How to Care for Your Tile Floor

Many home owners choose tiles for their floors. This is mainly because they are water resistant and are easy to clean. Needless to say, tiles will also ear out in time and if they’re not care for appropriately. Keep your tiled floors looking great with these tips and tricks.

Source: UNSPLASH

Basic Maintenance
This involves the usual sweeping or vacuuming of floors to remove any dust or debris before using any cleaning products. Clean your tile floor using a damp mop at least once each week to decrease wear and abrasion from grit and soil. Do this more frequently for heavy traffic areas.

Tips for Preventing Damage
If you have to use scouring powders and sealants, test them on a small area before cleaning the full area. Use a sealer on grout joints shortly after installation and use products compatible with cleaning grout joints. After cleaning, rinse the entire area with clear water to remove any cleaning solution residue. In the event that tiles are broken or damaged seriously, don't remove them yourself as inexperienced hands can widen the extent of the damage. Let a qualified tile contractor do the job.

Things to Avoid
Acid or bleach based cleaners shouldn’t be used for routine maintenance. Avoid wax-based cleaners and oil-based detergents, and use sealants on grout joints only. Steel wool pads or any scouring pads containing metal shouldn’t be used on tile because they can hurt its quality.

Do invest in high-quality floor mats and protective pads under heavy furniture for an extra layer of protection to your tile floors. Place floor mats at entrances and exits. They collect and trap corrosive substances like dirt, sand, oil, grit, asphalt, or even driveway sealer that can be tracked in. Placing mats in high-traffic areas like in front of vanities, kitchen sinks, and stoves is an effective way to reduce tile wear.

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