How to Clean Floor Tiles & Caulk

Keep your tile floors looking like new.

Prevent the caulk between your floor tiles from becoming dirty and gray while keeping the tiles themselves also looking shiny and new. Improperly cleaning the tiles can scratch or damage them, and the wrong types of cleansers can permanently stain the caulking. Floors experience a lot of daily wear and tear in the home as you walk on them throughout the day, and regular cleaning is the best way to ensure your tiles continue to look their best over the years.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Mop bucket
• Tile cleaner
• Mop
• Scrub brush
• Grout cleaner
• Towel

Instructions

1. Sweep the tile thoroughly with a broom once a day, removing all dirt and grit. Abrasive dirt on tile floors scratches the tiles over time and may also work itself into the caulking. Sweep in corners and along the edges of walls where dirt tends to accumulate.

2. Fill a mop bucket with warm water. Mix in a tile cleanser recommended for your type of tiles, whether they are porcelain, ceramic or stone. Follow the cleanser's label directions for the exact application amount.

3. Soak a mop in the water and cleanser solution, and wring out all the excess moisture so the mop is just damp. Mop the floor with the cleanser, cleaning and wringing it out in the water often.

4. Dip a nylon scrub brush in the cleansing solution, and scrub any areas of tile or caulking that are particularly dirty or stained. Apply a commercial grout cleanser to the caulking if the stain doesn't scrub out. Let it sit for five minutes, or as recommended on the label, and scrub a second time.

5. Empty the mop bucket, and fill it with clean water. Rinse the mop thoroughly to remove all the dirt from its fibers. Mop the floor a second time with the clean water to remove any cleanser residue on the floor, which otherwise dulls the tile.

6. Wipe the entire tile floor dry with a dry mop or a clean towel. Start in one corner of the room and work toward the opposite side so you do not track on the wet floor.

Tips & Warnings

• Mop the floor with a solution of one part vinegar and three parts water if there are hard water stains on the floor, particularly in the bathroom. Vinegar is a mild acid that breaks down hard water deposits without damaging tiles.

• Wipe up spills immediately, especially if they are known to stain, like grape juice to prevent the tile and caulk from staining in the first place.

• Avoid using abrasive cleansers, steel wool or stiff wire brushes on tile and caulk, which rip up the caulk and permanently scratch the tile surfaces.

References

• World Floor Covering Association: Ceramic/Porcelain Care