Cleaning Ceramic Floors:

How to Keep Your Tile Shining like New

Known for both its beauty and durability, ceramic tile flooring is a timeless classic that can bring a touch of elegance to any room.  But without proper care and cleaning, those beautiful tile floors will eventually begin to look lifeless and dull.  Fortunately, ceramic tile is fairly easy to maintain.  Just follow these few simple steps to keep your floors looking shiny and new for years to come.

What You’ll Need:

Broom

Soft Mop

Bucket

Water

Dish Soap

Cleaning Guide:

1. Sweep floors to remove dust, dirt, and any other loose particles.
2. With clean water and a dash of liquid dish soap, clean floors with a soft mop or rag. Do not use a sponge mop, as this will push dirty water around and into grout lines and make them harder to clean.
3. Change the water frequently. Mopping with cloudy, dirty water will make your floors look cloudy and dull.
4. If you finish mopping and your tile looks hazy, this could be due to soapy residue caused by using too much soap. Use a nonabrasive all-purpose cleaner, such as Simple Green, to remove the film and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
5. Allow the floors to air dry, or buff dry with a clean lint-free cloth or towel.
6. Keep the grout clean. This is the real secret to keeping your tile floor looking its best, as the porous grout will absorb grease and other stains, leaving it discolored and dingy.  To clean grout that has become dirty or stained, make a paste with baking soda and water and rub it on the stain.  Let the paste sit overnight and then scrub with a toothbrush in the morning.  You can also prevent future stains by applying a grout sealer twice a year to repel dirt.