There are many different types of flooring and one of the most popular is tile flooring. It is versatile, beautiful and durable so it can do well in any home. In fact, it doesn’t matter if you install it in the kitchen, bathroom or even throughout the entire home, it is going to provide a lasting floor that you will be proud of from the moment it goes down.
It does take some work to care for the floor and to ensure that you are treating the tile properly. The following 10 tile floor care tips can point you in the right direction and help you to have a floor that will last for a very long time:
1) Establish a Cleaning Regimen
One of the most important things that you can do for your tile floor is to clean it on a regular basis. This would include sweeping the floor daily with either a vacuum or a dust mop. It helps remove some of the loose dust and dirt to keep it clean longer. You should also wash the floor with warm water on a weekly basis. Doing so will help the floor to stay shiny and looking new.
2) Pay Attention to Drying
One of the mistakes that many people make when it comes to caring for a tile floor is to simply allow the floor to air dry after they mop it. This can cause several different problems, including making it more difficult to clean in the future. It is important to dry a tile floor after you damp mop it because it will remove any new dirt that is left on the floor and keep it from becoming an even bigger problem. In addition, drying the floor after washing it will help to avoid spots.
3) Spot Clean it Regularly
A big problem that many people with a tile floor have is thinking that they can wait to clean up the spill or other issue until a more convenient time. It is important to clean up any type of spill on a tile floor, regardless of whether it is a pet accident, dropped food or even spilled water. Simply wipe the area with soap and water or with a dry cloth to remove the issue as soon as possible.
4) Clean the Grout Regularly
If the grout does not stay clean, it is going to make the entire floor looked dirty. You may not notice since you live with the floor on a day-to-day basis but it will eventually look dingy, old and dirty. It is relatively easy to clean the grout if you clean it on a regular basis. If you let it go too long, however, you may need to scrub it with some grout cleaner or perhaps even remove the grout and reclean it. Professional grout cleaning can also work wonders.
5) Invest in Some Floor Mats
Although you may really appreciate the look of the tile floor, it is still important to have some floor mats in place to help cut down on any serious issues that may happen. Floor mats should be put in the entrances and exits, as they will trap much of the dirt and other substances that could be brought in on our shoes. Some of those substances could stay in the tile floor and make it difficult to clean.
6) Fix Problems as Soon as Possible
When you have any type of minor damage that occurs to the tile floor, be sure that it is fixed as soon as possible. Even if it is only a small area, restoring that area can make a big difference in how the floor looks and how long it will last. It is easier to fix a small area, such as a loose tile or a chip in the tile while it is still small and before it gets larger.
7) Have Your Floor Professionally Cleaned
Even if you do everything right along the way, there will come a time when the floor will look dingy and in need of replacement. When it is no longer able to be cleaned at home with water and a mop, you may need to call in some professional cleaners to do their job. It isn’t typically necessary to do so very often but when you do have it done, your floor will look as good as new.
8) Attack Stains the Right Way
Mild stains and dirt can be removed with regular sweeping and wet mopping. You may find that more difficult stains show up from time to time and these can really detract from the overall look of the floor. If the tile becomes stained, handle it with a professional cleaner that is gentle enough to use on a regular basis. If the grout is stained in the specific area, try scrubbing it with a toothbrush and some hydrogen peroxide.
9) Handle Stress Cracks Properly
It is not out of the question to see some hairline cracks that occur in tile from time to time. Tile is a very durable surface but it is not indestructible. Hairline cracks can occur for any number of different reasons, including settling, improper installation and abuse. You can typically fix a hairline crack without replacing the tile using some epoxy filling. Make sure that you set enough time aside to do the job so that you don’t rush it.
10) Repairing Chips in the Tile
Small chips may be able to be temporarily fixed with nail polish. It will not remove the chip but it will help it to blend in and not stand out. If it is a larger chip or a hole, it can be filled with a ceramic filler and then blending colors can be used to help make it look inconspicuous.
These are a few of the different tile floor care tips that range from damaged tile to cleaning the tile on a regular basis. When you care for your tile floor properly, you will have something beautiful under your feet for a very long time.