If you have ceramic tile floors in the kitchen, entryway, and elsewhere throughout your home, you enjoy the minimal upkeep that this material offers. It doesn’t scratch or warp like wood floors or pick up stains like carpet. Still, you should take care of your tile to help ensure you have the cleanest floors on the block! Here are some tips on how to mop tile.
Best Way to Mop Tile Floors
- Clean often: Frequent cleaning makes the job easier. Don’t let your floors turn into a “project” — mop them regularly so they always look good. In fact, you should sweep even more often than you mop to help prevent grit from dulling the glaze on your tile floor.
- Remove loose debris first: Don’t introduce water to the floor until you remove dirt, crumbs, and other debris. Sweeping or vacuuming is your best bet.
- Mop the floor from back to front: You know the phrase, “paint yourself into a corner?” You can also mop yourself into a corner if you’re not careful. Assess the room and follow a path that ensures you end at an exit.
- Use a rag or chamois mop, not a sponge mop: A sponge mop pushes dirty water into grout lines, making them harder to clean later.
- Don’t use too much detergent: Your ceramic tiles might start to look hazy as soap residue builds up. Remove the film with all-purpose cleaner or a mild acid, such as fresh lemon juice. Then, remember to use less soap next time.
- Change the water frequently: Mopping with dirty water leaves your floor looking cloudy and the bottom of your socks dirty.
- Dry the floor: To prevent water spots on freshly-cleaned tile, buff the floor dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. Be kind to your knees and slide the rag around using your foot.
Cleaning Tile Grout
You don’t have to clean the grout every time you mop – though giving it some attention on occasion is the secret to achieving great-looking tile floors. Grout absorbs grease and other stains, so cleaning it requires a bit more effort than mopping.
Skip the commercial cleaners and try making a baking soda and water paste. Apply the paste to the grout, rub it in, and let it sit overnight. The next morning, wet a stiff nylon brush (metal bristles could be damaging) and scrub the grout. Repeat as necessary for a couple of days until the grout returns to its original color. To repel future stains, apply a silicone-based sealer to the grout.
Schedule Household Cleaning Services from Molly Maid
Mopping tile floor isn’t difficult, but it can take more time than you’re willing to spend. Cleaning grout is even more tiresome. If you need help completing these household chores, turn to the professionally trained crew at Molly Maid. We make your house spotless with flexible cleaning options, which range from a single deep-cleaning to occasional cleaning to routine assistance with household chores.
Free up your time to enjoy more of the things you love — contact your local Molly Maid to request a free in-home estimate.
