Sooner or later, time and traffic, life and living, will take its toll on any floor
covering. Ceramic tile is no exception. But take heart, keeping your tile as clean
and beautiful as its first days in your home just takes know-how.
In fact, understanding the best methods to care for your ceramic flooring will help
maintain its beauty and keep it close to its original condition.
Plus, knowing what’s expected of you regarding upkeep can be a determining
factor in which type of ceramic tile to purchase.
All reasons why we called on our years of experience and created this section on
ceramic upkeep.
Ceramic tile should be swept and not beaten.
It’s important to sweep a tile floor regularly. Dirt can adhere to the surface
of tile, particularly styles with a textured surface. Regular sweeping loosens and
removes most of this dirt.
Don’t forget those labor saving devices, either. Feel free to use a vacuum
cleaner to sweep, but be sure to use one without a beater bar to avoid
dulling and scratching the tiles.
However, the attachments that accompany vacuum cleaners are useful to collect dirt
along edges or in between tiles.
Don’t let dirt have its way.
Be sure to use walk-off mats to minimize and contain dirt being tracked in at entryways.
And shake them often.
This reduces the amount of dirt being tracked across the tile floor, and reduces
the wear to the finished surface.
Ceramic tile floors should be damp-mopped regularly using the manufacturer’s
recommended grout and tile cleaners.
For heavier soil, you can spot clean the floor with a sponge or clean cloth using
the recommended cleaners.
Rinse well and wipe dry for more shine. Textured tiles may require mild scrubbing
with a soft brush or electric polisher/scrubber.
After cleaning with a mild detergent rinse thoroughly with clean, warm water to
help remove any leftover residue. If needed, wipe dry with a clean towel to remove
any film.
For soft water situations you may need to use an all-purpose cleaner.
Apply to the floor, let stand for 3 - 5 minutes, lightly scrub with a sponge, rinse
well and you’re home free – dirt free too.
For heavier cleaning tasks there are cleaning products available from your local
grocery store that can be used to remove soap scum, hard water deposits, and mildew
stains.
You’ll want to consult the cleaning product’s instructions to make sure
the product is compatible with your type of tile.
After cleaning, rinse well and wipe dry for optimum shine. And maximum pride.
Cautions and considerations.
Avoid using steel wool, scouring powders, or other abrasives that can scratch the
finish of the tile.
Don’t use bleach or ammonia based cleaners, as these products can discolor
your grout if used too often.
Also, do not clean glazed tile with oil-based cleaners.
Be fast on your feet. Try to clean up spills as quickly as possible so that the
grout or tile doesn’t become stained.
While ceramic tile is considered very durable, it’s not indestructible and
may crack or chip under extreme force.
Take the proper precautions when moving heavy objects across your tile floor. Get
a small army to help you move that grand piano.
Cover furniture and table legs with protectors to guard your floor against damage.
Keep in mind that if a repair is necessary in the future, the replacement product
may be a slightly different dye lot and/or texture than the initial installation.
However, the good news is that, with time and usage, the repair will blend in with
the original product.