Top Tile Cleaning Tips for Sparkling Floors in Austin, TX by Complete Floor Care

Tiles are common flooring options in most Austin homes. One of the best things you can do to keep them shining like new is to provide them with regular cleaning. 

To make your cleaning more effective and bring the best results, our experts from Complete Floor Care have suggested some tile cleaning tips for you.

When cleaning your tiles, we always recommend starting with surface cleaning. Vacuum your tiled surfaces or sweep them with a broom before mopping. 

That will remove the gritty dirt and loose debris that, otherwise, would have scratched the tiles when mopping. Make sure you vacuum regularly (at least twice a week) and mop your tiles every one to two weeks as per your needs.

Cleaning with the same water throughout the room can make your tiles dirty instead of clean. As you mop your floors, you might notice the water getting cloudy with every dip, and that is why you need to change it often. 

Our experts suggest rinsing or changing the mophead before moving to the next room or area to avoid transferring the dirt.

When too much water comes in contact with your tiled surfaces, your floors can take it in, especially the grout and the porous tiles. Always use the water sparingly while cleaning your tiles, and avoid oversaturating your mop. 

That is why we often recommend using a microfiber mop instead of a sponge mop. Wring it to take out extra water. 

Tip: Avoid steam while cleaning linoleum, vinyl, and natural stone tiles as they cannot withstand extreme heat or excess moisture.

Grout between your tiles is equally important and you should never neglect it. While you clean your tiles by mopping with a solution mixed with water, your grout lines need to be cleaned too. 

The mop will only push the dirt into the porous grout instead of cleaning it. So, make sure you grab a toothbrush and scrub the dirt away from your grout lines with a cleaner of baking soda paste. 

You might be using bleach or other such products to clean your tiles. However, make sure you never mix any harsh chemicals with each other. The combination of bleach and ammonia is especially avoidable. Mixing them can create toxic fumes and can harm your tiles too.

One of our top tile cleaning tips for Austin homeowners is to read the usage label of any product you are going to use to clean your tiles. That is because of the method of usage and instructions to follow while using it. 

For instance, many cleaners need to be left to work after application for some time, or some cleaners are simply used differently than others. You need to ensure you use them correctly as per the given directions.

Every type of tile is made up of different materials and not all cleaners can suit the needs of each. Make sure the cleaner you choose is safe for your floors and test the cleaner before use.

And just like the wrong cleaner can harm your tiles, so can the wrong amount. We often say less is more when using cleaners. Use the product only in the suggested amount, as using it more than that can harm the floors and can also leave a soapy residue on the floor, making it harder to clean. 

Tip: Do not forget the rinsing step at the end to remove all the soapy residue from your tiles. And dry wipe your floors after cleaning instead of leaving them to dry. That will avoid forming marks.

Even if floors resist staining better than other surfaces, you still need to take care of the spills as soon as they happen. Leaving them on the floor for a long time can make the stains difficult to clean while also discoloring the porous grout.  

We suggest tiles be sealed every three years, and grout lines be sealed after each cleaning. Sealing your floors helps in resisting dirt and stains. It can also make your spot cleaning easier as the spills cannot penetrate the surface

With regular vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping, you can help your floors stay clean. But along with that, your tiles also need periodic tile and grout cleaning by experts. They can provide thorough cleaning by removing the deeply set dirt in the tile pores and grout lines, enhancing their look and lifespan.

Keeping the tile floors sparkling is easy if you keep these tile cleaning tips in mind. Vacuum before you mop. Change the mop water often. Avoid overwetting the floors. Clean the grout lines as well. Use the right cleaners in the right amount. 

Treat the spills quickly. Seal your floor tiles and grout to protect them. Lastly, provide deep tile and grout cleaning by our Austin experts at least once a year.