How to Clean Natural Tile Floors

Natural tile floors add a touch of distinction to your home. Cleaning them is easy, but must be done on a regular basis in order to keep your flooring in optimum shape. If maintained properly, these floors can look beautiful for many years to come

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Broom
• Dust mop
• Mat
• Bucket
• Water
• Soft cloth
• Vacuum cleaner
• pH-neutral tile and stone cleaner

1. Sweep your tile floors daily using a broom or dust mop. You may need to use your vacuum cleaner and an attachment to clean hard-to-reach spots. Tracked-in dirt, mud, sand and grit are very abrasive and will wear down the surface of the stone.

2. Place mats at entryways to reduce the amount of dirt tracked on to the floor. Choose a mat that is not rubber-backed, as they can stain the tiles. Shake out the mats on a daily basis to remove the collected dirt.

3. Damp-mop your floor with warm water and a pH-neutral cleaning solution. Using this solution will help remove the dirt that may be left over after you have swept the floor. These solutions can be found at home-improvement and grocery stores, and are labeled as tile or stone cleaners.

4. After you have used the cleaner, rinse the floor with warm water. If you don’t rinse the floor, the finish may look dull when it dries. When the rinse water starts to look dirty, dump it out and refill the bucket with fresh water. Use a soft cloth to dry the floor. Allowing the floor to air dry may cause streaks.

Tips & Warnings

• If your natural tile floor was not sealed when it was installed, it may be a good idea to seal it now. Sealants protect the floor from stains and wear and keep the grout looking new.
• If you haven’t yet installed a natural tile floor, you may want to consider buying extra tiles. Extra tiles come in handy if part of the floor is ever damaged and cannot be repaired.
• Wipe up spills immediately to minimize the chances of staining your floor. While sealing will help prevent stains, certain substances, such as red wine, can still stain the floor if they are not cleaned up promptly.
• Don’t use vinegar, scouring powder, grout cleaner, bathroom tub-and-tile cleaners or any abrasive type of cleaner on your floor. They can etch the finish and damage the polish of the tiles.