The entirety of your home needs regular maintenance. This is just how it is – things in your house break, you have them repaired, and after some time, they break again. Your floors, although sturdy, should not be spared from the upkeep. They do not really break but maintaining them will help your home look good enough to be included in the real estate market when the time comes. And of course, who doesn’t love a clean and shiny floor? There are tons of flooring types out there but this article will focus mainly on caring for and maintaining floor tiles.
Tile flooring has been a good choice for many homeowners. It is perfect for your kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas of the home that have excess moisture. With the proper care, tile flooring can maintain its gloss, shine, and color for years.
Always clean up promptly. It is impossible to prevent dirt from reaching your floors, so instead, clean up spills or tracks as soon as possible. Do this using a mop or damp cloth, hot water, and a mild household detergent. A word of caution though: be sure to do a spot test using your detergent before using it. Or, you can always contact a nearby flooring store to ask about manufacturer-recommended cleaning products.
However, one of the best floor cleaning products is one that is actually readily available in your home. A cup of white vinegar, diluted in a gallon of water will be a very effective odor-eliminating cleanser as well. This is a good alternative to harmful chemicals, especially if you have children or pets.
Don’t forget regular maintenance! Do this by sweeping, vacuuming, and damp mopping your bathroom, entryway, or kitchen tile floors regularly. Doing this will remove the dirt and debris before it can become embedded in the tile or grout.
If you have an older waxed floor that has apparent wax building up, then it’s time to re-wax it. Mop the floor with the mentioned cleaning solution, rinse, let dry, and then re-apply the wax.
Have a scratched tile? You can probably buff it out. If your tiles are porcelain or ceramic, you can buy a scratch repair kit from a hardware store. If the floors are laminate, try using either a wax pencil or silicone putty to repair.
Floors in bathrooms are unique in that they tend to get mildew growth sometimes. A good way to prevent this is to air out the room after taking a shower and keep the floors dry. If mildew does accumulate, an ammonia solution will rid it.
Want more tips on maintaining floor tiles? What about the other types of flooring? Don’t feel left out! Stay tuned!
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