Tile flooring from National Floors Direct

A Complete Guide to Caring for Tile Flooring

Installing tile flooring in your home is a great investment that has an average of 70% ROI. Not only are tile floors beautiful and durable, but they are often a better choice for homes in a humid climate. 

Still, installing new floors in your home can be a big investment. Learning how to take care of your tile floors is necessary if you want to maintain the value of your floors and keep them looking new. 

Do you want to learn more about floor maintenance for different flooring options? Keep reading this guide for everything you need to know about tile flooring care. 

Sweep Or Vacuum Regularly

One of the most important things you can do to keep your tile floors in good shape is to regularly sweep or vacuum them. If you have loose dirt or other debris on your floors, this can get tracked around and can lead to scratched, dull-looking tiles. 

Vacuuming or sweeping your floors at least once a week will keep them looking their best and can keep grime from building up on your tile. You can also use a microfiber duster to pick dust off of your floors. 

If you choose to vacuum your tile, make sure you use the right type of vacuum to avoid damaging the surface. If your vacuum has metal parts or rough wheels, it can leave scratches and other marks on your tile. 

Wipe Spills Immediately

Another important tip to follow to keep your tile in perfect condition is to wipe up spills immediately. If you have tile floors in your kitchen, you may find it easy for food and drinks to spill onto your floors. 

If your grout is not sealed properly, it can absorb these spills and become stained. 

Some types of tile are more porous and can also stain when brightly colored things are spilled on them. Wiping spills up immediately will prevent unsightly stains on your tile and grout. 

Mop Your Tile Floors

Next, you should mop your tile floors at least twice a month. 

When mopping your tile floor, make sure you change the water regularly. Otherwise, you may simply be spreading the dirt from one area of your floor to another and you may see a hazy film on your file after mopping. 

After mopping your tile floors, you should also dry them immediately with a clean cloth! Not only can this keep you safe and prevent people from slipping on wet tiles, but it will also prevent water spots from forming on your newly cleaned tile. 

Use the Right Cleaners

When you are choosing cleaners for your tile floors, you need to make sure you choose the right products. 

One of the most important things to consider when choosing cleaning products for tile floors is whether or not it is abrasive. Things like steel wool, scouring sponges, and other abrasive or hard cleaning tools can scratch your tile and leave it looking etched and dull.

Instead, you should only use soft sponges or cloths to clean your tile floors. 

You should also make sure you choose the right mop. Many people try to use a steam mop to deep clean their tile floors. However, most tile floors are not meant to withstand extreme heat, so this can damage the surface. 

Instead, it is best to use a soft microfiber mop on your tile floors. 

Spot-Clean the Grout

Spot cleaning your grout is another way that you can keep your tiles looking sparkly and new for years to come! 

Grout typically looks old and dirty before the rest of your tiles. If it is not sealed properly, the grout can absorb dirty water and other spills that result in stains. 

To spot-clean your grout, you can use grout cleaner or a mixture of bleach and water. Simply spray the cleaner on your grout, let it sit for a few minutes, and then you can rinse it off to remove stains

If you have stubborn stains in your grout, you can also scrub the grout lines with a toothbrush. 

Seal and Regrout When Necessary

Finally, you may need to seal or regrout your tile over time!

This is because your grout will typically wear out faster than your tile. If you have old, cracked grout, it will make the rest of your tile look outdated. Plus, this can make it easier for your tile flooring to get damaged by water. 

If you see that your grout is cracked and crumbling, you should remove it and replace it. This way, you will not have to worry about mold growing on your grout. 

Once you have replaced your grout, sealing it will help it stay new for longer! It provides a waterproof barrier for your grout and will keep it from absorbing liquids. Not only can this prevent unnecessary wear and tear, but it can also prevent grout stains. 

In high-traffic areas of your home, you may need to reseal your grout at least once a year to keep your tile in pristine condition. 

If you need help with sealing or replacing the grout on your floors, you may be able to hire a professional flooring installation company to do it for you. 

Caring for Tile Flooring? We Can Help

When you have tile flooring, maintaining them properly can keep them looking new for years to come. Following each of these floor care tips will make your tile maintenance easy and effective!

If you need help with tile flooring care, National Floors Direct can help! We nationwide flooring installation services and can help you learn more about caring for your new tile floors. 

Contact us today to learn more about your flooring options or check out our blog for more floor maintenance tips.