Ceramic and porcelain tiles are not only inexpensive but stain resistant and durable too. Moreover, they are low maintenance and very easy to clean. Even then, it should not be underestimated and must be given a good clean every once in a while.
Here is how you can easily clean your tiled floor without damaging it.
What You Will Need:
- A broom and a dustpan
- A spray bottle
- Castile soap or vinegar
- Essential Oil of your choice (this is optional)
- Microfiber Mop
- Mop pads
- Hot water
Instructions:
Step 1: Sweep the floors and clean off any dust
Sweep your tile or ceramic floors thoroughly to clean off any dust particles or debris. Pay extra attention to cover every inch of the kitchen floor including along the edge of the floor lining the walls and cabinets, as debris tends to pile up there a lot.
Step 2: Prepare the cleaning solution
The vinegar and water should be mixed in a one to one ratio. In the spray bottle, pour in a cup of water and a cup of vinegar. If you wish to do so, you may add anywhere from 5 to 10 drops of any essential oil of your choice such as lavender, orange, lemon, peppermint, etc. Put the lead back on the bottle and give it a good shake to make sure all the ingredients mix well. If your floors are not glazed, then you want to use a teaspoon of castile soap instead of the vinegar to avoid any damages.
Step 3: Spray the cleaner into a small area to test
Test a small discreet area with the cleaning solution and check for any damages. This is just a precautionary step since you can never be too careful! If everything is okay, go on ahead with the rest of the steps.
Step 4: Spray the cleaner
You want to start from the opposite of the door, so you can exit easily. Spray a generous amount of the cleaner to the tiled floor. Spray enough so that the floor is damp and it is easy to scrub but make sure to not make the floors too wet to avoid the risk of filling the grouts with dirty water.
Step 5: Scrub the floors
Take a damp microfiber mop and start scrubbing the floor. You want to scrub in a left and right motion, followed by an up and down motion in order to ensure you are getting every inch and also cleaning the grout.
Step 6: Do this until all the floor space is covered
Repeat step 5 in small patches of your tiled floors until you have covered the whole floor space. Halfway through, you might want to change out the microfiber pad if it gets really dirty. You can also just squeeze out the dirty moisture as much as possible and rinse it with clean water before continuing on with your cleaning. Remember to start cleaning from the opposite side of the entrance, so that you do not get stuck and you can leave without messing up your work.
Step 7: Exchange with clear water
You want to refill your spray bottle with just clear water once you are done scrubbing the floor.
Step 8: Wipe again
Go over the floor again with a new microfiber mop and some clear water in order to remove the cleaning solution.
Step 9: Leave it to dry
After the whole area is covered, let it sit uninterrupted for a couple of hours so that it can dry completely. Do not walk over it even if it is damp, or else you risk the chances of leaving footprints and making your floors and the grout dirty again. You need to keep in mind that the grout may attract more dirt if it does not dry when you walk over it.
