6 Things You Should Never Do to Your Tile Floors
Tile floors are the perfect low-maintenance solution for high-traffic areas, rooms where spills and messes are common, and great for bathrooms and kitchens where moisture is likely to cover your floors.
Tile can hold up well to foot traffic and is resistant to water and most stains. It can also be easy to clean. Spill water, and wipe it away with a paper towel. Drop crumbs, and you can quickly sweep them away. On a day-to-day basis, you’ll need to do little more than run a vacuum or sweep messes away with a broom, as well as the occasional mopping, to keep your tile floors clean.
But while tile might be more durable compared to other types of flooring, there are a few common mistakes that can ruin your beautiful kitchen, bathroom, or other tile floors.
Ready to keep your tile looking beautiful for years to come? Keep reading to learn 6 things you should never do to your tile floors.
1. Failing to Seal Your Tile
Tiles are durable on their own. But if you want to add an extra line of defense, and protect the far less durable grout that holds your tiles together, you’ll need to seal your tile floors regularly.
Sealing your tile floors is a simple process that professionals can perform in a quick appointment (such as after your Zerorez® tile cleaning appointment). But after doing so, your floors will have a protective barrier that locks out moisture and stains and prevents chipping and other damage to your floors’ grout.
Some types of tile are more durable than others. For instance, it isn’t necessary to seal ceramic or porcelain tile, though you will still want to seal the grout in between your tiles. However, stone tiles are porous, and therefore more susceptible to stains and damage, and can benefit from a sealant.
How can you tell when your floors and grout need to be re-sealed? Sprinkle some water on your floors. If they become darker or change color, that means that the water is soaking in, and your floors likely need to be re-sealed.
2. Not Cleaning Up Spills Right Away
Treating your tile floors with a sealant can help to lock out moisture and stains. But it isn’t a fool-proof solution.
The longer that spills sit on your tile floors, the more that they will soak through that protective barrier. Certain stains, like red wine, coffee, or even tomato sauce, will stain even sealed tile floors if left to sit for long enough. In your bathroom, things like nail polish and oily perfumes, and facial products can also stain your tile floors or walls.
Luckily, this is easy to prevent; simply clean up spills as soon as they occur to avoid stains.
3. Using the Wrong Cleaning Products
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when cleaning your tile floors is using the wrong products for the job.
Harsh products like bleach and ammonia-based cleaning solutions can damage the grout and discolor your tiles. Vinegar is another big no-no on your tile floors and countertops.
While vinegar might sound like a natural solution for keeping your home clean, it’s actually acidic. This means that it will strip away the protective sealant that you’ve had carefully applied to your tile floors. Besides making them look dull until you can seal them again, your tiles will also be more vulnerable to scratches, etches, and pitting.
It isn’t just vinegar-based cleaners that you need to worry about; if you spill vinegar in your kitchen, be sure to clean up the mess right away to prevent it from damaging the seal on your floors.
Skip these ingredients, and use a tile-friendly cleaning solution such as ZrWater® to wipe down your floors as needed. For set-in stains and deep cleanings, though, it’s best to trust the work to the pros.
4. Failing to Protect Your Floor From Your Furniture
Over time, chairs, tables, and other furniture scooting across your tile floors will leave scratches behind. These can also wear away the sealant on your tiles faster, leaving them more susceptible to stains and other damage in the areas where your furniture is placed.
This is another problem that’s easy to prevent. Use carpet pads on the bottoms of the chair, table, and couch legs. Check these from time to time to make sure that they remain in place. If you need to move large, heavy furniture, always lift it to reposition it rather than pushing and sliding it across your tile floors.
5. Using a Stiff Brush or Your Regular Vacuum Setting
When you need to clean up a spill on your tile floors, don’t reach for a brush with stiff bristles or rely on your regular vacuum settings.
Stiff bristles may scratch your tile floors or wear away the sealant. The same goes for the roller brush on your vacuum cleaner. Use a softer broom to sweep up messes. Or, use the tile setting on your vacuum to quickly and safely suck up crumbs, dirt, and other spills.
6. Not Scheduling Zerorez® Tile Cleaning
Another big mistake that you might be making that’s standing in the way of enjoying your beautiful tile floors for years to come? Not scheduling an appointment for Zerorez® tile cleaning.
The Zerorez® cleaning process restores your tile floors’ beauty without the use of sticky soaps, and harsh and damaging chemicals. You’ll get sparkling clean tile floors with little dry time. And while our professionals are there, they can reseal your tile floors and grout to keep them looking great until your next appointment.
Caring for Your Tile Floors with Help From Zerorez® Tile Cleaning
Tile floors can be a long-lasting and beautiful addition to your home. But using harsh chemical cleaners, failing to seal your tile and grout, and neglecting to clean up spills can shorten their lifespan.
Ready to restore your tile floors and keep them looking great for years to come? Schedule your next Zerorez® tile cleaning and resealing today!