Effective cleaning of kitchen and bathroom tiles

There are many types of tile used for indoor flooring, common examples are natural stone (slate, granite) and man-made tiles such as ceramic which can come in a variety of finishes.  It is very common to find these tiles in areas where spillages are common – areas such as kitchens and bathrooms – as they are relatively easy to clean and the surface does not get damaged by liquids as would materials such as hardwood.  Although they are maintenance friendly, any floor can quickly become marked and stained if not looked after, especially common spillage areas.

There are various tips relating to cleaning and maintenance which, if carried out frequently, should keep your floor looking good for many years to come.  For the purpose of this article we will assume that the tiles are in good condition and that they have been correctly or professionally installed.

The first area to focus on with tiles is the tile grout.  Grout is a construction material which is used to fill voids and seal joints – precisely like those found between tiles – and generally consists of a mixture of sand, cement and water.  As such it is a porous substance that will stain easily which, while it may not sound like a big problem, can affect the overall aspect of the floor.  Even though the grout makes up a very small percentage of the surface area of the floor – when it stains the floor can look dulled, uneven and generally unsatisfactory.

Grout can be cleaned, but you would probably need to contact a specialist in cleaning floor tile to do it for you and you would be better served by applying a grout sealant, which can either be transparent or colour.  This will offer a barrier to protect the material, while the material itself can offer a uniform finish and can even be mixed to match the colour you wish.

The surface of the tiles themselves is easy to clean, but it is important to regularly do a few things.  The first is to sweep regularly to remove any dirt or grit particles that may be present and mop the floor clean once or twice a week.  This can be done with warm water or with a little added soap, before being rinsed and left to dry naturally.  It is a good idea to apply a surface sealant to help protect the surface, although this need not be done after every cleaning.  It is necessary to apply the right type of sealant depending on the material and a company which specializes in cleaning floor tile will be able to recommend one for you.

Indoor floor tile maintenance – The grout

Indoor tiled flooring can come in the form of natural stone (such as slate, lime and sandstone and granite) or fabricated tiles in a variety of materials and finishes.  Tile are often chosen as, after correct installation, they are visually very appealing as well as being relatively low maintenance and easy to clean.  This is particularly true of the surface of the tile, which is invariably durable, resistant and, in the case of ceramic tiles, has a wipe-clean surface dramatically reducing the amount of work necessary to keep them looking good.

One reason that maintaining a tiled floor may not always be simple is the presence of ‘tile grout’.  Grout is a construction material – typically composed of a mixture of sand, cement and water and is used to fill voids and seal joins such as those between tiles.  As a material – it is highly porous, meaning that it is not particularly resistant to liquids and this porosity means that it stains very easily.  Particularly in the case of ceramic tiles, grout makes up a very small percentage of the overall surface area of the floor, yet if it becomes stained or marked – the effect on the floor can be significant.  Stained or discolored grout can lead to an uneven or dulled and visually unsatisfactory appearance overall.

When grout becomes marked it can be very difficult so it is particularly important to stop it from getting marked in the first place.  Obviously the same tips that apply to cleaning the floor apply to the grout but it is particularly important to clean up spillages as soon as they occur to avoid a potential stain.  If the grout does get affected you will probably have to contact a specialist in cleaning floor tile, or apply a colour grout sealant.  

A grout sealer is a good way to help protect the floor.  The sealant essentially ‘waterproofs’ and will help prevent staining from spillages or in general, as well as facilitating cleaning efforts.  A general floor sealant will help, but there are separate clear and colour grout sealants which offer more protection and will, in the case of the colour sealant, provide a uniform finish in the colour of your choosing.  It can also be applied over already marked grout to ‘mask the problem’ and can be mixed to compliment an existing colour.

The protection offered by a sealant is a fundamental step, although it does not imply that subsequent cleaning efforts can be ignored!  If grout does become stained and you need it cleaned, in this case you will need to contact a company which deals with cleaning floor tile and will be able to utilize heat and pressure cleaning techniques to deal with the problem.  They can also be contacted for the recommendation and application of colour grout sealant.

Effective basics of Cleaning slate floors

Slate is one of a variety of different types of natural stone flooring that have become common in indoor domestic locations.  Natural stone floors such as slate are chosen due to a visually appealing finish which is natural and unique as well as durability which makes it a sound investment over the years.  The inherent durability means that the floor will last a long time but it is still vitally important to maintain the floor and to clean regularly in order to keep the floor, which can easily mark, looking good for many years to come.

The actual process of cleaning is not complicated but needs to be done regularly in order to be effective.  It is also important that you follow certain dos and don’ts as you will want to avoid marking, staining and surface scratching wherever possible.  Surface scratching can lead to an unsatisfactory appearance and can also allow for bacteria and grime to build up and stain overtime.  It is not uncommon to see an unpleasant black mark on the floor – which is probably a scratch into which dirt has built up over time.

Most scratching to the surface is actually caused by particles of grit, sand and dirt on the floor and usually walked into the environment on the soles of shoes.  It is obviously paramount to make sure as little of this is introduced as possible, but you can also help matters by simply sweeping the floor as often as possible.  This should be done especially before you clean the floor, and you may also consider cleaning the floor with a fine dust mop before you start.

After the floor has been swept, you should mop it clean.  Assuming this is done regularly, you should need no more than warm water with a little soap or detergent or other neutral PH cleaner.  You should mop the floor thoroughly, rinsing the mop as often as you can and then rinse the floor with clean water afterwards to remove any soapy residue.  The floor should then be left to dry naturally, which can take time if the day is cold or humid.  If regular mopping is not effective or is not done frequently enough, you may find yourself with a build-up of grime and staining which can be tough to remove, especially if the grout has been affected.  In this case you may need to contact a specialist in cleaning slate floors to assist you.

After the floor has been cleaned you should consider the application of a sealant which should offer a little extra protection and facilitate future cleaning efforts.  This will not need to be done every time you clean, but is advisable every other month.  Sweeping should still be done as often as possible to protect the sealant from scratches.

If you find that regular cleaning ceases to be effective, or that the floor has become stained, marked or scratched or that the grout has been discolored, you should consider contacted a company which deals with cleaning slate floors.  A company will be able to take advantage of modern cleaning techniques such as heat and pressure cleaning and emulsification and effective capture of waste and residue to restore your floor to its original state.

Cleaning slate floors

Slate is one of a number of natural stone tile floors which are becoming increasingly popular in the domestic indoor flooring market.  Slate can, if installed correctly, be the most attractive option and is also reasonably priced while it also offers stain resistance and durability meaning that, if it is looked after correctly, should last for years.

One mistake people make with natural stone floors is the assumption that they require little or no maintenance.  While it is true that the durable nature of slate makes it more resistant to scratches and surface damage, if you fail to clean and maintain the floor your will soon find yourself with a floor which has a dull, uneven or unsatisfactory appearance and with stains that you cannot shift.  Following a few simple steps should allow you to keep your floor looking good for the foreseeable future.

The application of a sealant for the surface of the slate as well as the grout is fundamental for the ongoing protection of the floor.  A sealant offers an additional layer of protection and effectively ‘waterproofs’ the surface of the floor aiding your cleaning efforts.  It is particularly important to seal the grout, as it is an extremely porous substance which will stain easily.  Grout may only make up a small percentage of the surface area of the floor, but if it gets marked you’d be astonished how much it can affect the overall appearance.  A company which specializes in cleaning slate floors will be able to recommend a decent floor sealant for you.

Cleaning itself should not present too much of a problem and can, assuming the sealant has not been damaged or scratched, involve no more than a mop and some warm water with a little detergent.  You should first sweep the floor thoroughly to remove surface dirt and grit (also responsible for surface abrasions) and then with a fine dust mop.  After that simply mop the floor, and remember to rinse to make sure you do not leave any soapy residue.  After the floor has been cleaned you can consider re-sealing the floor to offer ongoing protection, but this does not need to be done every time you clean the floor.

If you wish to use a special cleaning product you should be careful to make sure it does not contain any acid or bleach as this can discolour or stain natural stone and the grout in particular.  Always ask for a recommendation and always follow the instructions.  If you find there is a stain that simply cannot be shifted, you may need to contact a company that deals with cleaning slate floors to restore it for you using equipment unavailable to you.

Stone cleaning

Natural stone tiles have become an increasingly popular choice for indoor flooring due to the eye catching appearance and durability which eases maintenance.  From a purely aesthetic point of view natural stone is available in a wide range of colours, designs and finishes (smooth and polished stones have a different appearance and offer different levels of resistance to staining and slippages) and even shapes which means your floor will have a unique natural finish.  The natural durability of stone means that it will be more resistant to scratches and surface damage than other types of flooring such as fabricated tiles, hardwood and vinyls.  This resistance will aid in your maintenance efforts although there are still some potential pitfalls.

The main way to keep your stone floor clean is to apply a good quality sealant to the surface.  A sealant acts as an additional layer of protection which will help to protect the floor against staining or damage from spillages.  It is important to apply the sealant to an already clean floor (sealants are equally effective at trapping stains in) and to make sure the right type of sealant is applied for the type of stone floor you have.  A stone floor cleaning specialist should be able to recommend a sealant for you.

It is also important to consider the tile grout when thinking about your floor.  Grout is a construction material – it usually consists of a mixture of sand, cement and water and is used to fill voids and seal joints – just like those between tiles.  Grout is a notoriously porous substance and this porosity means that it is extremely susceptible to staining from any type of dirt or spillage.  Even though grout only makes up a small portion of the surface area of the floor it is remarkable how much it can affect the overall appearance.  Grout is difficult to clean (not wipe clean) so you will need to consider prevention as a priority.  The application of a colour grout sealant should ensure your floor maintains an even and clean finish.

Once a floor has been cleaned and sealed you need to protect it from surface scratching.  Scratches occur less easily on natural stone than other surfaces but will still occur if care is not taken.  Most scratches occur (around 80% has been suggested as a probable percentage) as a result of grit and dirt particles walked in on the soles of shoes.  If you doubt this, just take a look at your shoes next time you walk in off the street.  Placing doormats at entrances combined with regular sweeping and vacuuming should reduce the amount of surface grit present which should reduce the risk of abrasions.  You should also consider taking care while moving heavy objects such as furniture as well as with sharp points such as chair legs.  Padded tips can be applied to help deal with this.

Cleaning your floor will be a relatively simple matter and can involve no more than using a mop and warm water with a little detergent or a neutral PH cleaner.  Once the floor has been swept, simply mop the floor to clean it.  You can concentrate on any stains there are but if you clean regularly these should come straight off.  Make sure to rinse the mop with clean water to make sure there is no soapy residue on the surface and then leave it to dry naturally – this process should be done weekly at least to be effective.  Periodically you should re-apply the sealant once the floor is clean and dry to facilitate future cleaning efforts.

If you find a stain you cannot shift or you notice a dulling or uneven appearance, it is possible that, due to negligence, that layers of bacteria resulting from spillages have built up over time to form a stain that is not easy to shift – or that the surface has become stained directly as a result of damage to the sealant.  In these cases you may wish to consult a stone cleaning company which will be able to effectively restore the floor for you.