Cleaning Old Stained Tile Floors

When that s done rinse the floor with clean water.

Cleaning old stained tile floors.

Required tools for this project. Cleaning stains on grout cleaning grout can pose a challenge because grout is porous and can absorb stains making them difficult to remove unfortunately as every homeowner knows stained grout can make your whole room look dirty even if your tiles are sparkling clean. A common complaint associated with tile flooring is staining due to kitchen mishaps. With tile the difference between dingy and dazzling often comes down to the grout in between.

Here are four methods for cleaning stubborn stains from grout. Tile floors come in a variety of materials and this determines the chemicals needed to clean them. The most common tile is ceramic and unglazed ceramic. If the stain remains rewet the rag and repeat.

Grout is incredibly porous like a giant sponge which means it will absorb any grease grime oils or spills it comes into contact with says leslie reichert green cleaning coach and author of the joy of cleaning and while the culprit may vary from room to room mildew in the bathroom cooking. With the proper care tile flooring can look like new for years. Before cleaning sweep stone tile floors with a soft broom as rougher brooms can leave scratches. Natural stone tile floors can require special care while following the same essential steps as above.

Purchase a cleaner that is suited for the material of tile you have. Slate tile floors can be cleaned with a mixture of warm water and mild detergent such as dish soap. However in the case of deeply. Unfortunately it is easy for dirt to buildup in the spaces between your tile floors particularly in high traffic areas like the bathroom.

If the stain won t rub off wet a rag with the acid solution and lay it over the stain for 10 minutes. These stains can sometimes penetrate the porous finish of ceramic or porcelain and become quite difficult to remove. When cleaning stone such as granite marble and slate avoid using acidic cleaners that may tarnish the surface. Nothing makes a clean tile floor look dirtier than stained grout.

Tile flooring is a durable choice for kitchens bathrooms and other areas of the home that might get wet from time to time. I basically decided that white tiles and white grout are simply too high maintenance for my dirty life pets kids sheer laziness. Usually bleach and other oxidants are used in these cases to remove stains from ceramic and porcelain tile. The damp and grime of the bathroom also make it easy for tile floors as well as tile walls and grout to grow scum and mildew.

Hydrogen peroxide is a bleach like chemical so before you use any other cleaning sprays or solutions in the kitchen wipe down the tiles thoroughly with water to remove any remnants. While this cleaning method was highly effective at giving my old tile floors a fresh new look the problem is that the tiles and grout will eventually get dirty again. Most paint stores and some hardware stores carry oxalic acid. These techniques are appropriate for both ceramic and faux tile.