How to maintain old tiles?

Old floors come in all shapes and sizes. Nowadays, old tiles are a popular choice for flooring in homes. The right maintenance is crucial to preserve their beauty and functionality. In this blog, we explain how you can effectively clean and maintain your tile floor.
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How to Best Clean Floor Tiles?

First of all, you need to know that a tile floor and a natural stone floor are not the same. Natural stone floors are not resistant to corrosive substances. There is little difference between tiles and floor tiles. Cleaning floor tiles is quite simple, just like cleaning a tile floor. However, by cleaning them properly, you can prevent dirt from accumulating in the joints.

Additionally, an essential tip is to properly impregnate your floor with a sealant of your choice; consult your tiler for advice on this. Impregnation primarily ensures that moisture and dirt do not adhere to or penetrate the tile; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Start by removing loose dirt with a broom or vacuum cleaner. For the actual cleaning, use a mop or cloth with warm water and a mild cleaning agent. Make sure not to leave any soap residue, as this can create a dull layer on the tiles. For stubborn stains, you can add a bit of vinegar to the water; vinegar is effective against stains without damaging the tiles. Note: Do not do this on a natural stone floor. This type of floor cannot withstand the acid in vinegar. Other cleaning agents you can use include baking soda, green soap, and cleaning vinegar.

 

Cleaning the joints is also very important. Usually, you will automatically clean them when you use a mop or cloth.

 

Make sure not to leave too much water behind. Therefore, ensure that you wring out the mop or cloth well and open the window after mopping.

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Maintenance of a Tile Floor

Regular maintenance is essential to keep your floor tiles in top condition. In addition to daily sweeping or vacuuming and weekly mopping, it is important to perform a deep cleaning annually. For ceramic tiles, you can use specialized cleaning agents designed to remove dirt and grease without damage. For other types of floor tiles, there are different specialized cleaning agents. Also, ensure that you maintain the joints well, as they are susceptible to mold and dirt accumulation.

 

Degreasing and Descaling Tiles

Tiles, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, are often subject to grease and limescale buildup. Regularly degreasing the tiles can be done with a mixture of warm water and dish soap or a special degreaser. For descaling tiles in the bathroom, you can use white vinegar, which is natural and effective. Let the vinegar sit for a few minutes on the limescale before rinsing it off. For both degreasing and descaling, it is important to ventilate the area well. Before using vinegar, it is essential to identify the type of floor tile. A natural stone floor cannot withstand vinegar.

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Why is Maintaining a Tile Floor Important?

Proper maintenance of your tile floor is not only important for aesthetics; it also extends the lifespan of the floor. Regular cleaning prevents the buildup of bacteria and mold, which is especially important in areas like kitchens and bathrooms, as well as living rooms. Additionally, it simply looks neat.

 

Maintaining floor tiles does not have to be time-consuming or expensive, but it does require consistency. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your floor tiles look like new for years to come.