Tile flooring is a durable choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas of the home that might get wet from time to time. With the proper care, tile flooring can look like new for years. Learn basic tile flooring care, deep cleaning techniques, and how to clean stained grout. These techniques are appropriate for both ceramic and faux tile flooring. However, don’t over clean or use too much soap, which can cause streaking or soap film on your tiles.

Sweep or vacuum the floor daily. This removes loose dirt, food crumbs and other pieces of debris that can accumulate on tile floors. Dirt that is allowed to sit in wet areas can quickly turn into hard-to-remove grime. You should also sweep or vacuum the floor before mopping or cleaning it.

Run a dry cloth duster or dust mop over the floors after they have been swept. If you have marble or natural stone flooring, make sure you use a soft broom for sweeping. A rough broom can scratch natural flooring. Mop the floor with warm water. If the floor doesn’t have stains or require heavy cleaning, running a damp mop over the floor will be sufficient to keep it clean. Cleanse the mop in fresh warm water after mopping one section of the room, and repeat until the entire floor is mopped.

You may opt to add a small amount of dish soap to the mix to pick up everyday dust and debris. For everyday shine, simply run a clean damp dusting cloth over the floor, or consider using a dry mop such as a Swiffer. Dry the floor. Whether you use water or water mixed with detergent, run a dry mop over the floor in small sections as you work across the room with your mop. This will prevent new dirt from quickly accumulating and staining the grout.

Clean up spills promptly. If you drop a glass of juice or even water, clean it up right away. The longer it sits, the more time it will have to soak into the grout. Dried orange juice and other sugary liquids also tend to become annoyingly sticky.

Clean the dirtier spills with disinfectant. If your pet has an accident or you drop raw meat on the floor, spray a disinfectant directly over the spot and wipe it up right away. If possible, limit the disinfectant to the area where the spill occurred. Strong chemicals may degrade or stain tile flooring.