Regularly cleaning your tile floors is essential for maintaining their appearance and longevity. However, since each tile type requires specific cleaning methods, it's crucial to understand how to properly maintain your flooring to prevent damage.

This guide shows you how to maintain and clean various types of tile, including natural options like ceramic, porcelain, stone, and cement, as well as synthetic flooring like laminate and vinyl. Additionally, we offer tips and techniques to achieve optimal results with your tiles, along with important pitfalls to avoid during the cleaning process.

To protect your tiles, and still get a thorough clean, we recommend the Unlimited 7 Aqua mop and vacuum for the majority of tile floors. With Automatic Water Supply and powerful cleaning pads, the Unlimited 7 Aqua can cut through grime without damaging your surfaces, and leaves a quick dry finish.

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How to clean ceramic and porcelain tile floors?

The cool feel of ceramic and porcelain tile, alongside their sleek look and durability, make these materials some of the most popular types of tile flooring. Though incredibly low maintenance, ceramic and porcelain do need some attention to keep them shiny and scratch-free.

Follow these steps to thoroughly clean your ceramic and porcelain tiles:

  • Remove debris. Vacuum or sweep your tiles to remove any dirt-build up from the surface. It's important to do this regularly to stop hard dirt particles from scratching the tile or damaging the grout.
  • Clean grout if needed. There are several methods for removing grout, depending on its severity. Whether you're using a steamer, a vinegar solution or a scrubbing brush to remove dirt, mould or mildew it's important to avoid destroying the sealant. Harsh chemicals like bleach should be avoided as well as wire cloths or any other rough tools.
  • Mix a mild detergent with warm or hot water and mop the tiles.
  • Dry the floor with a microfiber cloth for a shining, glossy finish. To take care of your knees, you can do this step by using your foot to swipe the cloth across the tiles.

Though known for their durability, ceramic and porcelain tiles are not invincible. Use furniture pads or slides on heavy furniture to prevent scratching your tile, and avoid dragging heavy furnishings or sharp objects across tiled surfaces. Rugs can also be used in these areas to protect the tile from scratching or heavy impacts. Dirty or damaged grout can impact the overall appearance, stability and water-resistance of your tiles. Regular grout cleaning is key to avoid build-up and maintain the integrity of the sealant to keep your tiles looking brand new. .

A vacuum cleaner with a dusting brush on the til floor, ready to tackle the cleaning tasks.

How to clean natural stone tile floors?

Natural stone flooring is a luxurious and durable option for homes, indoors and outdoors, due to its timeless appeal and textures. Common types of natural stone tiling includes marble, slate, limestone, granite and travertine.

To clean natural stone flooring effectively, whilst preserving the quality of the material follow these steps.

  • Vacuum the area to remove loose dirt, dust and debris. Avoid using a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar or hard bristles as this can scratch the stone.
  • Mop the stone tiles with a non-acidic or pH neutral detergent. Vinegar, bleach and acidic substances and products can severely damage natural stone so it is important to select the right detergent.
  • Mop again with a simple water solution to rinse any remaining product residue.
  • Use a clean, dry towel to mop the floor. Stone is porous so avoid letting water sit on the surface for too long, as this can cause damage over time. You can avoid this step by using the Unlimited 7 Aqua mop and vacuum, as its Automatic Water Supply uses less water than a traditional mop for quick drying floors.

To maintain natural stone tile, it's important to vacuum regularly to prevent grit and dirt from scratching the surface. Using mats and rugs in high-traffic areas can the prevent dirt and moisture build-up that wears down stone over time.

Sealant is used to protect stone flooring when it is installed. However, this does not last forever and may need to be topped up every few years to protect the stone from stains and moisture. Follow the manufacturers instruction for sealing frequency.

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How to clean cement tile floors?

The durability, versatility and aesthetic appeal of cement floor tiles make them a popular choice in homes, often used in kitchens, bathrooms and even outdoor patios. Known for their wide variety of patterns, cement, sand and an array of colour pigments are combined to create these vibrant floor tiles.

Cement tiles are built to last and with the proper treatment, and if you follow these steps you can maintain the colour and finish of your tiles for years:

  • Regularly vacuum or sweep your cement tiles to prevent debris build up on the surface or in the grout lines.
  • On a weekly or monthly basis, mop your cement tiles with a pH neutral, mild cleaning solution diluted with water. Use a soft mop and pay extra attention to any stained areas or spills. Avoid detergent as this can leave unpleasant residue on the tiles.
  • Like many tiles, letting water sit on the surface is a recipe for disaster. After mopping, dry the floor with a clean cloth or towel to prevent staining or moisture damage.

When cleaning your cement tiles, be careful not to use any abrasive materials or harsh scrubbing as this can wear down the surface of the tile.

How to clean vinyl tile floors?

Vinyl flooring is a synthetic tile that mimics the look of natural materials like stone, ceramic or wood. It is typically more durable than laminate as it is made from compressed layers of acrylic and PVC instead of a wood-based core. It comes in a wide variety of colours, patterns and textures and is a popular choice for many modern homes.

Whilst being very low-maintenance, vinyl tile flooring needs to be cared for properly for it to last. Follow these steps to ensure you're caring for your vinyl flooring the right way:

  • Vacuum your flooring to remove dirt, hair and debris build up. Ensure you get beneath furnishings and into the corners of the room.
  • Spot treat any staining or scuff marks. Baking soda is good for removing dried on staining, like food spills, from vinyl tiles, whilst marks and scuffs made by markers and paint are best removed with rubbing alcohol. Work the solution gently into the stain and then wipe the area with a slightly damp cloth.
  • Damp mop with a pH neutral floor cleaner. Check the manufacturer to ensure the solution is safe for vinyl flooring.
  • If flooring is visibly wet after damp mopping, use a clean, dry towel to remove excess moisture. If you use the Unlimited 7 Aqua, this drying stage will not be necessary as the mop vacuum will not flood your tiles with water.

Steam mops are not recommended for vinyl tiling as they can create moisture pooling that is damaging to the tile surface. Vinyl tiles are scratch-resistant but not scratch-proof so abrasive materials or solutions should be avoided. Bleach and ammonia based products can also cause great damage to vinyl flooring, so damp mopping with mild, pH neutral cleaners is necessary.

An Aqua7 vacuum cleaner on a vinyl floor

Frequently asked questions

What should you not clean tile floors with?

As a general rule, a mild pH neutral cleaner should be used on both natural and synthetic tiled floors to protect the surfaces and the grout. Acidic cleaners, wax-based cleaners and bleach solutions can greatly damage the tile and reduce the longevity and impact the appearance of your flooring.

When cleaning tiles, it is important not to let water pool on them. Excessive moisture not only creates unsightly markings when left to airdry, it is often absorbed by both natural and synthetic tiles and damages the integrity of the material. To ensure your tiles look great and have a long life, it's important to reduce the amount of water you mop with and to clean up any spillages immediately.

Abrasive tools and rough scrubbing is not recommended for any tile type. Most tile surfaces are scratch-resistant to an extent but will tarnish and scratch when in contact with rough materials or enough force. For tough stains, try using a baking soda solution or rubbing with a soft sponge to remove the mark.

What is the fastest way to deep clean tile floors?

A two-in-one vacuum and mop like the Unlimited 7 Aqua is the fastest way to correctly deep clean your tile floors. The Power Spinning Pads are soft which is ideal for cleaning delicate flooring such as cement or porcelain without compromising on its ability to remove tough stains. The Aqua head has an adjustable spray setting, so you can customise the amount of water used to your flooring type, preventing moisture pooling on your tiles. This setting also eliminates the need to manually dry your floors after mopping, so your floors will be vacuumed, mopped and shining in one sweep.

How to clean tile grout?

Your clean tiles will still look dirty if there is a build up of dirt, dust, mildew or mould in your grout. When cleaning your tile grout it is important to be gentle and use the right tools and materials to prevent damaging the sealant.

A simple mixture of two parts baking soda and one part white vinegar is enough to clean stained or discoloured tile grout. You can use an old toothbrush or a sponge to gently dislodge the debris and restore your grout to its former glory.

The Unlimited 7 Aqua can also be used to clean your tile grout. The precision of the Aqua head allows you to clean in hard to reach places, whilst the lightweight frame makes it perfect for cleaning the grout between your wall tiles too.