When considering flooring options for homes or businesses, builders and owners alike look to tile flooring on a regular basis.
Once you learn more about all that tile flooring has to offer, it’s easy to see why it’s such an enduring choice.
Tile flooring offers several benefits over other flooring options…
Compared to hardwoods and engineered floors, tile is incredibly affordable.
Many other flooring choices (like hardwoods) are susceptible to damage from moisture. The majority of tile flooring is nearly impervious making it a far better choice, especially in the kitchen and the bathroom.
Tile flooring is extremely durable and has been used in building all over the world for thousands of years.
Tile Flooring Options
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You might think that tile flooring can be boring as you’ve probably seen plain cream tiles more often than any other style. However, you couldn’t be further from the truth.
There is an incredible variety among styles of tile flooring and there is truly something for everyone.
You can choose tile made from natural stone like granite or limestone. These tile options are highly attractive but probably not the best choice for flooring. They are not the greatest at resisting stains or moisture even though they are easy on the eye. Looks are not everything!
If you are hunting down the best overall option when it comes to tile for flooring, you might want to look at ceramic or porcelain tiles. These tiles are made from natural clay, sand and water and then dried at extremely high temperatures. When properly sealed, these types of tiles are all but indestructible.
If price is a concern for you, you might want to shoot for ceramic tiles. Not only are these tiles a good bet for any budget, they are also incredibly easy to install yourself. This will save you a fair bit of money compared to professional installation.
If you fancy a floor that’s a bit more lively than a plain solid color, tile flooring is one fine solution.
You can find tiles with intricate designs painted on them, tiles that have been made to look like expensive but less durable natural stone tiles and even tiles that have been made to look like wood. You can get the look without the worry of warping or the high cost.
If you look after your tile flooring, it can last for decades. Part of taking care of your tile flooring means cleaning it regularly.
Tile floors are relatively simple to clean because of the protective sealant they are made with. This sealant helps to ensure that no dirt, dust or grime soaks into the tiles. Instead, it helps to make sure that whatever messes get on your floor are easily swept and mopped away.
Let’s discuss how to do this stress-free…
Caring For Your Tile Floors
Because of the way tile is made, it fortunately doesn’t need a deep scrubbing very often. However, you still need to take preventative measures each day to keep it clean so you can prolong its life…
Daily
Every day you should sweep or dust your tile flooring. You can do this with a vacuum that can be adjusted to work on hard flooring or you can do it with a vacuum that has been manufactured to be used specifically on hard floors like tile.
If you would rather dust your floor, you can use an inexpensive dust mop to do so. These mops are usually made with a lightweight aluminum pole and a head that can be used with disposable cloths. The cloths are electrostatically charged so they grab up all the dirt, dust, pet hair and other debris from your floors. Once you are done with your dusting, simply remove the dust cloth and toss it in the trash. Money saving tip: use both sides of the cloth before throwing it away!
Another option is to use a microfiber dusting mop. These mop heads are made with microfiber fabric that gets into all the nooks and crannies pulling out all the junk that is making your floors look dirty. You can usually use these pads wet or dry and they are also reusable. Simply remove them from the mop and toss them in the washer to clean.
Every Week
You should give your tile floors a light mopping once a week or so. Again, because of the sealant on your tile flooring, your tiles are pretty well protected from being ruined by the stuff that sits on them. However, the longer you leave it there festering, the harder you will have to scrub and the more likely you are to damage to your flooring.
Even though tiles are resistant to moisture, you still don’t want to leave water sitting on them so when you give them a light mopping be sure to use something that doesn’t demand much water or cleaner.
You can use a spray mop which will spray a light mist of cleaner on the floor for you to mop up or a mop with disposable pads that have been pre-moistened with cleaner. Both of these are easily found in supermarkets, large retail stores or online.
For another approach, you could use your microfiber mop. These mop heads can usually be used wet or dry. Just dampen the cloth and hook it onto your mop. Quickly give your floor a light once over then toss the cloth in the wash to reuse next time.
Do’s and Don’ts For Deeper Cleaning
Every now and then, you will need to give your floors a deeper cleaning…
- Be sure to look for cleaning products made specifically for tile floors so you don’t ruin the sealant
- After mopping, dry your floors to avoid any unintended tumbles
- Be sure to clean the grout lines every now and then as well
- Don’t use bleach or ammonia. These will damage the sealant and eat away at the tiles
- Never wax your tile or you can destroy it
- Do not use any abrasive cleaners or brushes with hard bristles to clean the floors
Wrap-Up
If you clean your tile floors regularly, they’ll remain slick and shiny for the foreseeable future.
Follow the advice in this article and you’ll have nothing whatsoever to worry about.
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