How to Clean a Ceramic Tile Floor
It's the porous surface of ceramic tiles that make them so warm and welcoming to bare feet—it's also what makes them so vulnerable to stains and grime.
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Make house cleaning faster and easier with the tips and tricks in these videos.
You Will Need
- A vacuum with a floor or brush attachment
- A bucket with 2 gal. of warm water
- A quarter c. of white vinegar or a quarter cup of mild soap
- A rag mop
- A brush with plastic bristles
Steps
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Step 1
Vacuum floor
Vacuum your floor thoroughly to remove any loose dirt or grime.
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Step 2
Mix solution
For an unsealed floor, mix the vinegar into the bucket of warm water. For a sealed floor, mix the mild soap into the water instead.
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Sealed tile floors should be waxed once a year -- and stripped, re-sealed, and re-waxed every few years.
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Step 3
Scrub stains
If there are any stains, use the cleaning solution and the plastic-bristled brush to scrub them away.
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Step 4
Soak mop
Soak the mop in the bucket containing the cleaning solution, then ring it out.
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Check warnings or recommendations from the tile's manufacturers before using a commercial cleaner.
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Step 5
Mop floor
Mop the floor.
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Step 6
Fill bucket with water
Empty the cleaning solution and fill the bucket with clean water.
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Step 7
Rinse floor
Mop the floor again to rinse, making sure not to mop yourself into a corner.
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Step 8
Let floor dry
Allow the floor to dry, then take off your shoes and go for a stroll.
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In the West African country of Mauritania, it's traditional to eat sitting on the floor.
