How to Clean Porcelain Tile Floors: A Complete Guide

Do you already have porcelain tile floors in your home or are you planning to add some to your home? This article will guide you through how to clean porcelain tile floors using simple and workable steps. Cleaning porcelain tile floors is quite easy; the trick to maintaining porcelain floor tiles is to be mindful of the glazing while cleaning, as this is what adds that lustrous finish to the beauty of the flooring tiles.

What's Needed to Clean Porcelain Tiles

The materials you need for cleaning porcelain tile floors vary depending on how dirty or rigorous the cleaning needs to be. It is important to note that not all cleaning materials and equipment are suitable when cleaning porcelain tile.

Materials you'll need for cleaning porcelain tile are:

• Broom or vacuum
• Mop, sponge, or soft brush
• Mop bucket
• Dishwashing soap
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Acrylic stone sealer (for unglazed styles)

How to Clean a Polished/Glazed Porcelain Tile

Polished tiles have been treated with a layer of melted glass glaze that prevents moisture and stains from seeping in.

Here's how to clean polished porcelain tile.

Sweep or Vacuum

Cleaning porcelain tile floors requires sweeping as often as the floor gets dirty. It is important to sweep thoroughly and remove dirt soon enough as it can damage the tile's glaze.

Clean

Clean porcelain tile floors using a ratio of 1 gallon of warm water to ¼ cup of vinegar. Vinegar will help to lift tough stains and mosses from the floor. You can use a mop, a sponge, or a non-metallic brush to do this.

Wipe

Round up the exercise by wiping the floor with clean water and then drying with a soft towel. When cleaning polished porcelain floor tiles, be careful to note water spots and dry them up to prevent people from tripping over the wet floor.

Prevent Stains

Now that you have a sparkling clean floor, you want to prevent dried stains that can mar your floor's glaze. It may seem overly simplistic, but the best way to maintain porcelain floor tiles is to wipe up stains as soon as possible.

How to Clean Unpolished Porcelain Tile

It is also quite popular to find homeowners using unpolished porcelain tiles in Ohio. Although unpolished porcelain tiles are just as strong, they are quite porous and require a special maintenance routine.

Here's how to clean unpolished porcelain tile.

Sweep

Sweep the floor to remove dirt, dust, and grime. Use a soft broom that will not cause the surface of the tile to scratch and begin to shed.

Damp Mop

Wondering how to remove stains from porcelain tiles, especially the dried, stubborn ones? Mopping is one of the best ways to keep your floors looking gorgeous. Use warm water with mild ph-balanced dishwashing soap to mop unpolished porcelain tiles. Make sure you avoid saturating the floors with too much water when mopping and dry with a clean towel afterward.

Clean Grout Lines

Cleaning the grout lines is the most delicate part of maintaining porcelain floor tiles. Clean the grout lines using a small brush with equal parts water and baking soda. You can also replace grout lines for a new, clean look.

Dry

Wipe the floor and grout lines using a clean soft towel to absorb as much water as possible.

Apply Sealing Treatment

Applying sealing treatment is a good tip for maintaining porcelain floor tiles, especially unpolished ones. Apply the treatment to a freshly cleaned floor using a ratio of 1 cup of sealer to 3 gallons of rinse water. You can do this about once a year

How to Clean Textured Porcelain Tile Floors

Textured porcelain tiles have an intentionally rough surface that makes them slip-resistant. However, textured porcelain floor requires extra attention to clean dirt from the crevices. Here's how to keep the porcelain tiles clean and looking their best:

Sweep Thoroughly

Sweep textured porcelain tiles in two directions with a soft-bristled broom to remove all dirt and debris trapped in the texture. First sweep following the direction of the tile texture, then sweep diagonally.

Scrub with Cleaner

Mix an all-purpose cleaner with water. Use a stiff bristle brush to scrub the textured surface, lifting dirt from the pores. Rinse well.

Mop and Let Dwell

Mop the floor with a mild cleaning solution diluted with hot water. Let the solution sit for 5-10 minutes so it can penetrate the textured surface. Textured porcelain needs frequent scrubbing and mopping to stay clean.

Target Stains

Use a soft nylon brush or old toothbrush to scrub any remaining stains after the cleaning solution has dwelled. Scrub in two directions.

Rinse and Dry

Rinse away all cleaning solutions with clear water. Dry the floor completely with a microfiber cloth to prevent water spots. Open windows and use a fan to speed drying.

How Often to Clean Porcelain Tiles

There are no hard and fast rules to how often you should engage in cleaning porcelain tiles. It depends on factors like foot traffic and the kind of activities happening in the room. Depending on your unique situation, you may need to do porcelain tile cleaning as often as daily or you may be able to limit it to once per week. Sweeping and vacuuming can be done once or twice weekly, while more rigorous deep cleaning only needs to occur once or twice a month.

Keeping Your Porcelain Tile Floors Clean Longer: Pro Tips

These tips will ensure you achieve the best results whenever you carry out porcelain tile cleaning.

• Sweep, vacuum, or mop your porcelain tiles regularly. This helps to prevent the accumulation of dirt and stains that can scratch the floor surface;
• Wipe off wet stains as soon as possible;
• Avoid using heavy-duty cleaning agents and abrasive chemicals. You may also want to avoid cleaning unpolished porcelain tiles with acidic agents like vinegar;
• Avoid cleaning porcelain tile floors with products that contain chlorine, ammonia, or bleach as this can damage the patterns and coloring of the floor;
• Do not use colored products on unglazed tiles as this can stain them;
• Never use abrasive equipment like a metallic brush on porcelain floors and they can cause scratches;
• Do not use wax cleaners or other oil-based detergents;
• Place mats at entrances and under furniture legs to prevent scratches.

Conclusion

Maintaining porcelain floor tiles is quite easy when you follow the proper rules of cleaning.

If you are just about to install porcelain tile floors in your home, you should consider the products available at Stone Center, an Ohio natural stone supplier offering quality products. Contact us for various porcelain tile options.