Apply it and work it on the grout lines.
- Keep it applied and let it work for a few hours (we suggest keeping it overnight).
- Take an unused toothbrush and scrub the grout to rinse out all the dirt.
Additionally, if it has been a long time since sealing, this would be the best time to seal your grout lines.
Note: Always clean the grout after mopping the tiles. Otherwise, mopping can push the surface dirt into the clean grout lines.
