Tile and Grout Floor Cleaning – Identify your Tile
Before attempting to clean the tile and grout floor, it would be a big help if you first identified what the tile is made of. This may be slightly tricky in some cases, as in today’s wide-ranging floor tile marketplace, one material may be made to replicate another.
This is more commonly found in ceramic tiles that are made to replicate slate or stone. To the uninitiated, it will be hard at first glance to tell whether the tile on the floor that appears very much like slate or stone may in fact be ceramic.
One of the giveaway signs of ceramic, or indeed porcelain, tiles that appear to be stone is that they usually have a repeating pattern, and once you look more closely, you can identify that the tile is, in fact, the same throughout. Whereas with natural stone or slate floor tiles, although at a cursory glance the tiles may look the same, when you look closer, you will see that each tile has slight variations. Knowing what your tile is will make it easier to choose the appropriate cleaning method.
Certain acid- or alkaline-based chemicals should not be used on natural stone. It is advisable to check the packaging first and always ensure that, if strong chemicals are used during a cleaning process, an appropriate neutralising solution is applied so the chemical does not continue reacting on the stone surface, causing damage.
Ceramic and Porcelain tiles are more robust and hard-wearing, and are less affected by harsh chemicals. Caution should always be exercised when using any strong or abrasive cleaning agent on any surface, and it is advisable to test a small area first before applying the solution on a full scale.
Once you have identified your tile type, you can then purchase an appropriate cleaning chemical for the task ahead. Make sure you read the instructions and use the correct dilution rate for the task; most labels will give you varying rates for lightly to heavily soiled floors.
If your tile has a smooth finish, it should be relatively easy to clean with minimal effort. If it has a textured finish, it will be harder to clean as soiling builds up in the ridges and crevices. With all tiles, the most difficult part is usually cleaning the grout. Grout is a cement-based product used to fill the gaps between the tiles. As it is cement-based, it is also prone to being porous, and light-coloured grout often stains easily if it has not been sealed. Grout sealer can be purchased in many tile stores.
A good method for cleaning grout is to pre-soak it for a while and use a stiff brush to agitate the surface before mopping or wiping it clean with a sponge. Repeat the process for heavily soiled grout.
As with all heavily used floor surfaces, the more regularly they are cleaned, the better they will appear. It is advisable, even with hard-wearing floor tiles, to establish a regular cleaning schedule. One of the most common causes of a place appearing grubby or unsightly is a soiled floor. How many times have you walked into a café and, after looking at the floor, thought I don’t fancy eating here?