Can You Use Vinegar to Clean Tile Floors?

White vinegar is only mildly acidic.

Tile floors are sleek and attractive, but require ongoing maintenance for optimal shine. Although stores sell specialized cleaning products for tile, white vinegar--a natural, all-purpose cleaner--also may give you the cleanliness and the shine that you need, as long as you apply it with a bit of foreknowledge.

Safety

Vinegar is indeed safe for some tile floors, as long as you exercise caution. The more porous the tile, the less liquid you should use. If you allow excess vinegar to remain in the pores, it can discolor or damage the tile over time. Furthermore, you should never use vinegar on an authentic marble or granite tile. Over time, vinegar can actually dissolve the material. You can safely use vinegar on ceramic, vinyl, quarry or synthetic tiles.

Process

For best results, use only white vinegar and dilute it with water. Mix 1 cup of vinegar with 1 quart of water and apply it to the head of a dust mop. Wring out the mop head to release the excess liquid and reapply the head to the mop. Wipe your entire tile floor with the dust mop. Rinse the tile with warm water and buff dry with towels.

Benefits

White vinegar contains enough acid content to remove dirt and deposits from tiles as well as surrounding grout. It is especially useful for dissolving hard water and other mineral deposits, and the acetic concentration helps to prevent mold and mildew from forming. Vinegar is natural and contains no harsh chemicals or fumes, and should not dull or damage your tiles in any way if used correctly.

Precautions

Stick with white vinegar, preferably distilled. Other types of vinegar, like apple cider vinegar, may have an adverse effect due to their higher acidic concentration. Only use vinegar that reads "5 percent" on the label, indicating 5 percent acetic concentration. Any higher concentration will prove too acidic for most floor tiles. If cleaning real marble tiles, use extra caution.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Tips on Cleaning and Polishing Your Marble Floors
• Reader's Digest: Mildew Cleaning Solutions
• Marble Instute of America: Natural Stone Care and Cleaning