CERAMIC
PORCELAIN
GLASS
GRANITE
MARBLE
MAIN TYPES OF FLOORING
Ceramic Tile.
Porcelain Tile.
Glass Tile.
Marble Tile.
Granite Tile.
Other Natural Stone Tile.
CLEANING NATURAL STONE TILING
Certain tile – especially naturally occurring stones like marble – are more susceptible to damage from chemical cleaners than more synthetic materials. This is because there is a chemical reaction that occurs between acids in the cleaner and the natural calcium carbonate in the stone, permanently damaging the stone at the surface of the tiles. This also goes for the grout between the tiles which shares the weakness to acids that marble has.
You’ll want to avoid acidic cleaners and even natural solutions like vinegar because of this. Fortunately, stones that lack this compound like porcelain are more resilient and can stand up better to the acids in stronger cleaners, making them simpler to clean.
CHEMICAL CLEANERS
NATURAL CHEMICALS
Chemicals are great at cleaning because they both disinfect surfaces and clean by breaking down materials that may end up on your tiles like food, dirt, and more.
The downside of chemical cleaners is that they can be dangerous to your health.
If you’re looking to avoid the caustic chemicals of many commercial cleaners, you can use some natural alternatives that offer a similar level of cleaning without the additional risk. Natural solutions like baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide can rival bleach when it comes to cleaning and whitening acid-weak tiles & grout. Vinegar’s acidic properties are also great for disinfecting & cleaning non-carbonate tiles.
These natural solutions pose minimal threat to you even if ingested and can be mixed with hot water to reduce the strength and increase the dirt fighting ability thanks to the extra heat.
GROUT
Grout should generally be treated the same way that marble is, avoiding acidic cleaners that can erode the grout (and potentially the tile surrounding it). Bleach, baking soda & hydrogen peroxide, and an eraser will all do a good job of returning the grout to its natural whiter color. It works especially well when you use a toothbrush to apply the mixture and work it deep into the grout for a better clean. Alternative applications can include a Magic Eraser or pencil eraser, as both give you the extra friction necessary to work through the buildup.
If you want a kitchen, bathroom, or other tiled floors to look its best, it’s important to deep clean your tile floor the right way or contract it out a commercial cleaning service. Proper maintenance – sweeping, cleaning spills as they happen, and more – are a good start, but some stains can still get through to your tile and grout. When this happens, choose the right cleaner for your floor so you can keep it clean without causing damage or scrubbing more than necessary.