Maintaining Tile Flooring: Not All Tiles Are the Same

Whether it is in your bathroom, kitchen, foyer, or the main living areas of the house, if you have tile flooring then you need to know how to maintain it. The first thing you need to understand is that the different types of tile flooring need to be maintained differently. You can't treat vinyl tiles the same way you clean ceramic tiles and you certainly can't expect your marble tiles to look great if you try to maintain them the way you would maintain porcelain tiles. Here is some information that will help you keep your tile floors looking great for many years to come.

Vinyl and Linoleum 

Vinyl and linoleum tiles do not last as long as the others. They are also easily damaged. To clean and maintain them so that they will last as long as possible, make sure to sweep them regularly to avoid scratching the surface. After sweeping, clean the tiles with a product made specifically for either vinyl or linoleum. Be sure to use lukewarm water and never use extra hot water or a steam cleaner. These tiles cannot handle heat.

Marble, Granite, and Stone

Contrary to common belief, marble, granite, and stone tiles can be damaged if you use the wrong products on them. Anything acidic can cause the tiles to become discolored. Acidic products may also create an etching effect in the tiles. It is best to use a gentle, pH-neutral cleaning product on these natural tiles. It is also important to use a soft cloth for the cleaning so you do not scratch the tile surface.

Ceramic and Porcelain

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are tough when it comes to cleaning. They do not scratch, become discolored, or lose their shine very easily. this means you can use almost any product and hot water to clean them. Sweep the room, and then mop using your preferred cleaning solution. Immediately rinse the area and let it air dry. If you need to clean the grout, by a grout cleaner, apply it, let it sit, and then rinse it off.

Tile flooring does not hold dirt and grime the way a carpet would, but it can become embedded with it or have it create small lumps on the tile where it is built up over time. You should sweep the floors any time you see any dirt or debris and clean it with a cleanser and water before it starts to look dirty.

For more, turn to a service such as Wood's Cleaning & Restoration.

About Me

reducing your workload around the holidays

I do look forward to all of the holidays each year. These are the days that I know that my home will be filled with my closest friends and the family that I don't get to see often enough. Preparing the house for company is a lot of work that I used to do on my own. I would spend days cleaning, organizing and rearranging things. Two years ago, I started hiring a cleaning service to come out a day or two before the holidays to perform a deep cleaning of everything. If you struggle to find the time to get your house ready for the holidays, read through the tips on my blog to find ways to make it less work for yourself.

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