What is the Best Way to Clean Tile Floors
 

Hello, as we wait to move to TV. We have a home in Texas that has tile floor through out. Other than using a mop and bucket, is there a machine we could use to clean the flooring? I tried a steam mop with a pad on the bottom but it would nhave taken me all day to do the house. I'm looking for something heavy duty. Thanks, BJ

vinegar and water.

Hi BJ,

We bought a more heavy-duty steamer than the Shark that many use and love. The main reason was capacity. We have tile throughout the house. The brand we have is called Reliable - and it doesn't need to cool down before you add more water. It is a "canister" model. I bought it online - Allergy Buyers.com I think is the website.

It uses water - I think we use distilled. (I am guilty here becasue my hubs does the floors).

Lucky Kate

Thanks for the info. I will look up the Shark. We have been doing the floors with a mop but it takes so long and you start to hate the floors half way thru. We are trying SO HARD to get to the villages but I need health insurance. Thanks to everyone for their answers! Have a good week. BJ

1 part vinegar 2 parts water. If there is a spot in the grout (my husband spills his coffee at least once per week) I spray it with Clorox Cleanup and use a tooth brush to scrub if needed, then wipe away.

Not for hire yet...just a slave to my husband!

Scuba
 

Has anyone tried a scooba...Not sure of spelling....? It is made by Roomba and is for hard surface floors. I love my roombas and wonder if the scooba was any good.

Bought a Shark, used once and took back to WalMart and got my $80 back. They do not clean the grout!

Shark
 

I have a Shark and I am missing a part. There customer service will **** you off and then you get a busy signal. Avoid the scams.

Knee pads + Bucket + Steel wool or croakers cloth + Ajax + hot water = Best heavy duty cleaning ever is someone to do it the old fashion way and able to get into the corners and edges ( razor scraper for paint or hard to get up spots). I myself use a whole roll of paper towels to clean up any residue. Afterwards any other cleaning method works fine until spring or fall clean up. " Oh dear, where is my pain medication?"

I love my Shark steam mop. I used to have a Bissell hard floor cleaner and it worked very well, but it wasn't any easier/faster to use than the steam mop. I only have a small amount of tile. I think if I had a whole houseful of tile I’d probably stick with the mop/bucket method.

Take the easy way out like I did. We had our carpeting steamed cleaned by a steam cleaning co. They did all the carpeting in the house. When they saw my tile floor in the kitchen, they asked me if I would be interested in them steam cleaning the tile floor. I said "steam clean a tile floor?" He said sure....i can show you how it will turn out. So he did a small corner. The floor was beautiful...It cleaned the grout and the tile. When he got done it looked as good as the day we had it put in. Just a suggestion. We had the floor done, once a year after that.

What is the Best Way to clean tile floors
 

The guy who installed our tile told us that the best method for cleaning tile was vinegar/water combination. It works well in the shower to kill the mold/mildew. We also have a SHARK which we use weekly and a heavier machine for grout, etc. After reading memebers comments it seems hiring a contractor to steam clean once a year plus weekly cleanings seems the best and easiest way to maintain these floors. Yea I the one stuck with cleaning the floors because the little lady claims she can't work that complicated SHARK..a Huck Finnism if ever there was one....

Just a suggestion, after the grout is cleaned to your liking, seal it with grout sealer and a small brush. It helps keep it clean. I'd do it every year or two. We had quite a bit of tile in a home we had built in 1988 and the grout looked just as good as it did when it was put in 13 years earlier.

The strap-on knee pads are a great idea. I bought a set at Harbor Freight in Ocala, also available just about anywhere, and when I use them I wear sweats so that they don't pinch my skin and pull out my leg hair.

Xavier

Good ideas Xavier...thank you

You can also tape the brush to a yard stick or broom handle so you don't have to get down on your knees. (I've never actually done it, but I always thought it would be a good idea.)

Joan NEM what company did your tile floors? Did you think they were expensive? My wife got an estimate to have our three carpets cleaned and tile floor in foyer, family room ,kitchen and laundry room cleaned .. They wanted $900????????????

cleaning grout
 

I found out by accident that a good grout cleaner is the stuff they sell to clean showers with a long-handled brush and a scrubbie thing that sticks on the end. Maybe made by Mr. Clean? I think there is at least one other manufacturer as well.

Used to use that on a cultured marble tub surround and the bathtub now and then, and one time I noticed a particular area of dirty grout in the bathroom. Worked pretty good. Even better is to do it by hand but wear rubber gloves. Think it has bleach in it.

There is also a spray grout sealer available (go to a floor tile store) that you can spray along the grout lines. Supposed to last 15 years (hah)!

One reason I will likely never do all tile in the Florida home - tile cracks, is hard on your feet and back and the grout is a pain in the *** to clean. A neighbor recently had really nice looking laminate installed - looks like wood, much better looking than the laminates of just a few years ago. I might still do bathrooms because I like the look, but I think tile is a lot of work to keep looking nice.

MagicEraser works pretty good on grout stains. If it is exceptionally dirty, get a grout cleaner, spray, wipe and then use the Magic Eraser. The grout will look like new.

And another vote for the Shark but I recommend a handwashing about every three months. I've found that the Shark does a good basic job but doesn't really deep clean.

BTW -- I tried a Bissell steam cleaner and the best I can about it is Fuhgeddaboutit.

Service Master...They had a special going on 3 rooms of carpets cleaned for $100.00....He then charged us $$99.00 to do the kitchen floor....well worth it !!

I have a question about tile floors. Are the floors and grout getting dirty from wearing shoes inside the home? I have tile in my home in Hawaii but have no problem keeping it clean. I do no know of anyone in Hawaii who wears shoes inside their home. Just wondering how the tile is getting soiled.

Usually from spills and pets. Shoes play a part as well; so do dark socks.

JoanNem thank you so much ..Service Master is big in fire, smoke and water restoration so makes sense they could tackle a tile floor and carpet. I recognize it was a special but their prices seem in line. Thanks again

No Problem...glad I could help.