How to Mop Ceramic Tile?

Ceramic tile floors are sturdy and relatively low-maintenance. With just a little attention to detail, you can keep your tile floor looking new. Find out how to easily and effectively mop your ceramic tile floor after the jump. Sweep or vacuum your tile floor to remove any loose dirt, pet hair or other debris. Dilute your household cleaner according to the directions using a bucket and warm water. Submerge your mop into the bucket of soapy water until it is saturated.

Wring the mop well to remove excess water. If the bucket you’re using has a wringer on it, this is the preferred method of extracting the excess water. Some mops, especially those with cloth strips, have a wringer attached and these work just as well. If you don’t have either of these, you can simply use your hands to wring the mop.

Mop the tile in small sections, being careful not to walk over the wet areas. The grout is very porous and tends to hold more dirt than the tiles. Pay close attention to the grout when mopping your tile floor to be sure you’re covering the grouted parts well.

Immerse the mop into the soapy water after mopping each section of tile. Remove the excess water again by wringing the mop. Repeat these steps until the entire floor is clean. Allow the floor to dry completely. Speed up the drying process by opening windows and/or turning on fans in the room, if possible.

Rinse both the mop and bucket thoroughly. Add clean water to the bucket. Dip the mop into the clean water. Squeeze any excess water from the mop. Mop the floor again, following the same steps, but using only the clean water this time. Mopping the floor with clean water removes any build-up that may be left behind by the cleaning solution. The floor stays cleaner longer and helps reduce slipping. Allow the floor to dry completely.