No matter how often you clean your floor, your tiles need extra TLC occasionally. Here’s how to clean tiles to get them sparkling. In most Indian homes, the ...
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No matter how often you clean your floor, your tiles need extra TLC occasionally. Here’s how to clean tiles to get them sparkling.
In most Indian homes, the floor gets swept and mopped almost daily. While this may lead us to believe that our floor is spotless, we couldn’t necessarily always be true. Tiles on the floor and the walls may be easy to clean, but over time they tend to accumulate dirt, grime, and stains. This could also fade away their once-gleaming appearance. So, if you’re wondering how to clean tiles, we have this step-by-step guide to doing just that.
Before you start to clean tiles – be it floor or walls – you need to equip yourself with the right tools. To clean tiles, you will need:
Follow this step-by-step process to clean tiles in your home:
The first rule of cleaning anything is to ensure the surface is dust-free. So, start by sweeping the tiles with a broom or a vacuum cleaner. When the tiled surface is dust-free, it ensures the dust particles don’t scratch the tiles during cleaning. It also makes it easier to wipe down the tiles later.
If you haven’t cleaned your tiles in a long time or have moved into a poorly maintained rented home, chances are the tiles have stubborn stains or discoloured grout. Before you start to clean tiles, it’s best to pre-treat these stains.
You can do it by applying the tile cleaner or a baking soda and water solution to the stained area and letting it sit for a few minutes. The cleaner/baking soda solution should break down the stains to a great degree, if not entirely. Remember that extremely stubborn stains require professional cleaning, and sometimes even that doesn’t help. So, when you’re trying to clean tiles, accept that you may meet a stain that will defeat you and everything you throw at it.
To treat grout – those stubborn lines on the tile joints – use a specialised grout cleaner and a small brush to scrub the dirt and discolouration. How long you’ll need to be at it will depend on how stubborn the grout is.
Once you’ve cleaned the stains and the grout, you are ready to clean the tiles.
A good tile cleaner is one that doesn’t damage your tiles. This would exclude cleaners with acid or any other harsh chemicals. You could opt for pH-neutral tile cleaners readily available in stores near you or make one by mixing equal parts white vinegar and water. The vinegar-water solution is an effective one for removing stains and disinfecting.
Before you take this solution to town, try it out in an inconspicuous corner to ensure it doesn’t adversely affect the colour or finish of your tiles. Wait a few minutes and wipe the tested area with a clean cloth to check for adverse reactions.
Dip a soft sponge into the cleaning solution and apply it on the times. Work in small sections, scrubbing gently in a circular motion. When you approach high-traffic areas (like the living room) or places that are prone to spills (like the kitchen wall near the gas stove) use a soft-bristle toothbrush to scrub it well. Don’t forget to rinse the sponge frequently ro prevent the dirt from spreading.
Once you’re done with the cleaning solution, use clean water to rinse the tiles with a mop. If you’re cleaning wall tiles, use a sponge to wipe them down. The objective of this step is to remove any residue of the cleaning solution else the tiles can get slippery or attract dirt. Worse, the solution could leave behind stains.
Now that you’ve cleaned and rinsed the tiles, it’s time to dry them using old towels or rags. This is an extremely important step in cleaning tiles because water droplets can also leave behind spots. While wiping down the tiles with a dry cloth, make sure to turn on the fan at full speed so the tiles dry faster.
A clean and well-maintained tile surface can transform the look and feel of your home. But if this entire process sounds daunting, know that you can simply book an appointment with Urban Company and our experts will do it all for you!
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