Kitchen Tip Tuesdays: Cleaning tile floor grout (plus more new kitchen photos)Hardwood pine floors are swept with a natural broom. Ceramic-tile floors can be cleaned easily with nothing but warm water, but be sure to sweep or vacuum first to remove any loose soil or grit. Never use a sponge mop to clean ceramic-tile floors. It will pull the dirt right into the grout tracks. This makes the floor more difficult to clean. A micro-fiber mop picks up all the dirt that a sponge mop leaves behind. Pour the ingredients into a bucket and use a rag or micro-fiber mop to clean. If you do use a rag and the on-your-hands-and-knees method, be sure to wipe in a circular motion across the floor. Don't forget the cabinets and baseboards. If you have really dirty grout, use a brush. Use boiling water and two teabags to clean hardwood floors. The tannic acid in tea creates a beautiful shine for hardwood floors. Let two teabags steep in the boiling water for a few minutes. Pour the tea into a bucket.

Take a soft cloth and wring it out in the tea. The cloth merely needs to be damp, not soaked. This will enable the floor to dry quickly. Wash the floor and be ready to be amazed by the sheen. If there are scratches that stand out after cleaning the hardwood floor, simply take a crayon the color of the floor and rub it on the scratch to fill the gap. Turn a blow dryer on high, heat the area where the crayon was applied and buff it with a soft cloth. Clean the vinyl floors. Mix Borax in a bucket of warm water and wash the floor. Remove hairspray residue from hard surfaces with a solution of one part fabric softener and two parts water. For stains on concrete floors, try laundry detergent, pre-treat stain solutions or dishwasher detergent. Let the solution soak for about 30 minutes then scrub. Many stains are on the surface of the grout and can be removed with sandpaper. Just fold the sandpaper into a crease, and work it back and forth along the grout line. If sandpaper doesn't work, you may have better results by applying a pencil eraser.

If sandpaper or an eraser fails to remove the stains and dirt, try an over-the-counter grout cleaner -- or create a similar solution from household bleach and water. Squirt or pour the solution onto the grout, and scrub with a toothbrush. Make sure the area is well ventilated, and wear rubber or latex gloves when working with bleach. If bleach doesn't do the job, you may need to remove and replace the grout. Use a grout-removal tool or a rotary tool with a carbide tip. After you install new grout, seal it with a grout sealer to reduce the likelihood of future stains setting in. Reapply sealer once every two years. Make your ceramic tile look like new with these easy cleaning tips from DIY experts. Ceramic tile floors are a popular flooring option. They’re durable, but like all floors, they need care and cleaning. Here are some smart tips on how to clean tile floors. Sweep or vacuum your tile floors a couple of times a week. Sand and grit can dull and scratch the surface.

Once you’ve removed the dirt, you’re ready to mop. Mix a mild detergent with hot water and apply with a rag or chamois mop instead of a sponge mop. A sponge mop pushes dirty water into the grout and soils it. Change your bucket of cleaning solution often so you won’t have a dirty mop that leaves a cloudy film of dirt on the floor. automatic pool vacuum in groundIf you do end up with a hazy film on your tile floor, remove with an all-purpose cleaner. best way to clean braided rugMake sure it’s non-abrasive so it won’t scratch the floor. best handheld steam cleaner consumer reportsYou can also make your own cleaner by mixing lemon juice or vinegar with hot water. dolphin pool cleaner accessories

Apply it to the floor and then buff dry with a clean cloth. You can use a towel that you push over the floor with your foot. One of the most important things in knowing how to clean tile floors is keeping the grout clean. Dirty grout equals dingy-looking floors. Grout is porous and easily absorbs dirt, grease and other materials. auto steam cleaning kansas citySpray the grout with a commercially prepared grout cleaner. cheap carpet cleaning vancouverYou can also use a mild bleach solution. It’s a good idea to wear gloves when using these types of products. For deep stains, allow the cleaner to sit for 10 minutes. Use a toothbrush or other small scrub brush to scrub the grout. For stubborn grout stains, mix a paste of baking soda and water. Apply it to the stain, let it sit overnight and then scrub with a nylon brush.

Don’t use a metal brush as it will scratch the tile. Let the grout air dry, then put on a silicone-based grout sealer to resist future stains and dirt. Here’s how to clean ceramic tile that has been stained. For coffee, tea or juice stains, wash the tile surface with hot water and detergent, then blot with hydrogen peroxide.  For grease stains, wash with club soda and water, or a commercial floor cleaner. For ink stains, soak a cloth in diluted bleach and lay it on top of the stain. Leave the cloth until the stain is gone. Rinse thoroughly when done. Knowing how to clean ceramic tile floors properly will keep them looking lovely and help them last for years. How to Clean Ceramic Tile Countertops How to Clean Concrete Floors How to Clean Hardwood Floors How to Clean Vinyl Floors How to Clean Cork Floors DIY Quick Cleaning Tips Sign up for weekly project ideas and advice from experts Privacy Policy Sign Up for More We love to DIY.