Vinegar and baking soda are common household cleaners. Combined, they can do a tremendous job at removing stubborn dirt, grime, and stains from faucets, floors, and fabrics.
If you plan on using vinegar to clean your tiled floors, avoid using too much of it because the acid in vinegar can damage the finish of your floors. Make sure to mix it with water to reduce the acidity before applying it on your floors.
To get started on cleaning your floor tiles with vinegar and baking soda, fill a bowl with two cups of cold or warm water, add one a half cup of baking soda and one-third cup of vinegar, and stir well. You may choose to add dishwashing soap to your solution if you want to. Lastly, pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
Spray the entire floor with the solution. You can choose to let it sit for a few minutes before mopping the floor or mop right away after spraying the solution. Rinse well with cold or warm water to ensure that you remove any residue.
Tip: Before you spray your floors with the solution, remove dirt and debris using a vacuum cleaner or a broom. This will make it easier to clean your floors.
Removing Tough Stains
If your floors have stubborn stains, mix vinegar with baking soda to make a paste. Apply the paste on the stained spots and let it sit for a couple of minutes to allow the mixture to do its work.
Using a brush, scrub the stained areas in circular motions. You don’t need to use too much effort, as the vinegar and baking soda paste would have done the difficult job for you of dissolving the stains. Rinse your floor with cold or warm water.
Cleaning a Glass Tiled Floor
Glass tiled floors are visually appealing, and they are not porous, so they don’t absorb stains. However, avoid using harsh detergents and abrasive pads or harsh scrubbers on the flooring to avoid damaging it.
You could choose to use a commercial cleaner made for glass tile flooring, but if you prefer to use simple, more natural cleaners, use vinegar, dishwashing soap, and water.
To clean a glass tile floor, mix vinegar, dishwashing soap, and water, and using a spray bottle, spray the floor with the solution. Use a mop to gently scrub the floor, then rinse the floor with warm or cold water.
Maintaining your Tiled Floor
To prevent your floors from dirt buildup and staining, you need a cleaning schedule. It can either be weekly or biweekly, depending on how busy you are, but make it a habit to clean your floors as regularly as you can.
You don’t need to use commercial cleaners no matter the type of tiled floor; a solution of vinegar and baking powder works well for all floor types. If you choose to use a commercial cleaner, avoid alkaline and acidic cleaners as they can damage your floors.
When dealing with grout stains, you could use hydrogen peroxide combined with vinegar and baking soda for more effective results. Cleaning grout stains from your floors require quite a bit of effort, so you could hire a professional if you are not up to the task.
Tip: Protect your floors from dust and dirt with durable floor mats. This should also help protect your floors from staining.
In Summary
Do’s of Tile Care
- Vacuum or sweep your floors to remove any debris, dirt, or dust before cleaning them
- If you are going to use a commercial cleaner, first test it on a small area to see whether it’s suitable for your floor type or not
- Always rinse your floors with clean, warm, or cold water after using cleaning a solution to remove any residue
- Clean your floors regularly to avoid dirt buildup or staining
- Never allow a stain to settle and harden. Clean any stain immediately because once it hardens, it can become difficult to remove
Don’ts of Tile Care
- Avoid using commercial cleaners that are alkaline or acidic on your tile floors to prevent damage
- Avoid using oil-based or wax-based cleaners
- Avoid using sealants on your floors, but you can use them on grout joints
- Avoid using steel wool or abrasive scouring pads
- Don’t attempt to fix broken tiles yourself; instead, hire a professional to do it
Final Remarks
Cleaning your tile floors regularly can help prevent staining and dirt buildup. If you are too busy to clean your floors every day, clean them at least twice a week. Stick with neutral floor cleaners and avoid using non-abrasive scouring pads or harsh scrubbers to protect your floors from damage.
