The 5 Worst Tile Cleaning Mistakes

02 Poor Preparation

It’s important to give your tiles a thorough sweep beforehand. The main reason is because loose dirt can create mud when you run your mop over your tiles. Loose particles, like small rocks or crumbs, may also scratch your floors.

You should use a microfiber duster to easily pick up dust, hair and fluff.

04 Not Changing Water Often Enough

A dirty mop and dirty water could be creating much more mess for yourself, and damaging your floors, particularly if there is debris in your mop bristles.

Ensure you change your water whenever it is starting to look a little grubby, and overall, rinse your mop after every clean and replace a regularly used mop every few months.

03 Excess Water

Despite popular belief, you shouldn’t be using too much water on your tiles.

Porous grout between your tiles soaks up water easily, meaning it will absorb the dirty water you’ve just splashed across the floor. Too much water while cleaning is often the main reason why grout lines become dark and grimy over time.

01 Not Wet Cleaning Consistently

Areas like your kitchen and bathroom should be getting a wet mop every two weeks. Keep on top of your sweeping by doing it every few days to remove any debris that has gathered on your tiles.

05 Using Acidic Cleaning Products on Stone Tiles

Avoid using acid-based cleaning products like vinegar, on marble tiles. Over time, the acidic properties can wear the protective seal from your stone tiles. This can both fade them and make your tiles more prone to etching or discolouration.

Your best bet is to research which cleaning product is best suited to your tiles before starting .

How Do I Clean My Tiled Floor?

All these rules have you a little confused? Here’s a simple method.

Mix your chosen cleaning product with warm water.

We recommend a neutral Ph cleaner, as strongly alkaline cleaners may affect your grout over time.

Use a chamois mop instead of a sponge mop and ensure that the mop is damp but not saturated.

In a smooth motion, mop your floor in a pattern to ensure you don’t miss any areas.

How Do I Clean My Grout?

Grout is an important element of your tiled floors, providing protection and a water-tight seal to extend the lifetime of your tiles.

Your grout’s porousness is what makes it so effective; however, it is also what makes it so dirty and tough to clean. It readily soaks up grime, oils and detergent residue, which over time can harbour bacteria and give your grout a dark appearance.

You can clean your grout yourself here, using all natural products

The method includes creating a paste using a couple of tablespoons of Bi-Carb Soda and water. Coat the paste across the grout and let it sit for a few hours. Scrub with an old toothbrush and wipe off with minimal water.

Unfortunately, this method won’t work for grout that has a lot of grime build-up.

We recommend contacting a professional tile and grout cleaning company to help. With specialised cleaning solutions and equipment, companies like E-Dry are able to get your tiles and your grout looking fresh again without the fuss.