How can you clean floor tiles from dirt, best tools and devices?
Tile is a versatile floor covering that stands out from the crowd for its durability and practicality. Its maintenance requires less effort on the part of housewives, which makes it an indispensable material for cladding kitchens, bathrooms and hallways. However, if you do not take care of the coating for a long time, the dirt will strongly bite into the structure of the material, and it will not be so easy to get rid of it. Let's find the best way to clean floor tiles from dirt without leaving streaks and stains on them.
Reasons for the appearance of spots on the floor
The main problem with tiles is the appearance of streaks after cleaning in the kitchen or bathroom. They appear for the following reasons:
- The tiled floor is heavily stained with grease which was not removed before cleaning the floors.
- During the cleaning process, hard water was used.
- A lot of detergent has been dissolved in the water.
- The cloth that was used to clean the floor was not pressed well and it quickly got dirty.
- During cleaning, the water in the bucket practically did not change or changed very rarely.
How to wash properly
Proper floor cleaning is not a complicated process. It is enough to adhere to a simple algorithm of actions, and the tiles will shine with cleanliness, delighting you and your loved ones. The procedure is as follows:
- First, the surface is treated dry. An ordinary broom or vacuum cleaner is suitable for this.
- Next comes wet cleaning with detergents.
- Give shine to the tiles.
To note! After each step, do a quick inspection of the untreated areas so you don't have to do all the work again later.
Use special detergents
Tiles are most often washed using special detergents, the choice of which should be approached wisely. Most of them have a similar cleaning effect, but some products differ from others for the better. Below are the brands most requested by shoppers.
Silith
A quality detergent for kitchens and bathrooms with high cleaning properties at an economical price. It not only helps to get rid of old stains, but also to destroy pathogenic bacteria, disinfecting the treated surface.
Selena
If the kitchen tiles are stained with grease and there's Selena Stove Cleaner on the shelf, use it for a thorough cleaning. Thus, there will be no greasy stains on the surface and the kitchen will shine like new. To wash the tiles, you must:
- dilute the detergent with plenty of water;
- treat contaminated areas with;
- wait 5-7 minutes;
- wipe away greasy deposits with a clean cloth.
Amway
You do not like to save on cleanliness in the house, buying the most effective detergents, buy Amway products.With its help, there will not be a trace of dirt left, however, it will have to quite well shell out for it.
Mr. Clean
A popular product among housewives, which is in great demand due to:
- reasonable price;
- high-quality cleaning of dirt;
- Versatility;
- no streaks after cleaning.
It can be purchased at any nearby store in the household chemicals section.
Hedgehog
An economical cleaner to remove dirt, the main advantages of which are:
- extremely low price;
- decent efficiency;
- fast cleaning speed of stubborn stains.
Due to the low cost of the product, rather toxic components are used for its production, which is considered the main disadvantage of the product.
To note! When working with a chemical, even if it is not toxic according to the manufacturer's assurances, remember to use personal protective equipment.
Sanitol
A versatile kitchen cleaner that removes dirt from surfaces such as:
- glass;
- ceramic;
- metal.
Thanks to the practical packaging and the spray gun, the application of the substance is economical, without wasting time on preparation. Does not have a strong, pronounced smell. The only downside is the price, which is significantly above average.
Military
Concentrated kitchen cleaner sold in a convenient spray bottle. Handles dirt equally well on all kitchen work surfaces. Economical consumption and low price will greatly save your household budget.
Traditional methods
Not all housewives trust special detergents, which often contain toxic components. And the home budget can not always pull such a purchase. Folk remedies come to the rescue, which are slightly less effective and much more environmentally friendly.We recommend that you pay attention to the following recipes.
Ammonia
An easy-to-follow recipe for removing dirt from tiles, because there's a bottle of ammonia in almost every family. Cooking algorithm:
- we take 2 liters of water;
- we dilute 1 spoon of ammonia in it;
- pour the mixture into a spray bottle;
- we treat contaminated areas;
- wait 5 minutes;
- wipe with a clean, dry cloth.
The vinegar
Another frequent guest in any kitchen that makes a wonderful cleaning agent. The method is implemented as follows:
- mix 1 liter of water and 90 milliliters of vinegar;
- pour the solution into a spray bottle;
- we treat the stain;
- wash off the substance with plenty of water;
- to wipe.
Do not use vinegar essence, it is too concentrated and not suitable for our needs. We only take a 6% solution.
lemon acid
An alternative to vinegar if you can't stand the pungent, pungent smell, or can't find it in the kitchen. It is allowed to dilute citric acid in water, but it is better to pour it gradually on a damp sponge and rub it into the source of pollution.
Citric acid and vinegar not only remove dirt from the tile surface, but also disinfect it, killing mold and other harmful organisms.
chalk
Owners of glossy tiles recommend treating their surface with ordinary chalk. It needs:
- dilute the chalk with water until pasty;
- grind gently on the tile surface;
- remove excess substance with dirt.
To add shine, you can rub the tiles with paper.
Chlorine
For those who are not afraid of the pungent smell of chlorine, there is an excellent effective recipe based on it:
- We dilute the chlorine in the water, based on the proportions of 1 liter of water for 1 spoon of chlorine.
- We process tiles with liquid. It is advisable to use a spray bottle for these purposes.
- We wait 5-10 minutes.
- Wipe with a clean cloth.
The chlorine solution resists any contamination, even the most stubborn. During work, do not forget to protect yourself by wearing rubber gloves on your hands.
Fresh lemon juice
If citric acid was not found at home, do not be upset. Lemon juice rushes to the rescue. It works the same way, but does not damage the skin of the hands and has a sweet, natural citrus scent. Housewives who monitor the condition of their skin will appreciate this method of tile treatment.
steam cleaner
A simple and handy household appliance, ideal for cleaning kitchen or bathroom tiles. Due to the high temperature of the steam released by the equipment, dirt quickly falls off the work surface, leaving no traces on it. Just follow the manufacturer's instructions and cleaning will be no problem.
Melamine sponge
Science does not stop, today a melamine sponge is available to housewives, without any problem to get rid of dirt from surfaces such as:
- glass;
- parquet;
- tile;
- metal.
To start, you just need to moisten the surface of the sponge and start treating the required area of the floor or walls with it. It is particularly effective to use a melamine sponge in areas where the penetration of chemicals or excessive moisture is undesirable.
How to wash without leaving traces
So that no stain remains on the surface of the tile, it is enough:
- Thoroughly wipe the treated surface.
- Do not exceed the dosage of detergent indicated by the manufacturer.
- Change the water often and wring out the cloth.
In 99% of cases, these actions are enough to ensure that no foreign traces remain on the surface of the material.
How to get rid of stubborn dirt
A solution of vinegar and water, diluted in a ratio of 50 to 50, helps fight the dirt that has stuck in the tiles. This remedy helps remove old stains from:
- rust;
- fat.
Use a soft, plain cloth to wipe. Sponges are not as effective and can damage the surface of the ceramic, leaving it scratched.
Get rid of difficult cases
Complex types of tile soiling that require a special approach include:
- fat;
- mold;
- joint grout;
- traces of brilliant green;
- traces of polyurethane foam.
To clean them, you need to know some nuances, which we will know below.
Mold
To prepare an effective solution that removes mold stains without leaving a trace, you will need to mix:
- water - 7 glasses;
- ammonia - a third of glass;
- vinegar - a quarter cup;
- soda - half a glass.
Mix the solution thoroughly and pour it into a spray bottle. Then we treat the area affected by mold, then wipe it with a damp cloth.
Fat
Soda mixed with vinegar will help eliminate fat. We mix them until they turn pasty, after which we apply the resulting substance to the stain. It takes a while for the agent to penetrate the pollution structure and begin to destroy it from within.
As soon as 5-10 minutes have passed after application, wipe away dirt and detergent with a damp hoe.
Jointing
To remove grout marks, you will need to purchase a special detergent made specifically for this purpose. Do not delay the purchase, because the longer you wait, the more the substance eats away at the surface of the ceramic.
Polyurethane foam
It is removed from the contaminated surface using:
- mechanical actions that must be performed carefully, without fanaticism;
- using a special liquid.
Zelenka
If a brilliant green gets on the tile, the ammonia will help remove the stains. If he does not cope with the stain, he will have to buy special chemistry.
Advantages and disadvantages of using special tools
Benefits include:
- Efficiency;
- Versatility;
- stain removal rate.
However:
- high price;
- toxicity.
Rules of care
In order not to have to resort to drastic measures when cleaning the tiles, respect the following maintenance rules:
- Do not scrub the stain with a stiff brush or products containing abrasive substances. They leave microscopic damage to the surface of the material, reducing the presentation and shelf life of the product.
- Do not delay the start of cleaning on the rear burner. Remember that the longer you pull, the more the stain eats away at the tile.
Tips & Tricks
Pay attention to the following tips:
- Before washing the tiles with household chemicals, do not forget to put rubber gloves on your hands.
- To make the tiles shine, after washing them, treat them with a special agent sold in stores specifically for this purpose.
- A rough surface should be washed with special care, since dirt is stuffed into the cracks, which serves as a breeding ground for microbes.