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How to Properly Care for a Tile Floor

Tile flooring can beautify any room in your home, but it takes proper care to ensure a lifetime of enjoyment.

Most New York contractors and property owners choose tile flooring for renovation projects and new construction, because of its water resistance and easy cleaning. When you choose the right type of tile flooring to suit your needs, you can look forward to many years of enjoyment. However, when it comes to caring for tile, a proper maintenance routine is necessary for not only for tile floors, but for walls and countertops to look great for years to come.

When caring for any type of floor tile, it is important to sweep or vacuum the floor to remove any dust or debris, prior to using any cleaning products. Next, damp-mop your tile floor at least once each week to decrease wear and abrasion from dirt and grime that it is regularly exposed to.

It is, however, important to remember that different types of tile need different types of care for proper maintenance. For example, glazed tile should be cleaned regularly with an all-purpose, non-oil-based household cleaner that's compatible with cleaning grout joints. In the bathroom or shower glazed wall tiles, use a multipurpose spray cleaner to remove soap scum, hard water deposits, and mildew. 

Concentrated tile cleaners with a neutral pH should be used for regular unglazed tile cleaning. These types of cleaners are necessary to safely remove grease, oils, and normal spills. It is important, however, to check that the cleaner is intended for the application, use, and traffic level. 

Glass tiles should only be cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner, recommended for either glass or tile.

Tile flooring providers from across the tri-state region offer the following tips for avoiding damage while cleaning tile floors:

  • Test scouring powders and sealants on a small area of a single tile, before cleaning the entire tile floor.
  • When installing new tile, be sure to use a sealer on your grout joints. When cleaning, use products recommended to cleaning grout joints.
  • After cleaning, rinse the entire area with clean water. This will remove any cleaning solution residue on the tile.
  • In the event of tile damage during cleaning, remove the broken tile and have it replaced.

Tile flooring retailers in New York say that extra protection against tile floor damage isn’t a bad idea either. They suggest that property owners Invest in high-quality floor mats and protective pads to place under any heavy furniture placed on the tile floor. This adds another layer of protection to the tile floor, as do floor mats at entrances and exits, which can collect and trap corrosive substances like dirt, sand, oil, grit and asphalt. Placing mats in high-trafficked areas, such as in front of sinks and stoves can also effectively reduce tile wear.