Homemade Tile Cleaners

Clean tile with a homemade cleaning solution.

Tile is a versatile building material that can be used nearly anywhere in the home, from shower stalls to kitchen floors. When you need to clean tile, you must first keep in mind the type of tile you have. Stone, ceramic and vinyl tiles all are different, but the cleaning process is fairly similar. Your goal is to use a mild cleaning solution that is safe for use on any of these types of tile and is safe for the surrounding tile grout.

Things You'll Need

• 2 buckets
• Water
• Dish soap
• Vinegar
• Mop or cleaning rags
• Scrub brush
• Liquid sealant, optional

Instructions

1. Pour 1 gallon warm water, 2 drops dish soap and 2 drops vinegar into one cleaning bucket. Fill a second bucket with warm water. Don't, however, use vinegar in the solution if you are cleaning marble tile.

2. Dip a mop or cleaning rag into the cleaning solution. Squeeze out excess liquid. Wipe over the tile. Dip a scrub brush in the cleaning solution and scrub grouted areas.

3. Rinse the mop or rag in the bucket of clear water, wring it out and wipe it over the tile once again to remove cleaning residue.

4. Dry the tile with a clean cloth.

5. Apply a coat of liquid sealant to stone or ceramic tile, following the application instructions on the package.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Cleaning Tips - Floor Tile