Let’s face it; when was the last time you got on your hands and knees and scrubbed your grout and tile to perfection? A couple of months? A couple of years? Never? With the current COVID-19 situation, it’s important to keep clean. Although you can’t “catch” a virus, dirty floors will make you sick one way or another. In this article, we will focus on how to clean tiled flooring. Even after mopping, does your floor still look gross? Is the grout filled with debris? We’ll go over the best ways to clean dirty grout and tiled flooring.
Using Baking Soda and Water to Clean Floors
An old solution that people have used for centuries is a paste made from water and baking soda to keep kitchen floors sparkling. Being an adult means taking care of your own home, and sometimes old school methods are tried and tested to be true. Did you know that by mixing 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water, you’d create a versatile cleaner that’s great for cleaning grout and tile floors? We didn’t think so! Before beginning, sweep/vacuum your floor to remove any large debris and dust. Start by applying this mixture to grout lines before you scrub or mop. If you have sensitive skin, you might want to use gloves or something to protect your hands from the mixture.
PRO TIP: Use an old toothbrush to really push the solution into the cracks that you might not be able to reach with your fingers!
At first, it may seem like a lot of work, but it will be worth it! Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes. This solution doesn’t take long to work its magic! Make sure to follow the treatment with plain warm water and a clean mop, completely removing any baking soda residue that’s left. Use this cost-effective mixture on kitchen floors as well as wood floors (as long as they are not waxed) and the results will be the same! Not only will your floors be clean, but this eco-friendly solution also uses products you might already have in your cupboard. It doesn’t get any better than that! Using baking soda and water is a great way to clean grout and tile floors if you have children or pets. As nice as it is to use scented products to clean because it makes the home smell nice, the fragrance that is left behind isn’t always good for you. The residue can actually contain harmful chemicals! If there was one less harmful thing you could unintentionally expose your family to, it might as well be an affordable one!
Note: Do not use baking soda cleaner on surfaces like limestone. Baking soda is naturally acidic and will wear away the limestone over time. You may have to purchase a specialized cleaning agent or find a different homemade recipe.
Using a Steamer or Tile & Grout cleaning machine
It’s a great idea to also use steam to clean your floors to remove grout from tiled flooring. Steamers are cleaning revelations that shoot hot and pressurized steam at a target. There are 2 different kinds of steamers: long stick steamers, and handheld steamers. Sometimes you might want something that is not bulky or difficult to use. Here are the best handheld steam cleaners for grout that money can buy. Handheld steamers are much easier to focus on a target for deep grout cleaning and shoot out much more powerful concentrations of steam for nooks and crannies that normally can’t be reached. Handheld steamers work better for places like around the toilet or the bathtub grout or in-between tiles of a floor. Larger mop-like stick steamers are more suitable for large areas and for places that aren’t as dirty. They typically have a larger water capacity than a handheld, making them easier to use for entire kitchens or bathrooms. The steam is dispersed evenly instead of concentrated and they cannot be used around specific areas like around the toilet or bathtub. If you’re looking for the best way to clean dirty grout, the handheld version is the way to go.
Steamers also protect you from harmful chemical-based cleaners like bleach as all they need to effectively clean is water. This protects your family and pets, as well as your wallet. In the long run, a steamer will be cheaper than a regular mop and the recurring chemical cleaner purchases. They can be used on all tiled floors, including ceramic and marble, which typically require different cleaning agents. Also, there are many effective & powerful grout cleaning machines are available in the market and you can use any of them.
Using White Vinegar
White vinegar is a cost-effective item most of us have laying around somewhere in our homes. Before beginning, sweep/vacuum your floor to remove any large debris and dust. Mix 1 part vinegar (NOT apple cider vinegar, which may stain flooring) with 1 part warm water into a clean spray bottle and shake. Spray the solution onto the affected area and use an old rag to push into the grout or spread around the floor. Leave to sit for a few minutes and wash away with a mop or a clean rag. Once dried, the vinegar smell will go away and you’ll be left with stunning and shiny flooring! Using vinegar saves you money and a trip to the store. It is safe for pets and children, making this one of the better homemade eco-friendly solutions.
Note: Do not use on stone surfaces such as granite, cast iron, aluminum, or waxed surfaces like hardwood as it may scratch and dissolve the materials. This cleaner is designed for ceramic and synthetic tiles. If you are not sure if the cleaner is good for your floor or not, spritz on a tile that is less noticeable and leave for a couple of minutes. Wipe away and record any damage. If there is no damage, you’re good to use it on the rest of your floor!
Using Detergent and Water
Last but not least, we have our store-bought detergent. You can use dish detergent or laundry detergent as long as they do not have any extremely harsh chemicals or colorings; we recommend purchasing an all-natural dish detergent.
Before beginning, sweep/vacuum your floor to remove any large debris and dust. Mix 1 part mild detergent with 1 part water into a spray bottle. Gently mix. Do not violently shake as it will create lots of suds and will be difficult to spray. Spray onto grout and tile and gently scrub with an old rag; do not use something stiff like steel wool as it will scratch the flooring. Gently rub away with a wet and clean rag, focusing on the grout between the tiles. Wait for the water to dry before walking or stepping on the floor to avoid falls. You’re done!
Note: This method is designed for ceramic floors but may be used on stone flooring as long as you use a very gentle and non-abrasive detergent
How Often Should I Clean my Floors?
This sounds like a pretty straightforward answer, but as often as they need it! Depending on how much time you spend at home and walking around, you might have to deep clean once a week or once every couple of months. Here’s a rule of thumb; if it’s dirty, clean it! If you have pets or children and constantly have all sorts of dirt and spills on the floor you may want to deep clean every week. If you travel a lot and don’t spend a lot of time at home, every couple of months is a good idea to prevent dust build-up.