How to Care for Ceramic Tile Floors

By: Jason Petrina



Ceramic tile floors are the choice of many home owners. Ceramic tile is commonly used in bathrooms and kitchens, but with the wide selection of ceramic tiles available today, some homeowners have ceramic tile floors throughout their homes. Glazed ceramic tile is the most popular choice.

People like glazed ceramic tile for a variety of reasons. First, it is durable and easy to care for. Ceramic tile floors typically last longer than any other type of flooring available. It is scratch resistant, and it is environmentally friendly – the tiles are made out of natural minerals. Ceramic tile floors are also fire resistant and water resistant. With the selection that is commercially available, homeowners are able to find ceramic tile flooring that works well with their decorating style, and their lifestyle.

Ceramic tile floors don’t require nearly as much care and maintenance as other types of flooring – but they do still require some level of care to keep them looking shiny and new. In order to take care of your tile floors, you must know what type of tile flooring you have.

Unglazed tile floors, also called Pavers, have no glazing or other coating applied to them. These tiles are porous, and you should use a penetrating sealant on them to help prevent stains. For marble floors, there are also sealants available to help prevent stains. You should never use products that contain abrasives or acidic cleaners on a marble floor. It is also wise to use a sealant on granite floors and grout to protect the finish from stains as well.

Ceramic tile floors should be washed regularly with a mile diluted detergent solution. There are countless products available for cleaning floors, and most are suitable for cleaning ceramic tile. The product should be diluted with water, according to the directions on the packaging. The floor should be swept well first, and then washed with a mop. Use a sponge to clean the tight places – such as corners.

Some manufacturers will recommend that only certain products be used on their ceramic tile floorings. You should avoid ammonia based cleaners. Ammonia may cause discoloration of some colored grout.

After you have mopped your floor with diluted products, you will need to rinse it, by going back over it with clean, plain warm water. Since many mops retain some of the floor cleaning products – even after they have been rinsed and dried, you should consider rinsing your floor with a different mop. Ideally you should have one mop for washing, one for rinsing, and possibly one for drying your floor.

Ceramic tile floors should not ever be waxed. It doesn’t require it, and wax isn’t good for the tile. Most ceramic tile floors have glazed tiles, and that glaze is already doing what you would want the wax to do anyway.

Between wash jobs, sweep or vacuum regularly to keep the dirt and debris off the floor. Any type of broom that isn’t too abrasive can be used. Soft bristled brooms or straw brooms will do.

Twice a year, you should use a silicone grout sealer on non-epoxy grout joints. This will help preserve the color of the grout, and prevent discoloration from spills throughout the year.

All spills should be wiped up immediately. You can use plain water for this, or use a spray cleaner, such as Fantastic. If possible, try to contain spills with cloth or paper towels before it runs into the grout between the tiles. This will help prevent the porous grout from absorbing the liquid and causing stains.



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