Cleaning tile floors

There are lots of different kinds of tile floors, the most common ones are ceramic, vinyl and linoleum. Cleaning these kinds of tile floors is really quite easy, although different types of products are recommended of these kinds of floors. Therefore, before you begin cleaning - make sure you know which floors you are going to be working with.

Ceramic tile floors

Ceramic tiles are completely man made and they are generally used as flooring because they are so versatile. They come in virtually all colors, shapes, sizes and thickness. There two major kinds of ceramic tiles; glazed and unglazed. All ceramic tiles come installed with grout that also needs to be cleaned as well. The best way to clean glazed and unglazed ceramics are to use a cleaning solution made of:

-A gallon of warm water
-One tablespoon of borax
-Two tablespoons of ammonia

Use a microfiber mop as opposed to a sponge mop to clean the tiles because a sponge will push all the junk and dirt into the grout. The advantage of a microfiber mop is that it will pick up the dirt and clean it as you sweep across the flooring, minimizing the amount of junk you push into your grout tracks. When cleaning be sure to use circular cleaning motions with the mop across the tiles. This is best when cleaning tile floors. When you come across particularly dirty grout, try using a spray bottle to saturate the grout tracks and then mop over the wet area immediately. For grout that has stained and is not coming off, move onto a commercial cleaning product like Oxiclean and dilute it to the specifications on the back of the label. Once you've finished - clean the floors with water and remove any residue of the cleaner.

Vinyl Floors

Similar to ceramic tiles, vinyl flooring is also offered in many different styles, shapes and patterns. Its regularly used and is highly versatile. Its able to without scratching, stains and general wear and tear very well, and is an excellent alternative to ceramic flooring at a significantly reduced cost. Cleaning vinyl tiles are extremely simple. Again, we will use a cleaning solution made of:

-One gallon of warm water
-Half cup of ammonia

Be careful not to use any abrasive detergents or "mop and shine" products as they tend to leave a film on the flooring. An ammonia or a manufacturer recommended cleaning solution is the best bet when cleaning vinyl floors. Make sure to use a soft mop and apply the cleaning solution to the floor in a steady circular motion. Often the trouble occurs when trying to get rid of scuff marks. The best way to do this is to use baking soda or toothpaste and a soft sponge with water. If the scuff mark is still there, try using dish-washing soap and a stiff toothbrush.

Linoleum floors

Linoleum floors and vinyl floors are almost identical, most people don't know the difference and can't tell the difference between the two. The only thing that's different is that vinyl is made from synthetic materials and linoleum is made from natural ingredients, mainly linseed oil and resins. Pigments are often added to the mixture and the linoleum is backed by a woven sheet underneath. It is very long last and is even more resistant to scratching that vinyl - and even when it does scratch it keeps its color as the patterns are generally embedded into the material itself, not stamped onto the top of the layer. Linoleum is generally polished and waxed for protection and this makes the job of cleaning it significantly easier. For heavy duty cleaning, you need to strip the wax from the flooring as per the manufacturers instructors. Fill a bottle with a 1 to 1 solution of vinegar and water and fill a large bucket with warm water. Directly spray your cleaning solution onto the linoleum and then use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe down the cleaner all over the surface. Even though linoleum is highly durable and resistant to damage, it is sensitive to excessive moisture. Its best to use the water sparingly. When doing regular cleaning use a diluted all purpose surface cleaning agent and make sure to rinse well after use.

The best way to test if your flooring is linoleum or vinyl is to scrape off a small piece with a razor-blade in an unnoticeable area. If the color and design comes off then you have vinyl, otherwise you have linoleum.

With tile flooring, the best cure is prevention. Clean up all spills immediately and make sure to vacuum tile floors every few days. Spending a short amount of time cleaning tile floors can keep them in perfect, pristine condition and save you hundreds on commercial cleaning when it becomes too difficult to clean yourself. I hope you found my guide useful and good luck!